ALICE Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When calling 911 during an active threat, which piece of information should a caller provide FIRST?
- Their employee ID number
- The exact address and specific location within the building (Correct answer)
- A description of what the threat is wearing
- The number of people injured
Correct answer: The exact address and specific location within the building
Dispatchers need the location first so they can immediately route responders while gathering additional details.
Question 2: During an active threat, a teacher hears gunshots but cannot see the shooter. What communication should she make?
- Nothing, to avoid drawing attention
- Report the shots heard, her location, and the direction the sound is coming from (Correct answer)
- Wait until she has a visual before reporting anything
- Call a parent instead of 911
Correct answer: Report the shots heard, her location, and the direction the sound is coming from
Partial information such as sound direction is still valuable and should be reported immediately to help others and responders triangulate the threat.
Question 3: How should staff communicate with students in a room that is counter-barricading against a threat?
- Open the door briefly to give verbal instructions
- Use calm, quiet, and direct instructions to minimize noise and maintain focus (Correct answer)
- Shout loudly to be heard over any commotion
- Communicate only via phone texts to avoid any vocal sound
Correct answer: Use calm, quiet, and direct instructions to minimize noise and maintain focus
Calm, quiet communication prevents drawing the threat's attention while keeping occupants focused and reducing panic.
Question 4: What is the recommended approach when a student receives conflicting instructions from different adults during an active threat?
- Follow the instructions of the person who seems most frightened
- Follow the most recent Inform announcement from the official PA or alert system (Correct answer)
- Do whatever feels safest without listening to any adult
- Call a parent for guidance
Correct answer: Follow the most recent Inform announcement from the official PA or alert system
The official PA or alert system provides the most current and authoritative information, which should take precedence over individual guidance.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'information cascading' in ALICE Communication?
- Sharing information only downward from leaders to students
- Each person who receives threat information passes it along to expand awareness (Correct answer)
- Keeping threat information secret until police authorize its release
- A system where only 911 dispatchers share information
Correct answer: Each person who receives threat information passes it along to expand awareness
Information cascading means every person who learns something about the threat shares it further, creating a network of informed decision-makers.
Question 6: A front-desk employee witnesses a threat enter the building. She cannot reach the PA. What is her best alternative?
- Lock her own door and stay silent
- Activate any available alarm, call 911, and call other rooms directly if possible (Correct answer)
- Wait for the threat to pass before notifying anyone
- Only alert people in her immediate area face-to-face
Correct answer: Activate any available alarm, call 911, and call other rooms directly if possible
When the PA is unavailable, using any combination of alarms, phone calls, and direct contact ensures information reaches as many people as possible.
Question 7: Why does ALICE training discourage using coded language (e.g., 'Code Red') for threat announcements?
- Coded language is too long and wastes time
- Coded language may not be understood by all occupants, visitors, or substitutes (Correct answer)
- Police scanners cannot pick up coded language
- Codes are too easy for the threat to decipher
Correct answer: Coded language may not be understood by all occupants, visitors, or substitutes
Visitors, substitutes, and newer staff may not know the codes, making plain-language announcements universally understandable.
ALICE Communication 3
When calling 911 during an active threat, which piece of information should a caller provide FIRST?