Sales of bulletproof shelters for classrooms are booming in the wake of the Florida high school shooting that killed 17 students and staff members this Valentines Day.

James Haslem, the creator of one such bulletproof barricade, claims sales of his product have increased "dramatically" since the shooting. The businessman has talked to more than 100 school districts about his product – a customizable steel and bulletproof-glass structure that can be installed in classrooms – in the first two months of this year alone.

The claim mirrors similar reports from bulletproof backpack manufacturers, many of whom said sales of their wearable armour skyrocketed after the shooting.

Mr Haslem said he has already installed his invention in at least three different schools, and has contracts out with dozens more. And he thinks the sales will only go up from here.

“If people were simply made aware of the fact that this does exist, everybody – from the president down to the janitor at the school – would want an easy solution,” he told The Independent.

Mr Haslem says his products can fit up to 35 people and, if installed correctly, get them all to safety within 30 seconds. The idea is to give students and staff a safe place to hide if a shooter enters the building, as one did in Florida just weeks ago. When a gunman started spraying bullets in the Parkland high school that day, terrified students had to huddle for safety in supply cabinets.

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Politicians, educators, and even students have hotly debated how best to protect America’s children since the shooting. Some – including many of the outspoken Parkland students – have called for stricter gun control laws. Others, like President Donald Trump, have suggested arming teachers in self-defence.

Mr Haslem thinks his product would suit both factions, if they were aware of its existence.

“The main thing is that the vast majority of the population doesn’t know that we have a solution [that] doesn’t cause an armed shoot-out in the OK Corral with teachers,” he said.

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Healdton Schools in Oklahoma became the first school district to install the structures in 2014, primarily as a way to protect against tornadoes. Danny Legg, a Healdton Schools graduate who lost her son in a tornado, contacted the district about getting the storm- and bullet-proof shelters installed.

Now, Superintendent Terry Shaw says they’re pleased to have them as protection against school shooters, too.

The district has so far installed five shelters in the elementary school and two in the middle school. They are working on getting several installed in the high school as well. The schools run drills every semester to coach students and staff in how to use the shelters.