by HAVEN team | Schools
2020 saw an increase in gun purchases. Subsequently, the number of shooting incidents rose by sixty-four percent. Recent data findings show at least fifty casualties from gun shootings this year alone.
School shooting incidents in the United States are increasing exponentially, as witnessed by increased casualties and deaths from these incidents. School shootings are not new, as the earliest recorded incident was in Pontiac’s rebellion that resulted in the death of the headmaster and nine students on July 26, 1764. To date, over two thousand school shooting incidents have left over 2620 students scarred or victims of mass shootings. However, there are several ways of decreasing these incidences or curtailing their impact. This can be achieved through security enhanced doors, motion detectors, and implementing lockdown features in schools to deter intruders from causing more damage.
Increased School Shootings in the United States
As of 2017, firearms overtook death by road accidents to be the leading cause of death by persons of age twenty-four and below. The trend is worrying, considering that most of these shootings are orchestrated by students affiliated with these schools. However, more has to be said about the poor storage of these firearms, enabling easy access by school-going children. In 2021 there were a total of 249 school shootings reported in the United States. Of these, at least twenty seven students were killed by firearms. These estimates pale in comparison to the annual deaths caused by gunshots. 2022 has seen an upsurge in incidences involving gunshots to levels only witnessed in the pre-COVID era. This can be attributable to an increase in individual gun purchases. According to research, in 2020 alone, Americans had an estimated purchase of at least twenty-two million guns. This was increased by forty percent when compared to 2019. 2022 has been no better, with at least 50 incidences recorded as of June 2022. The increase in school shootings is worrying; the 2020-2021 school calendar witnessed over ninety school shootings. This was an exponential increase compared to 2019, when only 23 reported cases were reported. Out of these, forty-three incidences ended up with at least an individual being reported to have died, while the remaining fifty incidences only recorded injuries. This calls for more stringent measures to improve the safety of kids in schools. Some of these incidences can be attributed to the deteriorating relationship between teachers and students.
Mass Shootings and Active Shooters
Recent years have seen a spike in the number of mass shootings. This year has experienced at least three hundred mass shooting incidences. This is an increase from their average since data started to be considered. The Washington post noted that on average, since 2014, the number of mass shootings topped at a round four hundred, but 2020 saw the number rise to six hundred and eleven incidences, whereas 2021 saw the number rise again to seven hundred. Based on the current trend, this figure will more than quadruple by the end of the year.
2021 saw an increase of fifty percent of active shooter incidences from 2020, an increase that averages at around 96% increase when compared to its four-year average. The FBI has documented at least 61 shootings in 30 states that resulted in the deaths of at least one hundred individuals and injured another one hundred persons. Active shooting is an incidence where an armed individual or individuals are actively killing or trying to kill people in highly populated areas. Of these incidences, sixty were carried out by male individuals, with only one female reported incidence. This calls for an update in the security measures taken to prevent such incidences, as some could result from homeopathy and lockdown related issues. This may be coupled by the high financial distress experienced during the curfew, as not everyone can cope with such situations easily. However, this has also led to some impressive innovations that can be used to curtail the impact of these incidences. More so, the government can implement more effective pieces of legislation to prevent such incidences.
Suggestions
Some of the effective methods include:
Increasing Armed Personnel
Increasing the number of armed personnel can effectively reduce the time it takes for police officers to respond to an incident. This may reduce the pressure on the available persons and help increase the number of patrols conducted by police officers. They can also be equipped with better tools to handle live fire effectively.
Legislation
It is easy to procure a firearm by individuals, both ex-convicts, and other individuals. States can implement strict laws preventing anyone from acquiring firearms, especially individuals with a history of violence. In addition, people allowed to use firearms should undergo proper training to reduce the number of accidental shootings.
Access To Mental Health Services
Suicide ranked among the major causes of death related to gun shootings. These can be attributed to mental health issues such as traumatic episodes related to past shooting incidences, traumatic experiences, and increased stress levels. Accessing mental health services to deal with these increases can help drastically lower such occurrences.
