Active Shooter Training

An active shooter is one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Unlike a defined crime like murder or mass killing, the active shooter designation implies the event is ongoing and the response is immediate.

Run, Hide, Fight. These are not sequential steps but options to consider based on the situation. Running (evacuating) is the preferred option when safely possible, hiding (sheltering) when evacuation is not possible, and fighting as an absolute last resort.

Run (Evacuate). If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Leave belongings behind, help others escape if possible, prevent others from entering the area, and call 911 when safe.

Leave your belongings behind. Do not waste time gathering personal items. Your survival is the priority. Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.

Find a place out of the shooter's view. Lock and barricade the door using heavy furniture. Close, cover, and move away from windows. Turn off lights. Silence your cell phone (including vibration mode). Remain as quiet as possible. Hide behind large, thick objects for protection.

Fight only as an absolute last resort, when your life is in imminent danger and you cannot run or hide. Act with physical aggression, commit fully to your actions, improvise weapons (chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books), and recruit others to ambush the shooter.

Be aggressive and commit fully to your actions. Attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Improvise weapons from items in your environment such as chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, and books. Act as a group if possible to ambush the attacker with overwhelming force.

Most active shooter situations are over within 10 to 15 minutes, often before law enforcement arrives on scene. This is why individual preparedness and immediate response decisions are critical to survival.

Remain calm and follow all instructions. Keep your hands visible and empty at all times. Avoid pointing, screaming, or yelling. Do not hold anything that could be mistaken for a weapon. Do not stop officers to ask for help — their first priority is to neutralize the threat.

Law enforcement officers arriving on scene do not know who the shooter is. They will treat everyone as a potential threat until the situation is resolved. Visible, empty hands help officers quickly identify you as a non-threat. Holding any object could be mistaken for a weapon.

Location of the active shooter, number of shooters (if known), physical description of the shooter(s), number and type of weapons (if known), number of potential victims at the location, and your specific location within the building.

The primary mission of the first responding officers is to stop the active shooter as quickly as possible. They will proceed directly to the area of gunfire and will not stop to assist the injured. Rescue teams and medical personnel will follow behind to treat the wounded.

Warning signs include: increasingly erratic or aggressive behavior, fascination with weapons or previous attacks, paranoia or perceived injustice, statements about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live, increased substance abuse, social withdrawal, resistance to changes at work, and expressions of intent to harm others.

Sudden acquisition of multiple firearms, unexplained increase in absences, leaving or acquiring threatening or violent messages on social media, sympathizing with workplace violence perpetrators, observable increase in unsolicited comments about firearms/weapons/violence, and attempts to gain access to restricted areas.

It means reporting suspicious behavior, communications, or activities to the appropriate authorities (security, management, law enforcement) before an incident occurs. Early reporting of warning signs is one of the most effective means of preventing active shooter events.

Report to local law enforcement, your chain of command, security personnel, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), threat management or assessment teams, and through anonymous reporting hotlines if available. Multiple reporting channels increase the chance of intervention.

A threat assessment team evaluates reported behaviors of concern to determine the level of threat posed by an individual. The team develops intervention strategies to prevent violence, connects individuals with support resources, and monitors situations over time. They take a multidisciplinary approach including HR, security, mental health, and legal.

The pathway to violence describes the progressive steps that may lead to a violent act: grievance, ideation (violent thoughts), research and planning, preparation (acquiring weapons, surveillance), probing (testing security), breach (carrying out the attack). Intervention at any stage can prevent violence.

Shelter-in-place means finding a secure room, locking and barricading the door, staying away from windows and doors, remaining quiet, turning off lights, and waiting for an official all-clear from law enforcement. It is the implementation of the 'Hide' option when evacuation is not possible.

Evacuation routes and exits clearly marked, designated assembly points, methods for reporting emergencies, shelter-in-place locations, communication procedures, chain of command, training schedule, and integration with local law enforcement response plans.

DHS/CISA recommends conducting active shooter preparedness training and exercises at least annually. Drills should include tabletop exercises and, where appropriate, full-scale exercises coordinated with local law enforcement. New employees should receive training during orientation.

1) Direct pressure — using hands or cloth to apply firm pressure directly on a wound. 2) Wound packing — packing deep wounds tightly with gauze or clean cloth. 3) Tourniquet application — placing a tourniquet 2-3 inches above a life-threatening limb wound and tightening until bleeding stops.

Apply a tourniquet when there is life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg that cannot be controlled by direct pressure. Place the tourniquet 2-3 inches above the wound (between the wound and the heart), tighten until bleeding stops, note the time of application, and do not remove it — only medical professionals should remove tourniquets.

M - Massive hemorrhage (stop life-threatening bleeding), A - Airway (maintain an open airway), R - Respiration (treat chest wounds), C - Circulation (treat shock, apply IV), H - Hypothermia prevention (keep the casualty warm). In active shooter response, the M (massive hemorrhage/Stop the Bleed) is the most immediately actionable for bystanders.

False. Do not attempt to move wounded people unless they are in immediate danger. Wait for law enforcement to secure the area and for rescue teams/medical personnel to arrive. Moving victims prematurely could expose you and them to additional danger.

