The HERO Program’s Perspective on the Evolution of School Safety
Adam Coughran, President of Safe Kids Inc., joins the Icom podcast to discuss the evolution of school safety protocols in the wake of rising school-related incidents. Drawing on two decades of law enforcement experience, Coughran explains how the HERO Program was developed to provide age-appropriate, child-friendly safety education that goes beyond traditional drills. The conversation covers his transition from active shooter response to education-focused safety training and the foundational principles behind the HERO Program.
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Key takeaways
Traditional school safety drills are insufficient for preparing students for real-world threats, prompting the need for child-friendly communication strategies.
The HERO Program was created by Adam Coughran to fill a critical gap in age-appropriate safety education across different student age groups.
Coughran's two decades in Southern California law enforcement — including active shooter response and domestic counterterrorism — directly informed the development of Safe Kids Inc.
In recent years, with a significant uptick in school-related incidents, the conversation surrounding safety protocols within educational institutions has surged. Since Columbine, there have been 304 fatal school shootings. This trend demands a pivotal question: How are we equipping our students and educators to face these imminent threats, and is there a more effective way to communicate school safety procedures tailored for children?
This trend demands a pivotal question: How are we equipping our students and educators to face these imminent threats, and is there a more effective way to communicate school safety procedures tailored for children?
On this episode of Icom, host Jon Paul Beauchamp engages with Adam Coughran, President of Safe Kids Inc. and the Hero Program. They delve deep into understanding the foundation of school safety, focusing on Adam’s vast experience in law enforcement and the creation of a child-friendly protocol to navigate threatening situations.
During their insightful conversation, the following topics were highlighted:
- Adam’s Transition from Law Enforcement to active shooter response
- Genesis of Safe Kids Inc. and the birth of the HERO program was aimed at filling this critical gap.
- The HERO Program Explained: A brief overview of what HERO stands for in various age groups
With two decades in law enforcement in Southern California, Adam Coughran has worked on everything from active shooter response teams to domestic counterterrorism, policy procedures, and safety training. His unique experience in ensuring safety in high tourism areas coupled with his passion for teaching, led him to address a glaring gap in the current educational system: appropriate safety education for kids.
His unique experience in ensuring safety in high tourism areas coupled with his passion for teaching, led him to address a glaring gap in the current educational system: appropriate safety education for kids.
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About the author
Adam Coughran is an industry leader in safety and security training for schools, businesses, and organizations. Adam is a veteran of Southern California law enforcement who utilized his expertise to found Safe Kids Inc. and Standards Training Group, organizations dedicated to helping deter crime and mitigate violence. He’s been recognized as one of the “Go-To” experts for national media outlets, appearing on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, FOX’s Nancy Grace, HLN’s MichaeLA, CBS This Morning, and numerous live interviews in addition to a contributing author to Newsweek Magazine.