School Shooting Lockdowns
In as much as schools are safe, most are not intrusion free; they suffer a level of permeability that allows outsiders to access the school grounds, offices, and even classes. Lockdown drills are an effective way to teach students what to do in case of an attack. But putting real protective measures can effectively deter intruders from causing real harm to students. Haven is a company that offers services that can amp up the security level of a learning institution or a place of worship. The Haven lockdown is one such security feature that gives administrators the power to control the opening and closing of doors in the school. They also include patented designs that deter intruders from accessing classes. Their school lockdown system is designed to keep away intruders from students while at the same time deterring the intruder from escaping. It features different designs that give administrator rights over doors, the presence of egress buttons, and door locks that can be opened and closed with Bluetooth connectivity. In addition, some of their doors are bulletproof in case of the live firing of ammunition. Finally, this system involves an alert system that signals local authorities in case of such an occurrence.
Conclusion
School shooting incidences have risen, particularly in the last five years, experiencing new record highs. These can be attributed to increased purchases of firearms. Increased levels of stress and poor storage mechanisms of firearms. There are various ways to reduce these incidences and others that can help mitigate the casualties from such occurrences. Haven Company is one company that offers lockdown solutions t schools, apartments, and religious places of worship that deter intruders, lock down the facility under attack and notifies security forces of the attack at hand.
by HAVEN team | Lockdown, Schools, Statistics
At the time of writing this article there has been 27 school shootings in the United States in 2022, and there will no doubt be many more before the end of the year. School systems across the country are scrambling to implement safety measures that will protect students from the threat of active shooters, but taking such measures requires allocations to their budgets which just don’t exist.
There are solutions to increasing much needed school security, with funding that exists through Federal Grants that can be secured to cover the costs for active shooter door locks such as the school lockdown systems provided by the HAVEN Lockdown.
Listed below are 2 Grant Programs that can help schools obtain the funding they need to secure their schools, and lower the potential for tragic loss from active shooter incursions.
The ESSER Fund
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund is a federal funding program that was approved by the Department of Education and is directly used to assist state education agencies (SEAs), which is then allocated to school districts, also known as local education agencies (LEAs). Although originally intended for COVID-19 aid, this fund also helps schools by investing in infrastructure, and provides emergency financial assistance for a variety of necessary projects to school districts across the country. The program is available to K-12 institutions until September 30, 2024.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program
This grant provides funding from FEMA for the support to nonprofit organizations (such as schools) that are at high risk for active shooter incursions or terrorist threats. The purpose of this grant is to add physical security enhancement such as what HAVEN Lockdown provides with their lockdown systems that prevent an active shooter from breaching classroom doors.The intent of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also intended to provide greater coordination / collaboration for emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.
Contact HAVEN to Learn More
For more information about how you can obtain federal funding or to schedule a consultation with HAVEN, please fill out the form below and we will get right back to you.
by HAVEN team | Hero
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. We need to create a culture of safety and security in our schools from the administration to the students. HAVEN and Defend Systems have partnered to provide these 5 easy steps that you can take to make your school a safer place.
Get Serious About Safety
Start now and receive a free pdf checklist of Five Easy Tips to Making Your School Safer.
by HAVEN team | Lockdown
We want to hear your voice—and you can win big!
Our schools should be havens—places to nurture young minds and engage the next generation of leaders and deep thinkers. Tactical training and defensive drills shouldn’t be part of the curriculum; teachers shouldn’t have to feel that they’re putting their life on the line to teach reading and math. Creativity, passion, kindness, and curiosity belong in our classrooms. Armed intruders do not.
