Did some Safe Room training with the young grandkids this past weekend

[Kaleva]

To me, a gun or guns are tools in the home defense toolbox, and they are the tools of last resort when all else fails or is breached. This post may not fit the group's SOP but I don't know where else in DU I could post it, but it might as the designated safe room in my home is where the gun is secured.

The drill is pretty simple, they are young after all, and it consists of whenever they hear me, or my wife yell out "Safe Room! Safe Room!" they are to move quickly upstairs, making sure that any of the youngest grandchildren they may be with is also with them, go into the master bedroom, which is the designated safe room, shut the door and then go to the side of the bed farthest from the door and hunker down. Then I went into the room and told them they did a good job. We did this three times when they were playing and not expecting it. They did well.

The part that we don't train with the kids is where my wife and I will both also go to the safe room, lock and deadbolt the door and then I get my revolver from the gun safe if I think that's needed. My wife and I will be the last going to the room as we'll be ensuring all the grandkids are taken care of. If the threat is immediate, I may stay behind to confront the home invaders directly hopefully giving everyone else time to get to the bedroom and lock the door. There's a cell phone on my nightstand in the bedroom which can be used to call 911 and that's all its used for just in case my wife or I can't bring our own to the bedroom with us.

Next time they come over, we'll do the safe room drill plus if they bring their nerf guns with them, we'll do gun safety training using the nerf guns.

Again, I don't know if this OP meets the group's SOP and if it gets locked, that's fine with me.


Edit: Right now, the revolver in the gun safe in the bedroom is empty. The ammo is in a metal ammo box in the basement secured with a padlock. I haven't kept up with my training ever since I fell down the basement stairs and had my shoulder replaced so that's the way it's going to be until my training with the gun is back up to my standards.

[sarisataka]

1. A good use for an old cell phone

Is to keep it plugged in in your bedroom. Even if it has no active account it still can be used to call 911

[Kaleva]

2. I found that out when babysitting a granddaughter

I'd give her an old cell phone to play with so she could pretend she was making calls and talking to people. Then one day she was playing with it, and I could hear a voice. I took the phone from my granddaughter, and it was the 911 call center. The man told me to take the batteries out of the phone the next time I give it to my granddaughter to play with.

[beemerphill]

3. This is a great idea.

You are preparing for an emergency that we all hope never happens. The training that you are providing your grandchildren may prove valuable someday. There is no one way that everyone can prepare for the unthinkable, but you have put a plan together and it sounds as good as any that I have heard of.
I hope that your shoulder heals to the point that you feel comfortable practicing again. A firearm in your hands is no danger to any honest person, and it may be the tool that you can use to protect your family and yourself.
It is a shame that anyone in our country should have to make plans for this kind of event, but it may be needed someday.

[Kaleva]

6. My time in the Navy imbedded in me the need for training...

in dealing with emergencies. Trying to think clearly in a crisis situation is really hard .


One reason I've decided not to conceal carry out in public off my property is that , IMO, it would require a higher level of training. More then I feel inclined to take on and keep doing.

[vanlassie]

4. Do you also do fire drills with them?

I would hate to have them run upstairs in a fire.

[Kaleva]

5. Not in the winter but yes I do

They know there's emergency fire escape ladders under the beds in the guest rooms and in the closet in the master bedroom. Ladders that would be set up my new or my wife. They know if they are downstairs to evacuate by either the front or back door. After leaving the house, they know to go by the neighbor's driveway across the street so it'd be easier to account for them.