Active Shooter Training
Be Smarter and Safer
Steps for a successful plan to stay alive in an active shooter event
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Be Aware: Being aware of your surroundings in an active shooter incident is of paramount importance for personal safety and effective response. This awareness involves staying vigilant and attentive to your environment, understanding potential escape routes, and being mindful of any unusual behaviors or signs of danger. By staying aware, individuals can quickly assess the situation, make informed decisions, and take necessary actions to protect themselves and others. It’s crucial to note exits, hiding places, and barriers that could provide cover. Additionally, being attuned to the sounds of gunshots, alarms, or shouts can help you react swiftly and appropriately. In such critical situations, staying aware can save precious seconds and enable individuals to make split-second decisions that can make a significant difference in their safety and the safety of those around them.
Run and Escape if there is a clear path
Run: If there’s a safe and clear path to escape, try to run away from the danger. Encourage others to follow you, but don’t wait for them if they hesitate. Keep your hands visible, move quickly, and don’t run in a straight line if possible.
Hide and Barricade and Stay Silent
Hide: If you can’t safely escape, find a place to hide. Look for a secure room or area that can be locked or barricaded. Turn off the lights, silence your phone, and stay as quiet as possible. Stay away from windows and doors, and try to remain unseen. Stay Silent: If you’re hiding, avoid making noise. Silence your phone, and communicate quietly with others in your hiding place.
Notify – Call 911 – Remember that 69% of Active Shooter events last less than 5min
Notify: Call emergency services (911 or the appropriate emergency number in your country) as soon as it’s safe to do so. Provide them with accurate and concise information about your location, the number of shooters, and any injuries you’re aware of.
Be Calm
Stay Calm: Panicking can make the situation more dangerous. Try to remain as calm as possible, take deep breaths, and focus on your plan for staying safe. Observe: If you’re in a safe location and can do so discreetly, try to gather information about the shooter(s) and their location. This information can be valuable to law enforcement.
Learn how to Defend
Fight: If you are confronted by the shooter, it may become necessary to fight for your life. Use anything available as a weapon, such as chairs, fire extinguishers, or pens. Aim for vulnerable areas such as the eyes, throat, or groin. Work together with others to overwhelm the shooter.
Improvised Weapons
Improvised Weapons: Pen, Scissors, Letter opener, Dry Eraser Spray, Screwdriver, Laptop, Computer Monitor, Hairspray, Baseball Bat, and Fire Extinguisher.
Security Mindset – Part of Situational Awarenss
Security Mindset: A security mindset refers to an individual’s way of thinking and approaching situations with a strong focus on security and risk management. It involves being aware of potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks in various contexts and taking proactive measures to mitigate them. Whether in the realm of technology, personal safety, or any other aspect of life, adopting a security mindset is essential to safeguarding oneself, systems, and assets.
Overall, a security mindset is about being proactive, vigilant, and prepared in the face of potential risks and threats. It’s a way of thinking that helps individuals and organizations create a safer and more secure environment in an ever-evolving world.
Survival Mindset – Desire to Survive
Survival Mindset: The survival mindset refers to a psychological and emotional state in which an individual is focused on adapting, persevering, and thriving in challenging or life-threatening situations. It involves a combination of mental, emotional, and practical strategies that enable a person to effectively navigate and overcome difficult circumstances. This mindset is often associated with individuals who find themselves in extreme conditions such as survival situations, emergencies, disasters, or high-stress environments.
It’s important to note that the survival mindset isn’t just relevant in extreme situations. People often draw upon these qualities in everyday life to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Developing a survival mindset involves self-awareness, training, practice, and a commitment to personal growth and development.
Mindset of the Active Shooter
Mindset of Shooter: The mindset of an active shooter is often characterized by a dangerous blend of anger, isolation, and a distorted desire for control and recognition. Fueled by intense resentment or grievances, they might perceive themselves as victims of perceived injustices or failures. This twisted sense of victimhood can manifest as a desire to regain control and dominance through violent means. A deep-seated need for acknowledgment and notoriety drives them to commit unspeakable acts, as they believe that their actions will force the world to take notice of their pain. This toxic mixture of emotions, coupled with potential mental health issues, can create a perfect storm that drives them to disregard the lives of others and commit acts of violence that shatter communities and incite fear.
Reuniting After Event
Follow Law Enforcement Instructions: If law enforcement arrives, follow their instructions carefully. Keep your hands visible and avoid sudden movements. They might not know who the shooter is, so they’ll treat everyone as a potential threat until they can determine otherwise.
Reunite: Once the situation is under control and it’s safe to do so, attempt to reunite with loved ones or coworkers if you were separated during the incident.