At HAVEN, our mission is to make every school in America safer and less vulnerable to active threats. We know our teachers and children deserve more, and we know that teachers are incredible advocates for themselves and the children in their care. That’s why we want to hear from you this holiday season. Snap a picture of your classroom (make sure none of your students are in the photo!) and send it to us with a brief statement to tell us why you’d love to have Lockdown at your school. Tell us about your classroom and all the amazing things happening inside it; tell us about your kids; tell us about your passion. Inspire us and teach us about everything that’s worth protecting. We want to hear your voice, and we want to keep you safer.
Share your “All I Want for the Holidays” story and you could win school supplies for your classroom! If we publish your photo and story as a finalist, you’ll get a $50 Staples gift card to purchase supplies for your classroom. We know you’re going to wow us, so we’re planning to have lots of finalists! If your essay is selected as the ultimate winner, you’ll get a $500 Staples gift card.
Just upload your classroom photo (NO KIDS PLEASE!) below, and include your statement about why you’d love to have Lockdown at your school. A few quick notes: You can be creative with your classroom photo—it doesn’t have to be a shot of the entire room. Feel free to show us your favorite spot, your kids’ favorite spot, or maybe even the place where your kids have to go during lockdown drills. When it comes to your statement, be as personal as you can without using names or revealing details about students or other teachers. Tell us a compelling story with your words and your image, and you’ll be a winner! You can composes your statement right in the window below, or cut and paste it in. (The window looks small, but there’s no character limit, so type away!) Any questions? Reach out to support@havenlock.com!
HAVEN values teachers, and we want to hear what you have to say. Thanks for all you do.
by HAVEN team | Lockdown
When Alex Bertelli first deployed to Iraq in 2008, he didn’t know that he’d find his passion and his life’s work welded to the inside of a door outside of Tikrit. He was headed to the Middle East as a helicopter pilot with an Army Special Operations team flying active combat missions. His goals were simple. Fight for his country. Defeat the bad guys. Come back alive.
Over the course of his eight year deployment, Alex flew repeated missions into insurgent territory in Iraq and Afghanistan. And that thing he first saw in Tikrit? He saw variations of it everywhere. It was a solid bar of metal welded to the bottom of the doors his team needed to enter. It was simple, but it was strong, and it did a really good job of keeping the Special Ops forces out.
Recreating the Metal Bar in Nashville
Fast forward 8 years. Alex was out of the military, living in Nashville, and faced with a string of robberies in his neighborhood. His friends and neighbors were falling victim to a different kind of bad guy, and the deadbolt locks they had trusted to keep their homes secure were virtually useless. Alex remembered the welded bar, and he set out to replicate the incredibly strong device in a design that would work in today’s modern home. HAVEN was born.
Havenlock is based on the same physics principles that allowed the insurgents to confound our military’s Special Ops across the world. But instead of welded metal, it’s formed from military grade Delrin® plastic and steel with a sleek appearance that blends seamlessly with any home’s decor. Havenlock is ten times stronger than a deadbolt, and infinitely smarter. The lock can be controlled manually or remotely via key fob or mobile app.
Adapting Havenlock for Institutional Spaces
With Havenlock proving its worth in the residential market, Alex and the rest of the HAVEN team looked at the mass shooting epidemic plaguing the U.S. They knew that with some design tweaks, their smart lock could offer an immediate security solution for schools, churches, and offices. Haven Lockdown™ uses the same military grade materials and smart design, adapted for application in wider institutional doors. In the event of an active shooter or other threat, teachers and administrators can activate the HAVEN Lockdown™ device instantaneously, stopping the shooter in their tracks.
Havenlock and HAVEN Lockdown™ are the stronger, smarter solutions for residential and institutional safety. Alex Bertelli’s combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan informs every aspect of the company, from design and manufacturing to the company’s position as a thought leader in the security space. HavenLock, Inc. proudly employs veterans and manufactures their line of security products in the U.S. Learn more about HAVEN’s residential products at www.havenlock.com.
by HAVEN team | Schools
Thoughts on the “Back to School Essentials” PSA
Wednesday morning, Sandy Hook Promise launched a PSA called “Back to School Essentials” that has taken the internet by storm. The video is the latest addition to the lineup of anti-violence PSAs the group launches each year. And this one is getting lots of attention for its gut-wrenching depiction of school children using new back-to-school gear to survive an active shooter situation. Running shoes and a skateboard become escape tools; a new red jacket becomes a makeshift door lock; art scissors and colored pencils become defensive weapons for children hiding behind doors. As the excruciating video ends, a coveted new phone becomes a means to send one last “I love you mom.”
