Active Shooter Preparedness

1. Evacuate

• Have an escape route and plan in mind
• Grab your cell phone, but leave the rest of your belongings behind
• Keep your hands visible

2. Hide Out

• Hide in an area out of the shooter's view
• Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
• Silence your cell phone

3. Take Action

• As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger
• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
• Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter

Call 911 when it is safe to do so

• Remain calm and follow instructions
• Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)
• Raise your hands and spread your fingers
• Keep your hands visible at all times
• Avoid quick movements toward officers, such as holding on to them for safety
• Avoid pointing, screaming and yelling
• Do not stop to ask officers for help or directions when evacuating

Information

• You should provide the law enforcement or the 911 operator with information
• Location of the active shooter
• Number of shooters
• Physical description of shooters
• Number and type of weapons held by shooters
• Number of potential victims at the location

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

Active Shooter Poster (PDF)