ALICE Training and Resources

Each school day, our schools are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for thousands of elementary and secondary students in public and non-public schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children safe from all threats including human-caused emergencies, such as crimes of violence. In collaboration with local government and community stakeholders, schools can take steps to plan and prepare to mitigate these threats.    

Every school’s Emergency Response Plan (ERP) should include a course of action that will describe how students and staff can most effectively respond to an active shooter situation to minimize the loss of life, and teach and train on these practices. No single response fits all active shooter situations however, making sure each individual knows his or her options for response and can react decisively will save valuable time. Depicting scenarios and considering response options in advance will assist individuals and groups in quickly selecting their best course of action.

Understandably, this is a sensitive topic. There is no single answer for what to do, but a survival mindset can increase the odds of surviving. As appropriate for your community, it may be valuable to schedule a time for an open conversation regarding this topic. Though some parents or personnel may find the conversation uncomfortable, they may also find it reassuring to know that, as a whole, their school is thinking about how best to deal with this situation.

ALICE lockdown training & procedures provide preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter event. 

The A.L.I.C.E. acronym stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. Please know that although the letters A-L-I-C-E may appear to be sequential steps to follow, they are not. The acronym is merely a mnemonic to help people under stress to remember the options available to them in an active-shooter scenario.

Alert - Call 911
Don’t assume others are contacting law enforcement. Give as clear and accurate information as possible that will answer the vital questions of who, what, when, where and how. At this point in the scenario the WHY does not matter.

Lockdown  - Shelter in Place
By locking down and barricading entry points, you are making yourself a hard target. Locked down does not mean locked in. You may choose to barricade the door and exit out windows to safety.

Inform - Constant, Real-time Updates
This can be accomplished with things such as video surveillance equipment or public address systems. Information updates during a violent intruder incident allows occupants to make sound decisions about how to react and what steps - if any- to take next.

Counter the Attack or Distract the Assailant - A Last Resort
When other options are not immediately possible - a locked/lockable door does not exist or the intruder breaches a secured room - move, make noise and get distraction devices (anything at hand) in the air and heading for the shooter’s face. Then you may attack or evacuate the area.

Evacuate - Get Out!
The goal here is to put as much time and distance as possible between you and the attacker.

ALICE Training:

Alice training provided by the school division is a collaboration between the Pembina Trails School Division and the Winnipeg Police Department. ALICE training will be offered on an annual basis in September. Training dates will be shared with staff via the Divisional Professional Development Calendar every September.

Additional Resources:

For orders of the following resources please contact the divisional Safety Officer:

• ALICE Bookmarks
• ALICE Posters
• "I'm Not Scared, I'm Prepared"  books for elementary school children
• MSBA School Lockdown Handbook