WARNING: IMAGES IN THE VIDEO MAY BE CONSIDERED DISTURBING
Sandy Hook Promise’s Educational Mission
Founded by parents of the victims of 2012’s Sandy Hook Shootings, Sandy Hook Promise aims to prevent school shootings through education. Their latest campaign—”Know the Signs”—is designed to highlight warning signs of behaviors that could lead to violence. Here at HAVEN, we whole-heartedly support the educational mission of Sandy Hook Promise, and we know that this type of work is an essential piece of a comprehensive long term strategy to combat school violence.
HAVEN Offers a Solution That Works Now
We also know that we can’t afford to wait for long term results when it comes to saving the lives of our children. Time is of the essence in this crisis, and we must complement educational campaigns and big picture strategies with boots on the ground, impactful solutions that we can implement now.
While bulletproof backpacks have become a troubling symbol of school safety concerns in our modern era, Sandy Hook Promise’s latest video keenly highlights the painful absurdity of trusting school supplies and wardrobe staples to save our kids. The imagery of the young girl securing the doors with her jacket was especially poignant for us, because we know that impenetrable barricades are one of the best ways to stop an active shooter. A cotton jacket won’t do it, but a military-grade device that can be activated in less than two seconds will.
Haven Lockdown™ Barricades Classroom Doors Against Active Intruders
Informed by co-founder Alex Bertelli’s Special Ops experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, the design of Haven Lockdown™ has been optimized for strength, safety, and simplicity. A teacher can activate the ADA and Fire Code compliant lock with one touch, securing their classroom in seconds. Key fob, smartphone app, and mechanical activation offer multiple solutions in a time of crisis, and Lockdown Training modules provide teachers and administrators with the information they need to feel confident implementing Haven Lockdown™ as a security solution.
We’re HAVEN, and We’re Here to Help Keep Our Children Safe
HAVEN was founded by former members of the military and law enforcement. They know what real danger is and have created rock solid defense systems like HAVEN Lockdown™ to put an end to active violence in our schools, places of worship, and offices.
by HAVEN team | Statistics
Active Shooter Events in the United States By the Numbers
557: People wounded in an active shooter event between 2000 and 2013.
484: People killed in an active shooter event between 2000 and 2013.
160: Active shooter incidents occurred between 2000 and 2013.
70: Percent of active shooter events occurred in commerce/business or educational sites.
60: Percent of active shooter incidents ended before police arrived.
52: Percent of school shooting incidents that occurred in classrooms and hallways.
18: Average delay (in minutes) until law enforcement arrives at the scene of an active shooter event.
12: Average number of minutes an active shooter event lasts.
2: Number of seconds it takes to activate Haven Lockdown.
Sadly, active shooter incidents are increasing. Between 2000 and 2003, the United States experienced an annual average of 32.5 casualties (dead and wounded) from active shooter incidents. Ten years later (2010 – 2013), that average annual casualty rate had risen to 116. That’s a 357% increase, and it’s not slowing down. In 2018, the FBI reported 213 casualties from active shooter incidents.
Let’s bring the numbers down. Haven Lockdown allows you to securely barricade your door almost instantly at the touch of a button. You don’t have to be a numbers person to understand that in an active shooter situation, time is everything. A safety solution is useless if implementation is difficult or time consuming. HAVEN combines smart design and military grade materials in a beautifully simple device that activates on demand.
You want to do everything you can to keep those in your care safe. We’re here to help.
