MSD Strong and Oxford High School Shooting Connection
MSD Strong and Oxford High School Shooting Connection Today marks the 4-year anniversary of the active shooter incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “MSD Strong” became the phrase used by south Floridians and the country to emulate the resiliance of this community following such a […]
CEO’s Need to Know About OSHA and Workplace Violence
Owning a business is quite challenging in many ways. One of the most critical areas of leading your organization is making sure employees, clients, and guests are safe on your watch. In order to maintain individuals’ safety and protect your assets, guidelines and laws have been created for businesses to […]
Everything Started with the Sandy Hook School Shooting … Taking Action to Create Change
“Couple-preneurs” Steven S. and Taylor Smith started their training and consulting business in 2013 following the Sandy Hook School Shooting on December 14, 2012. This shooting was the tipping point in which the Smiths knew work had to be done to safeguard American schools. What they did not know is […]
You Asked, We Provide – COVID Safety Comeback Plan
Are you afraid you might not be able to protect yourself, your employees, clients and brand? Well, you are not alone. Conversations with employers and management teams have led us to believe there are more worries in 2020 than ever before!
Emergency Alerts Systems You Must Know About
Emergency alerts notify groups of people during a crisis. Such incidents require functioning communication systems in order to minimize injuries and mass casualties. This article explores the various emergency alert systems available nationally, and for your organization.
GD President’s Recent Life-Saving Actions Utilizing a Civilian Trauma Kit
We hope your organization is following our POLICY-TRAIN-DRILL Initiative. If you are, you will note that as part of training, we strongly advocate instruction in the use of civilian trauma kit items.
How Safety Measures and Prevention Planning Limit a Spike in Deaths
With our current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic we realize the importance of implementing safety measures to prevent and/or minimize cases in unforeseen disasters. In an interview with NBCNews, surgeon general, Jerome Adams, states: “The way you stop the spread of an infectious disease like this is with mitigation measures […]
Potential Business Risk: The Active Shooter Scenario
What is a potential business risk for your company? The recent COVID-19 virus has certainly affected organizations globally, being a stark reminder of having a plan in place for anything and everything. Thankfully, the Coronavirus will come and go, but certainly will leave an impact on how to prepare for […]
Back to School Preparation: Training for an Active Shooter is a MUST!
School Administrators work tirelessly on their back to school preparation for the upcoming school year. This includes teacher planning days. Administrators seek effective training options for their teachers and staff that will keep their school at the forefront of education and safety. We often hear from principals that of all […]
February 2020 Closes, Parkland Always in Our Hearts
February ended as it began: with the 2018 Parkland shooting on our minds and heavy in our hearts. It is unbelievable that just a few weeks ago we dedicated February to Parkland, in honor of the 17+2 lives gone too soon. Today is the last day of our tribute and […]
February 2020: Dedicated to Parkland
February is the month of love, the arrival of red roses, heart-shaped candies and touching messages in Hallmark cards across the country and over the world. It is a time to celebrate with family and friends by offering gifts, affection, kindness and love. Sadly, two years ago, love and grief […]
How to React in a Shooting at a Holiday Gathering
The holiday season is here! It is a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends. It is time to get together, share meals, gifts, laughter, love and reflect on life’s journey. Unfortunately, incidents such as a holiday shooting have occurred throughout our country. As you get ready to […]
Learning From the Latest Active Shooter Scare in Boca Raton, Florida
On October 13, 2019, reports of gunfire from an active shooter in the Boca Raton Town Center mall caused panicked shoppers to instinctively take cover and evacuate, ultimately leading to a lock-down. Thankfully this turned out to be a false alarm; however, there are still many things we can learn […]
How to Plan for an Active Shooter at Your School or Workplace – 5 Critical Concepts
How can you plan for an active shooter at your workplace, school, or place of worship? Most businesses and schools have policies in place outlining responses to different types of crises. Every business and school follows fire codes and many have a response plan in place for critical incidents such […]
HOW TO PLAN FOR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IN THE WORKPLACE: 5 CRITICAL CONCEPTS
How can you plan for an active shooter in the workplace? Most businesses have policies in place outlining responses to different types of crises. Every business follows fire codes, and many have a response plan in place for critical incidents such as a bomb threat. The same concept of writing […]
Civilian Trauma Training: Trauma and Casualty Care for Civilians (TACCC) Course
Civilian trauma care training has been a hot topic in schools and workplaces over recent years. The rise in popularity is most likely due to the paranoia surrounding potential active shooter situations. Active threat or active shooter occurrences are still statistically low occurrences. Yet, it is important to be prepared […]
Active Shooter Incidents in Media Headlines
With a growing media coverage of active shooter incidents, it seems like we are seeing headlines about this topic daily; in our newspapers, on the television, or in our favorite magazines. There have been several major incidents that have occurred over the course of the past several years including, the […]
Must-Read Active Shooter Response Guide
Is this your first time researching active shooter response training? Or, have you been researching how to better prepare your workplace, school, law enforcement agency or family for some time now? This guide will provide you informative resources on active shooter response. As you conduct your investigation, do any […]
High School Drill for Shooter in Indiana Gone Wrong- The Importance of Running Effective School Drills
Recently, during a high school drill for shooter in Indiana, teachers were shot with pellet guns. We were not there to witness this incident. However, this brings up an important fact when assessing active shooter training programs.
