What would you do if an active shooter walked into your church sanctuary or a distraught parent entered your child’s daycare?
Sparked by these sadly all-too-common scenarios, Kansas CPR Training, an emergency preparedness training provider with more than 15 years of experience, has expanded its life-saving curriculum by introducing Active Violence Immediate Response Training (AVIRT). The new program is designed to help businesses, schools, churches, childcare providers, and other organizations prepare for acts of violence and critical emergencies.
A passionate Dean Nuss, owner of Great Bend-based Kansas CPR Training, said the inspiration for bringing the Health Safety Institute program to Kansas began nearly a year ago while he was teaching a medical response class for a local church safety team.
"That experience opened my eyes to a growing need for organizations to prepare not only for medical emergencies but also for acts of violence," Nuss said. "As we shared the idea with churches, businesses, schools, and childcare providers across Kansas, the response confirmed that organizations wanted practical, realistic training to help prepare for situations they hope they never experience."
During his research, Nuss discovered that Kansas CPR Training is the only Kansas-based training company offering HSI’s AVIRT program. Previously, several Kansas organizations had to contract with out-of-state providers, including some from Texas, to receive this specialized instruction. Nuss said he believed local organizations deserved access to the nationally recognized program from a trusted, in-state company.
“Recent violent incidents within the local community further reinforced the importance of the training, serving as a reminder that emergencies can happen anywhere, even in communities considered safe,” Nuss said. He noted that these incidents raised a critical question for local employers and administrators regarding whether their employees would know how to act if violence entered their workplace, church, school, or daycare.
“The AVIRT curriculum focuses on increasing situational awareness, improving decision-making during high-stress situations, teaching practical survival strategies, and providing life-saving bleeding control skills until emergency responders arrive,” he said. Participants also learn to recognize warning signs and embrace the public safety message, "If You See Something, Say Something."
Through video and hands-on lessons, the three-hour course covers first aid, how to disarm a subject, what can be used as a defensive weapon and other topics.
Nuss emphasized that the program is adaptable and supports organizations regardless of their security philosophy. “The course complements existing emergency procedures and benefits everyone, whether an organization follows a non-violent response model or employs trained, authorized armed security personnel,” he said.
Kansas CPR Training has also received authorization through Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) to provide this specialized, in-person training for childcare professionals. Participants who complete the course receive three approved Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) continuing education hours that apply toward their annual State of Kansas training requirements.
To ensure the training reflects real-world emergency response considerations, Kansas CPR Training is collaborating with members of the Great Bend Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Office to gather input regarding law enforcement response procedures and best practices.
In addition to classroom instruction, every participating organization receives a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan and Training Manual developed by Kansas CPR Training. This customizable resource provides guidance for active violence incidents, severe weather, fire emergencies, bomb threats, medical emergencies, lockdowns, shelter-in-place procedures and reunification protocols, allowing organizations to conduct future staff training.
"Our goal is not to create fear," Nuss said. "Our goal is to replace uncertainty with preparation, confidence, and hope. I sincerely hope no one ever has to use the information taught during an AVIRT class. However, if this training helps save even one life in Kansas, every hour invested in developing this program will have been worthwhile."
Kansas CPR Training serves as an emergency preparedness partner for Kansas organizations by providing CPR and First Aid certification, AVIRT instruction, emergency operations plans, safety assessments and consulting services.
Organizations interested in scheduling an AVIRT training program or obtaining more information can contact Kansas CPR Training directly at 2609 23rd St, Great Bend, 620-786-5372 or kansasCPRtraining@gmail.com, or visit kansascprtraining.com.