0: Reasons to wait. Protect your school, business, or place of worship now with Haven Lockdown™—the smarter, stronger solution.
Data sources: National Sheriffs’ Association and FBI publications ( A Study of Active Shooter Events in the United State Between 2000-2013 and Active Shooter Events in the United States in 2018).
by HAVEN team | Press Release
HavenLock, Inc. has announced that their flagship home security product now offers Z-Wave technology for smart home integration. Z-Wave is a wireless communication protocol that allows devices to communicate with each other using low-energy radio waves. This connectivity allows homeowners to control networked devices from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, making it even easier to integrate Haven’s industry-leading security products into their increasingly connected lives.
Implementing Z-Wave technology in a new model called Haven Lock Z-Wave also increases the smart lock’s power and flexibility as a home security solution. Z-Wave is used by many major home security firms, including ADT, Vivint and Frontpoint, and by platforms such as Alarm.com, to create networked and automated security solutions. Adding Z-Wave capabilities allows Haven Lock Z-Wave to integrate seamlessly into comprehensive modern smart home security systems. “The biggest security brands in the world have shown great interest in HAVEN products,” HAVEN founder Alex Bertolli said. “They’ve asked us to integrate Haven Lock into their platforms, and adding the Z-Wave communication protocol allows us to do that. Haven Lock Z-Wave brings our break-in prevention devices to brand new markets, helping us keep more people safe in their homes.”
Developed by Danish firm Zensys in 1999, modern Z-Wave technology currently connects over 3000 products made by 700+ companies. Its protocol enables communication between things like lighting controls, outlets, remote controls, smart home security systems and locks, and thermostats. Beyond home security services, Z-Wave is used by a broad range of global service providers, including AT&T, GE/Interlogics, Honeywell, Lowes, Verizon, and more.
About HavenLock, Inc.
HavenLock, Inc. offers residential and commercial smart locks designed to keep intruders out with one touch and/or automated activation. Over 10x stronger than a deadbolt, residential HAVEN smart locks use military grade materials in a design created by former Special Operations Military pilot Alex Bertelli. Bertelli’s combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan informs everything from the lock’s design to the company’s goal of becoming a thought leader in the security space. HavenLock, Inc. proudly employs veterans and manufactures their line of security products in the U.S. Learn more about HAVEN’s residential and commercial offerings at www.havenlock.com and www.havenlockdown.com.
by HAVEN team | Key Fob
Key Fob 101
Aside from the lock itself, your Lockdown key fob is probably the most important piece of hardware in the HAVEN Lockdown™ system. It puts safety, control, and peace of mind right in the palm of your hand. So let’s take a closer look at this critically important device and how it can help keep you and your students, parishioners, or employees safe.
The Lockdown Key Fob is Tiny But Mighty
The Lockdown key fob is small–at 2” x 3”, it looks very similar to the car key fobs that many of us have on our keychains. Inside this tiny case is a standard coin cell battery that generally lasts up to 3 years. We recommend changing the key fob battery on a normal maintenance schedule.
Encrypted Bluetooth Connection Powers the Lockdown Key Fob
Once your HAVEN Lockdown™ device is installed on your classroom or office door, you will pair the fob with the lock by using a simple two-step process.
The LED lights on both the job and lock will flash and cycle back and forth once you have successfully paired the key fob.
Simple Operation Makes the Lockdown Key Fob Mistake-Proof
Like the car remotes you’re used to, the Lockdown key fob operates with the simple and instantaneous touch of a button. With only two buttons on the device, the only options are Lock and Unlock. Each button activates or deactivates the Lockdown device in less than two seconds with one touch.
Proximity Makes the Lockdown Key Fob Your Go-To Solution
In the event of an intruder or active shooter situation, speed is critical. The best way to activate your HAVEN Lockdown™ smart lock is always going to be the closest. That’s why we recommend wearing the key fob on your person at all times using a lanyard. When you have the fob with you, you always have the power to instantaneously lock down your space and keep threats out.