Press Release: Guardian Defense Owners Named SCORE Entrepreneur of The Year
Guardian Defense Owners Named SCORE Entrepreneur of the Year Delray Beach, Florida. January 4th, 2019 – Guardian Defense founders, Steven Smith and Taylor Smith, were awarded a prestigious honor for the 2018/2019 year. Score Mentors of South Palm Beach County presented the SCORE Entrepreneur of the Year award […]
Active Threat Safety and Preparedness- RIMS Podcast
President and Founder of Guardian Defense, Steve Smith and one the lead instructors for the company, Dustin Miller traveled to New York to train the Risk Management Society. After the training, they were able to share their knowledge and insight on Active Threat Safety and Preparedness in this podcast hosted […]
Active Shooter Training Near Me
You might wonder how to find the best Active Shooter Training Program to start or continue preparing for a violent attack. To do this you may go on the internet and search, “Active Shooter Training Near Me.” Whether you already have a detailed plan, or need help creating a comprehensive […]
FBI Report: Active Shooter Incidents in 2017 – Guardian Defense’s Takeaways
We recently examined reports on Active Shooter Statistics, between 2000-2016, and concluded that the number of active shooter incidents has risen significantly over the years. Shortly thereafter, the FBI published a new report on the statistics for active shooter incidents in 2016 and 2017. Here’s our takeaways from this report.
Active Shooter Statistics, By the Numbers
Active shooter statistics: Between 2000 and 2016, there have been 220 active shooter incidents in the United States, as recorded by the FBI. Of these 220 incidents there are a reported number of casualties of 1,486 which includes both individuals injured and killed. Out of these incidents recorded, 43.2% occurred […]
How to Barricade a Door Effectively During a Shooting or Terror Attack
You may find yourself wondering how to barricade a door effectively to protect your life during a shooting or other type of threat. But, before that thought enters your mind, you must have considered possible instances that would make this process necessary. With the knowledge that threatening incidents occur in […]
Active Shooter Training Scenarios: Nine Tips to Prepare for Effective Staff Exercises
Active shooter training scenarios are gaining more popularity as workplaces and schools recognize the urgency in providing training to their staff. As today marks the 5-year anniversary since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, we see the progression in workplace and school safety procedures. One […]
Active Shooter Training Programs : Need to be Customized?
Should active shooter training programs be customized to your group’s specific needs or does one-size-fit-all suffice? I created our very first active shooter training programs specifically for schools. As a law enforcement officer, I had experience creating safety plans for schools. I was familiar with some of the challenges the […]
Las Vegas Shooting: How to Plan for Threats in Public Venues
The Shooting in Las Vegas occurred on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at a country concert by Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although most definitive details and facts are too premature to release at this moment, the following is reported to be known. Information on Mass Shooting […]
LOCKDOWN DRILL PROCEDURES: 8 MUST-KNOW PREREQUISITES FOR ALL ADMINISTRATORS AND SAFETY TEAMS
Why do you need lockdown drill procedures? Administrators at schools and in the workplace have many things to oversee- one of which is safety. Whether you’re a new administrator tasked with safety planning or a seasoned professional in the field, utilize the prerequisites listed below to make sure you cover […]
Is Your Business Prepared for A Workplace Shooting Today?
Perhaps as a business owner you ask yourself “Is my business prepared for a workplace shooting today?” This past Friday I traveled to Naples, Florida to present to a group of risk managers, emergency managers and other administrators at the Florida RIMS Educational Conference 2017. This was my third year in […]
Practical strategies for surviving a mass shooting
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Taylor Smith 954-654-8912 April 27, 2017 taylor@guardiandefenseplan.com Local company, Guardian Defense, offered a hands-on workshop at Nova Southeastern University on Sunday in response to mass shooting events that have affected Floridians, like the Fort Lauderdale Airport and Pulse Nightclub shootings. Davie, FL – Guardian Defense, presented its […]
Violence in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Safety Plan for Employees
Chapman Partnership in Miami, Florida joined the many organizations in our country that have faced violence in the workplace just a few years ago, when an armed suspect discharged his weapon on his girlfriend at the exterior gates of the facility. Violence in the workplace events like these have an […]
Nine Questions to Ask if a School Receives a Bomb Threat
Today, 01/26/2016, four Jewish educational centers received a bomb threat in the state of Florida. The centers and schools ranged from central Florida to the south Florida area with two being in Palm Beach County. The threats caused all four schools to evacuate all its staff and students and have […]
It is Important to Report Suspicious Incidents- Don’t Be Afraid to Be Wrong!
A common trait in many people when it comes to reporting a suspicious incident is a feeling of anxiety or the fear of being wrong. People feel if they misdiagnose a potential crime or threat, peers, management and/or responders would make them feel as though they had wasted their time. […]