Handling Emergency Cases at a Better Pace of Operation: Discussion Based on the Virginia Tech University Massacre Incident, Essay Example

In April 2007, 32 victims died because of the intensive shooting of a senior student in the being of Seung-Hui Cho. During the said shooting, several incidents occurred which were all understood to have been probably avoided through the establishment of a more defined approach to communication across the networked operations in the campus. Upon examining the results of the investigation, it was found that a proper assumption of the situation through taking immediate action to the reports that they have received on the part of the administrators could have helped avoid the continuous increase of casualties of the said occurrence.

Before the occurrence of this tragedy, the security systems of most campuses were seen to be specifically considered relatively acceptable. However, at the occurrence of the shooting, it was seen that such confidence on the security of most campuses have been shaken. The horror of having someone just coming in and committing such a damaging crime. It has been realized through investigation that the security departments of the campus were not properly connected through extensive system of communication. It was noted that the occurrence of the shooting could have been prevented if the communication system was specifically defined to respond to particular emergencies. Because of this, particular options of improving security operations are seen to resolve issues connected to the shooting incidents that could happen in campuses and other contained and controlled environments such as universities that do involve several individuals within the constraints of the said areas.

Among the suggestions formulated to respond to issues such as that of the occurrence in Virginia Tech University is that of the creation of an ERP [Emergency Response Plan] system that would be recommended to be utilized especially when it comes to different situations that could involve resolvable issues given the time and the application of good communication procedures. Through an established system of ERP, names and numbers of people within the area are supposed to be listed accordingly. A connective connection among the different departments that could be involved in the process of containing an emergency should be established accordingly. This would impose a better sense of system that would immediately be used to specifically instantiate a command system that would put the security guards on alert.

The system report blueprint should include routes of escape that could be used to help probable victims to move out from the building’s premises before they would be reached by the assailant/s. Considerably, un all these points of operations, a specific form of effective communication is needed to be accomplished. The relative impact of such communicative connection shall make it easier for information on disseminating the escape plan, the containment plan and the rescue plan should all be included in the blueprint of the emergency response operation suggested thus giving the administration and the security guard’s departments to be more effective in implementing their roles during such incidents.

To prevent the emergence of individuals who seemingly develop destructive behavior, proper communication between administrators and direct supervisors [or instructors] who have direct connection with the overall population of the public included in the said institutions. Establishing a threat assessment team or TAT would specifically help in containing possible situations of destruction even before they occur. Under these arrangements, assigned authorities are given the power to assess the personality and the behavior of the individuals hence considering whether or not a person should be given attention to due to the presentation of particular behavior that they present themselves with. Dealing with disturbing behavior should be specifically controlled by the team hence assisting the individual/s to support the said people to adjust their behavior and practically avoiding destructive actions in the future. Communication between the supervisors and administrators should be efficient enough to send put necessary reports that are needed to have a great impact on the need to control the situations involving behavioral issues among members of particular institutions. This approach could be determined to be included in the early detection and control operations.

Improving institutional routes would also help in making communication connections efficient enough to send out necessary information that would specifically allow for the control of the incidents before or even during the said situations are occurring. Through applying the suggestions mentioned in this presentation is expected to create a much improved system of controlling emergencies even before they are to occur in particular institutions. Response to actual incidents as they are happening are also given attention to hence making the controlling operations effective enough in saving lives of possible victims of the incident.

The practical options of controlling emergencies pointed out herein could be accountably based on the effective distinction of communication systems that are to be established in institutions involving the action of the administration and other response teams assigned to specifically give attention to unforeseen operations. Most likely, it is believed that with effective communication between teams in the institution, several emergencies would be effectively responded to. Considering the passing of information between teams and authorities would help them respond accordingly to probable sources of tragedies that might cost the lives of innocent individuals. In cases such as this, effective passing and use of information through communication would actually provide a best source of protection for the people.

References:

Campus Violence Prevention and Response. http://www.mass.edu/library/reports/CampusViolencePreventionAndResponse.pdf. (Retrieved on November 6, 2013).

Williams, R; Morrison, Shawna (April 26, 2007). “Police: No motive found”. The Roanoke Times.