Multiple Options Make Lockdown the Best Solution
The Lockdown key fob isn’t the only way to activate or deactivate the smart lock. If you find yourself separated from the fob at a critical time, you can always activate the lock mechanically at the door. Another alternative that works from a distance is the Haven app on your smartphone.
At Haven, we know it’s important to have options and backup solutions during a threatening situation. Affordable and easy to implement, HAVEN Lockdown™ is the stronger, smarter lock for your school, workplace, or house of worship.
by HAVEN team | Egress
One Motion Unlock
What Does it Mean? Why is it Important?
We’ve spent a lot of time making sure HAVEN Lockdown™ is smart enough and strong enough to make your school, sanctuary, or office a fortress against active shooters and other external threats. But although keeping the bad guys out is our strong suit, we know it’s also crucial to provide for easy evacuation when necessary. Complying with one motion unlock requirements ensures the safety of everyone inside the room in the event a fast exit is required. One motion unlock means that the lock can be released with one simple motion that can be accomplished with one hand. No codes to punch in, no complicated series of steps, no heavy bar to slide away–even a small child can disable HAVEN Lockdown™ with one-touch if necessary.
Fire Safety is a Key Driver for One Motion Unlock Requirements
Once upon a time, fire was the biggest threat to worry about when designing schools and other public spaces. Detailed fire safety codes dictate many aspects of residential and institutional architectural design, and egress (means of exit) has always been a key focus area. In the event of fire, it is critically important that large groups of people be able to exit a building quickly and safely. In a situation of panic and chaos, a lock must have the ability to be easily opened by anyone–including the disabled and the very young. The tragic 1958 Our Lady of Angels School fire–in which 92 students and three nuns died–inspired major changes in school safety regulations, and caused thousands of buildings to be updated across the country.
Fire Safety codes demand easy egress for swift evacuation
Modern Threats Have Evolved; Safety Protocols Must Keep Up
With the advent of advanced fire prevention, detection, and suppression technologies, fires are no longer the biggest threat facing children in classrooms. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, “U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 4,980 structure fires in educational properties in 2011–2015, annually. These fires caused annual averages of one civilian death.” During the same period, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security reports that 15 active shooter events occurred in schools, and gun violence in schools caused 92 deaths. School data from recent years only shows a worsening trend, with 15 active shooter incidents and 71 deaths already reported in 2018 and the first half of 2019. School safety and security protocols simply must take this growing gun violence threat into account, while complying with existing codes and standards.
HAVEN Lockdown™ is Designed for Maximum Compliance and Maximum Security
HAVEN Lockdown™ offers multiple unlock options for maximum flexibility and functionality. Every Lockdown installation offers a simple unlock mechanism on the lock itself. The device can also be instantly unlocked with one touch of a keyfob, phone-based app, and a wall mounted egress only button or a door mounted motion sensor to meet the 2018 Life Safety Codes for egress of an emergency only lock. HAVEN Lockdown is compliant with all of the major codes and standards governing institutional spaces, including:
- FCC
- 2018 Life Safety
- NFPA
- ADA
HAVEN Lockdown’s one-touch highly visible Egress Button can be mounted at any height to allow children and disabled to easily disable the lock for evacuation.
HAVEN Lockdown™ is the Solution for Safety and Peace of Mind
HavenLock’s goal is to make your school, sanctuary, hospital, or place of business as safe as possible. Our military grade door lock offers enhanced protection against active shooters and other external threats by allowing teachers and administrators to lock down individual rooms without sacrificing other critical safety features. While the rise of mass shootings has us focused on keeping threats out, we know it’s equally important to be able to evacuate a space quickly when necessary. Lockdown’s instant egress options provide solutions that work for everyone.
To learn more about HAVEN Lockdown™ and our proactive safety solutions, contact us today. We’d love to help you keep your people safer.
