06 Jun Active Shooter Preparedness

Active Shooter Preparedness

An active shooter situation is a rapidly evolving emergency involving an individual actively attempting to kill or injure people in a populated area. These incidents are unpredictable and may end before law enforcement arrives. Knowing how to respond can improve your ability to protect yourself and others.

Employees should be familiar with their workplace Emergency Action Plan, emergency notification procedures, exits, and evacuation routes. If you observe threatening behavior or become aware of a credible threat, report it through established workplace procedures or to law enforcement as appropriate. Avoid attempting to diagnose or predict violence based solely on someone’s appearance, personality, mental health, or other personal characteristics.

Run – Hide – Fight

Federal emergency-preparedness guidance commonly emphasizes three basic response options: Run, Hide, Fight. Your best response will depend on the circumstances and the location of the threat.

Run – Evacuate if Possible

If a safe escape route is available:

• Leave the area immediately and encourage others to leave with you.
• Know alternate exits and escape routes whenever possible.
• Leave personal belongings behind.
• Do not enter an area where the shooter may be located.
• Call 911 when you are in a safe location.
• Keep your hands visible when approaching law enforcement.
• Follow officers’ instructions and do not make sudden movements toward them.

Do not remain in danger simply because others are unwilling or unable to evacuate.

Hide – Find a Secure Location

If evacuation is not possible, find a location that provides protection and reduces the shooter’s ability to find or reach you.

• Lock the door and barricade it with heavy furniture when possible.
• Stay out of the shooter’s view and away from windows.
• Silence cell phones and other electronic devices.
• Turn off lights, radios, and other sources of sound when appropriate.
• Remain quiet and avoid unnecessary movement.
• Call or text 911 when it is safe to do so and provide whatever information you can.

Remain sheltered until law enforcement instructs you otherwise or conditions require you to move.

Fight – As a Last Resort

If you cannot safely evacuate or hide and you face an immediate threat to your life, defending yourself may become a last resort. Act decisively, work with others when possible, use available objects to disrupt the attack, and focus on creating an opportunity to escape or survive.

When Law Enforcement Arrives

Officers responding to an active shooter incident will initially focus on stopping the threat. When officers arrive:

• Remain calm and follow their instructions.
• Put down anything you are carrying.
• Keep your hands empty, raised, and visible.
• Avoid pointing, yelling, grabbing officers, or making sudden movements.
• Provide information about the shooter’s location, description, weapons, or number of shooters if known.

Emergency medical assistance for injured persons may follow once responders have addressed the immediate threat.

Prepare Before an Emergency

Preparation can make it easier to respond during a rapidly changing emergency. Employees should know:

• How emergency notifications will be communicated.
• At least two evacuation routes when available.
• Where exits and designated assembly areas are located.
• How and when to contact emergency services.
• The company’s procedures for evacuation, sheltering, and accounting for employees.

Employers should incorporate active shooter and workplace violence considerations into applicable emergency planning, train employees on established procedures, and periodically review or practice the plan.

Remember: Active shooter situations are unpredictable. Be aware of your surroundings, know your exits, report credible threats, and remember your options: Run, Hide, Fight.