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Active Shooter Preparedness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONSE

Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation. Regardless of the type of organization, individuals presented with an active shooter incident will have three response options: "RUN, HIDE, or FIGHT".
 

Good practices for coping with an active shooter situation

  • Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers

  • Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit

  • If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door

  • If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door

  • As a last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down. When the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.

 

 

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that customers and clients are likely to follow the lead of employees and managers during an active shooter situation.

 

1. GET OUT

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind

  • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow

  • Leave your belongings behind

  • Help others escape, if possible

  • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be

  • Keep your hands visible

  • Follow the instructions of any police officers

  • Do not attempt to move wounded people

  • Call 911 when you are safe
     

2. HIDE OUT

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:

  • Be out of the active shooter's view

  • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)

  • Not trap you or restrict your options for movement

To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:

  • Lock the door

  • Blockade the door with heavy furniture

If the active shooter is nearby:

  • Lock the door

  • Silence your cell phone and/or pager

  • Turn off any source of noise (i.e., radios, televisions)

  • Hide behind large items (i.e., cabinets, desks)

  • Remain quiet

If evacuation and hiding out are not possible:

  • Remain calm

  • Dial 9-1-1, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter's location

  • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen
     

3. TAKE OUT

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:

  • Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her

  • Throwing items and improvising weapons

  • Yelling

  • Committing to your actions

 

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES

Law enforcement's purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard.

  • Officers may wear regular patrol uniforms or external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment

  • Officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, handguns

  • Officers may use pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation

  • Officers may shout commands, and may push individuals to the ground for their safety
     

How to react when law enforcement arrives:

  • Remain calm, and follow officers' instructions

  • Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)

  • Immediately raise hands and spread fingers

  • Keep hands visible at all times

  • Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as attempting to hold on to them for safety

  • Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling

  • Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises

Information to provide to law enforcement or 9-1-1 operator:

  • Location of the active shooter

  • Number of shooters, if more than one

  • Physical description of shooter/s

  • Number and type of weapons held by the shooter(s)

  • Number of potential victims at the location
     

The first officers to arrive to the scene will not stop to help injured persons. Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers. These rescue teams will treat and remove any injured persons. They may also call upon able-bodied individuals to assist in removing the wounded from the premises.
 

Once you have reached a safe location or an assembly point, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control, and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Do not leave the safe location or assembly point until law enforcement authorities have instructed you to do so.

 

Adapted from Department of Homeland Security publication "Active Shooter: How to Respond"

DEFINE

 "Active Shooter" or "Active Killer" names a type of mass murder marked by rapidity, scale, randomness and suicide. The phenomenon is exemplified by events at Columbine High School,Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Parliament Hill, Ottawa and many others.

 

Department of Homeland Security defines the Active Shooter as: 

"an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearm[s] and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims."

 

Most incidents occur at locations in which the killers find little impediment in pressing their attack. Locations are generally described as soft targets, that is, they carry limited security measures to protect members of the public. In most instances, shooters commit suicide, are shot by police, or surrender when confrontation with responding law enforcement becomes unavoidable. According to New York City Police Department (NYPD) statistics, 46 percent of active shooter incidents are ended by the application of force by police or security, 40 percent end in the shooter’s suicide, 14 percent of the time the shooter surrenders or, in less than 1 percent of cases, the violence ends with the attacker fleeing.

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