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Active Shooter: How to Respond

After viewing the below link, all faculty, staff and students should review the below listed guidelines for responding to a situation involving an active shooter on our campus.

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 firearm(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter
    situations are often over within a few minutes, sometimes before law enforcement is able to arrive at the scene.

How to Respond When an Active Shooter is in your Vicinity

  1. Evacuate when possible
    • Have an escape route and plan in mind
    • Leave your belongings behind
    • Help others escape, if possible
    • Keep your hands visible and follow the instructions of any police officers
    • Do not attempt to move wounded people
    • Call 911 when you are safe
  2. Hide out when necessary
    • Be out of the active shooter’s view
    • Seek protection if you hear shots fired (i.e., walls, doors, closed rooms, large items, etc.)
    • Lock the door
    • Blockade the door with heavy furniture
    • Turn off any source of noise (i.e. radios, televisions, cell phones on silent)
    • Remain quiet and 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. Take action against the active shooter if necessary
    • Last resort
    • Attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter
    • Act as aggressively as possible against him/her
    • Throw items and improvise weapons
    • Yell
    • Commit to your actions including disarming shooter

How to Respond When Law Enforcement Arrives

  • Law enforcement’s purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard.
  • Remain calm, and follow the officers’ instructions
  • Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets, cell phones)
  • Immediately raise hands and spread fingers (keep hands visible at all times)
  • Avoid making quick movements toward officers

Information to Provide to Law Enforcement or 911 Operator:

  • Location of active shooter
  • Number of shooters, if more than one
  • Physical description of shooter(s)
  • Number of potential victims at the location
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