Over the past few years, school crises have increased by a significant amount. According to the Gun Violence Archive there were 18 mass shootings reported just halfway through the year 2023. This creates the need for more strategies to try to help keep schools secured. This year Miami Dade schools released new protocols in order to ensure our safety. 

Most students and staff are familiar with “Code Red,” “Code Yellow” and “Code Green” procedures. This year, however, Miami-Dade schools introduced Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which introduced Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter procedures. 

For starters, instead of “Code Yellow” being announced, we now have “Hold” in the case of a situation happening in the hallways, such as an injured student in the hall. The proper way to respond to this announcement is simply by locking the doors, continuing classwork and not switching classes when the bell rings until the “Hold” is announced to be over.

 This allows students and teachers to proceed with their daily work without any worries while also keeping them informed that there is an ongoing situation in the hallways. 

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I feel like everyone should know about the new lockdown procedures because it is easy and clear to understand,” sophomore Sophia Gonzalez said. Similar to Hold, the SRP now introduces “Secure” and “Lockdown” which replaces what we know as “Code Red.” “Secure” informs anyone on the school premises that there is a dangerous situation in the neighborhood of the school. Students are allowed to switch classes, but no one is allowed to leave or enter the school.

 “Lockdown” signals the school that there is a threat to the school or in the school. In the case of a lockdown, classrooms are ordered to the procedure, “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.” 

Rather than students just hearing the “Code Red” announcements, “Evacuate” and “Shelter” provide instructions for students on where students should go and how to go to that location in the case of an emergency.

 “The new protocols give clear and precise language,” Principal Lee Krueger said. “Everybody will know what is happening and there will be no confusion.”

 Although it may seem that these new procedures aren’t much different, they do an appreciable amount in keeping all people within the school alert and aware whenever there is a serious situation.