Active Shooter

You should be ready to respond quickly to an active shooter incident. “An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people inside an occupied structure or outside in a populated area. In most cases there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. It is important to be prepared for such an event.” (Excerpt from Department of Homeland Security video.)

It is critical that you have a plan to implement for active shooter situations. The plan should give consideration to each of the elements below where appropriate.

Advance Preparation

• Identify potential escape routes.

• If an S&I facility is adjacent to a school, S&I administrators (or the employee assigned to be responsible for safety matters) should consult

• annually with school administrators to coordinate joint lockdown procedures as well as the best ways to communicate with the school during an incident.

• Watch and discuss “Run, Hide, Fight—Surviving an Active Shooter Event” (5:55).

During the Incident

• Help students remain calm.

• Encourage students to silence their electronic devices.

• If law enforcement has not arrived on the scene, contact them as soon as it is safe to do so.

• If there is an exchange of gunfire between law enforcement and an intruder, immediately lie down and remain on the ground until instructed by law enforcement to move.

• To the extent possible, ensure that all students are accounted for.

• As indicated below, be prepared to implement “Run, Hide, Fight” (or elements of it).

1. 1. Run

   2. Hide

   3. Fight

THREAT INSIDE BUILDING (Run)

• Have an escape route and plan in mind (if evacuation is a safer alternative than remaining in place, move quickly to the nearest safe exit and away from the building or source of danger).

• Leave personal belongings behind.

• Keep your hands visible at all times.

• Exit quietly.

THREAT INSIDE BUILDING (Hide)

• Close, barricade (block entry), and lock—if possible—interior doors in your room or location.

• Remain low to the ground.

• Stay away from windows and doors (close blinds, curtains, or cover classroom door windows if it is safe to do so).

• Hide in an area out of the active shooter’s view.

THREAT INSIDE BUILDING (Fight)

• Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger.

• Attempt to incapacitate the active shooter.

• Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter.

THREAT OUTSIDE BUILDING

• Implement the above bulleted items in this column as needed.

• Lock exterior doors (this should be done by assigned personnel).*

* If you are assigned to lock exterior doors you may need to determine if it is safe to let students inside who are moving toward the building for safety.

After the Incident

See the “Incident Reporting” page of this site for instructions on reporting the incident.