Avoid, Deny, Defend is an alternative framework to Run, Hide, Fight used by some organizations: Avoid — be aware of your environment, have an exit plan, move away from the threat. Deny — create distance, lock doors, barricade. Defend — fight back only if your life is at risk, commit fully, use improvised weapons.

Situational awareness is the foundation of personal safety. It means being aware of your surroundings, identifying exits and potential hiding places everywhere you go, recognizing potential threats early, and mentally rehearsing your response plan. It enables faster decision-making during a crisis.

Follow law enforcement instructions, evacuate to a designated assembly area, identify yourself and keep hands visible, provide first aid if trained and it is safe, account for all personnel, do not re-enter the building, preserve the crime scene, and prepare to provide a witness statement.

Common responses include: acute stress reaction, difficulty concentrating, confusion, time distortion, tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, trembling, nausea, and emotional numbness during the event. Afterward: PTSD symptoms, survivor's guilt, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. Seeking professional help is strongly recommended.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefings, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, referrals to professional mental health counselors, long-term psychological support, family support services, a designated point of contact for affected personnel, and an after-action review to improve future preparedness.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) uses building design and environmental features to reduce vulnerability. Elements include: natural surveillance (clear sight lines), access control (limited entry points with security measures), territorial reinforcement (clear boundaries), and maintenance (well-maintained spaces signal active monitoring).

False. Active shooter events can occur anywhere — workplaces, schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, outdoor events, healthcare facilities, transportation hubs, and any location where people gather. Preparedness principles apply to all environments.

The PA system provides emergency notifications including the nature of the threat, location of the shooter if known, recommended actions (evacuate/shelter-in-place), and the all-clear signal. Having a clear, practiced emergency communication plan — including plain language codes — is critical for effective building-wide response.

Know at least two exits from every room and building you regularly occupy. Identify potential hiding spots with lockable doors and heavy furniture. Keep your phone charged. Know your organization's emergency notification system. Take first aid/Stop the Bleed training. Discuss plans with family members. Identify an out-of-area contact person.

Cover provides protection from gunfire — thick concrete walls, steel doors, engine blocks, large trees. Concealment hides you from view but may not stop bullets — drywall, curtains, bushes, office furniture. In an active shooter situation, seek cover when possible; use concealment when cover is unavailable.

Lock the door if possible. Stack heavy furniture (desks, filing cabinets, tables) against the door. Use belts or cords to secure door handles to fixed objects. Place door wedges or stoppers at the base. If the door opens outward, use a belt or cord to tie the closer arm or handle to a fixed point. The goal is to delay the shooter's entry.

Immediately get into the nearest room and secure the door. Hallways offer no cover or concealment and make you an easy target. If no room is accessible, run toward the nearest exit. Do not remain in the hallway — it is the most dangerous location during an active shooter event.

True. FBI studies show that the majority of active shooters obtained their firearms legally. This is why behavioral indicators and pre-attack warning signs — rather than solely relying on access controls — are critical for prevention.

An EAP is a written document required by OSHA for certain employers that describes procedures for handling emergencies including active shooter events. It includes evacuation procedures, shelter-in-place protocols, notification methods, contact information, and training requirements. Regular drills and updates make the plan effective.

Organizations should invite law enforcement to conduct vulnerability assessments, share building floor plans and access points, conduct joint training exercises, establish communication protocols, identify key contacts, and coordinate response procedures. Law enforcement familiarity with the facility significantly improves response time and effectiveness.

Consider: proximity to the shooter, availability of escape routes, your physical ability to run, whether doors can be locked/barricaded, presence of others who need assistance, availability of improvised weapons, and whether the shooter is between you and the exit. The decision must be made quickly based on the specific circumstances.

The bystander effect is the tendency for individuals to take no action when others are present, assuming someone else will act. In an active shooter event, this can lead to delayed response, failure to call 911, failure to alert others, or freezing in place. Training helps overcome this by providing clear action steps.

If you cannot speak safely, call 911 and leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen. Some 911 systems allow texting — text your location and situation. If possible, use a pre-established code word with your organization. Do not hang up unless instructed — the open line provides valuable intelligence to responders.

A significant percentage — most active shooter events last only 10 to 15 minutes and are often over before law enforcement can arrive. Approximately 60% of active shooter incidents end before police arrive, either because the shooter stops, flees, or is subdued by bystanders. This underscores why individual response is critical.

ALICE stands for Alert (notify people of the threat), Lockdown (barricade if evacuation is not possible), Inform (provide real-time updates on shooter location), Counter (as a last resort, create distraction/noise to disrupt the shooter), Evacuate (get out when safe). ALICE is an options-based approach used by many schools and organizations as an alternative to Run-Hide-Fight.

Plain language means using clear, everyday terms instead of codes during emergencies. For example, 'Active shooter in Building A, second floor — evacuate immediately' is more effective than coded announcements. DHS recommends plain language because codes may not be understood by visitors, new employees, or responding agencies from different jurisdictions.