Active Shooter Preparedness

By: Melody Rabor-Dizon

 

So, just how exactly are we to react or respond when there is an active shooter who is in front of you?

For purposes of saving lives, allow me to share resources that will be helpful in the event you are faced with active violence. I seriously hope this does not happen to anyone. There shouldn’t be any of this in the first place. Planning is vital, execution of the plan is another while escaping from a viable imminent threat is immediate to control and mitigate impending danger.

Per experts of gun violence, Homeland Security and Illinois Emergency Medical Association, we all have to be aware of our surroundings at all times.

Profile of an Active Shooter

An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. 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.

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. Run

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 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 911, 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. Fight 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

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 until law enforcement authorities have instructed you to do so.

How to respond when law enforcement arrives

To best prepare your staff for an active shooter situation, create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), and conduct training exercises. Together, the EAP and training exercises will prepare your staff to effectively respond and help minimize loss of life. Components of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Create the EAP with input from several stakeholders including your human resources department, your training department (if one exists), facility owners / operators, your property manager, and local law enforcement and/or emergency responders.

An effective EAP includes:

• A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies

• An evacuation policy and procedure

• Emergency escape procedures and route assignments (i.e., floor plans, safe areas

• Contact information for, and responsibilities of individuals to be contacted under the EAP

• Information concerning local area hospitals (i.e., name, telephone number, and distance from your location)

• An emergency notification system to alert various parties of an emergency including: –

o – Individuals at remote locations within premises

o – Local law enforcement

o – Local area hospitals

Components of Training Exercises

The most effective way to train your staff to respond to an active shooter situation is to conduct mock active shooter training exercises. Local law enforcement is an excellent resource in designing training exercises.

• Recognizing the sound of gunshots

• Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard and/or when a shooting is witnessed:

– Run – Hide – Fight the shooter as a last resort

• Calling 911

• Reacting when law enforcement arrives

• Adopting the survival mind set during times of crisis

4. Training your staff for an active shooter situation Additional Ways to Prepare For and Prevent an Active Shooter Situation

• Preparedness – Ensure that your facility has at least two evacuation routes

– Post evacuation routes in conspicuous locations throughout your facility

– Include local law enforcement and first responders during training exercises

– Encourage law enforcement, emergency responders, SWAT teams, K-9 teams, and bomb squads to train for an active shooter scenario at your location

• Prevention

– Foster a respectful workplace

– Be aware of indications of workplace violence and take remedial actions accordingly

For more information on creating an EAP contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, www.osha.gov

Recognizing signs of potential workplace violence an active shooter may be a current or former employee. alert your human resources department if you believe an employee exhibits potentially violent behavior. indicators of potentially violent behavior may include one or more of the following:

• Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs

• Unexplained increase in absenteeism, and/or vague physical complaints

• Depression/Withdrawal

• Increased severe mood swings, and noticeably unstable or emotional responses

• Increasingly talks of problems at home

• Increase in unsolicited comments about violence, firearms, and other dangerous weapons and violent crimes

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.

CALL 911 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!

In a perfect world, where everyone gets along, having to put security measures in place sometimes throw me. Aren’t they supposed to know you, they shouldn’t do that? I don’t know where our future is going with this. It will only get worse. There’s stricter gun laws, remote schooling, checkpoints, bag-search to know what is allowed to bring to concerts or theatres. The list can go on and there’s be other forms of social instability while here we are hanging on to dear life, fearful where the next attack maybe. Mental health screenings and mental health professionals add more to the already divided bipartisan. God, the Father, guide us and be with us. Thank you.