Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2018 - 23

Finally, when law enforcement teams are on the scene, their
first priority is to find and either capture or take down the
shooter before more lives are lost. It is common for students
to take videos of law enforcement from their classrooms. For
example, students in a third floor classroom may see officers on a
roof below searching for the perpetrator. Please realize and have
conversations with your children that if they post these videos,
they may be informing perpetrators as to the location of officers.
This can infringe upon law enforcement's ability to capture the
shooter which could lead to even more deaths.

What to say to
your children
According to the National Association for School
Psychologists, one of the most important things to do is make
time to talk to your child. We know that adolescents often prefer
to talk to peers, but reinforce to them that you are available. You
know your child best, so use language that is developmentally
appropriate and understandable to your child. Be careful not
to make assumptions about how your child is feeling. Instead,
asking questions, such as "What is your biggest concern/
fear in hearing about this incident?" will open the door to
communication. Further, help children understand common
symptoms of distress, including difficulties sleeping or eating,
and ask them to share with you if they are struggling.

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Along with standard fire drills, many schools are beginning
to do active shooter drills. These should not be scary events
for children, but provide them a sense of control. Further,
ensure children know to go to an adult should they ever feel
threatened, see weaponry or trespassers in the building, or hear
of threatening statements, either in person or online, that are
cause for alarm. Many schools are also moving toward more
trauma-informed approaches due to the realization that many
perpetrators of violence have experienced trauma in their own
lives.
The increase of school shootings is terrifying for everyone.
Remember that children feed off of the response of adults, so
while it is great to model appropriate expression of our own
confusion, dismay, and sadness, it is important that adults
maintain control. Adults can also model good coping strategies
and self-care such as eating well, exercising, and sleeping.
Finally, as consistency and normalcy help children feel safe, keep
routines and structure as typical as possible. It is unimaginable
that our children must face the tragedy of mass murder in
schools. Let's try to make them feel as safe as possible in our
loving arms.

Join us today
or renew your
membership at
www.berkscms.org.
SUMMER 2018

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Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2018
