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SURVING AN

ACTIVE SHOOTER

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Course Outline

Discuss history of active shooting incidents

Define the following: what is an ‘active shooter’?

Steps that will increase surviving an active shooter incident.

1. Although acts of workplace violence cannot be precisely predicted, an awareness and knowledge of the potential risk factors can help you respond appropriately and minimize the risk of violence and injury.

A violent act is almost always preceded by a number of warning signs or changes in behavior. A knowledge of how to recognize the early warning signs of a potentially violent person or situation can help you identify a potential problem and deal with it appropriately in order to prevent an incident of violence from happening.

3. Threats and incidents of workplace violence must be properly assessed, evaluated and managed to a conclusion. All threats and acts of violence must be appropriately documented and reported in accordance with the Workplace Violence Prevention Policy.

4. …in order to keep a potentially violent situation from escalating.

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History

1966 – University of Texas 16 killed 31 wounded

As of 21 Dec. through August there were 367 mass shootings in the U.S. (4 or more people were shot)

Why? Reasons can be just about anything including robbery, family issues, gangs, work, racial, religious, political and more.

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Virginia Tech - April 16, 2007

Seung Hui Cho’s shooting spree in Norris Hall, which lasted 11 minutes.
He fired 174 rounds and killed 30 people in Norris Hall plus himself and wounded 17.
Shooting events are usually over very quickly (though prolonged events can happen)

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Where are we now?

Discuss history of active shooting incidents

Define the following: what is an ‘active shooter’?

Steps that will increase surviving an active shooter incident.

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The Active Shooter Defined

An “Active Shooter” is an individual engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, in most cases, active shooters use firearms.

They are NOT trying to rob you.

Their purpose is KILLING.

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Mentality of Active Shooter

Desire is to kill and seriously injure without concern for his safety or threat of capture
Normally has intended victims and will search them out
Accepts targets of opportunity while searching for or after finding intended victims
Will continue to move throughout building/area until stopped by law enforcement, suicide, mission accomplished or other intervention

* Over 80% of the time the shooter is a male

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What to Do?

You need to take direct responsibility for your personal safety and security.

RUN

HIDE

FIGHT

Employees should be encouraged to report threats or acts of workplace violence without fear of retaliation. When an employer has been made aware of a threat, the employer has an obligation to respond to a potential workplace hazard in order to protect its employees. Not responding may be grounds for a Cal-OSHA citation or legal liability, especially if the threat is carried out.

Each threat must be properly assessed, evaluated and managed to conclusion. Always consider information reported to be serious and valid until shown otherwise through an investigation.

Your investigation report should consider how the situation would appear 12 months later if the alleged perpetrator attempted to carry out the threat. The report should contain an accurate reflection of the facts of the events and that all reasonable steps possible were taken based on available data.

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RUN

If you know the path is safe GET OUT.

Move quickly; don’t wait for others to validate your decision

Leave belongings behind

DO tell others to follow as you leave.

DON’T pull the fire alarm

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HIDE

If you can’t get out, get into a room if possible or hide so you can’t be seen.

- Lock the door.

- Block/barricade the door using whatever is available

(door wedge, desks, tables, file cabinets, books, other

furniture)

- If safe allow others to seek refuge with you

- Call 911 when it is safe to do so

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HIDE

- Close blinds

- Block windows

- Turn off electronics (TV, radio, etc)

- Dim or face computer monitors away from

windows or doors

- Silence cell phones (including vibrate mode)

- Keep occupants calm and quiet

DOORS, WINDOWS, OPENINGS, and NOISE

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HIDE

After securing the room. People should be positioned out of sight and behind items that might offer additional protection – walls, desks, file cabinets, etc.

- Separate people into smaller groups

- Stay low- reduce your profile, be as far away from the source of the shooting as possible (lie on the floor on the far side of the room.

- Remain calm – it can have a contagious effect on others

- Keep others focused on survival

DOORS, WINDOWS, OPENINGS, and NOISE

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HIDE

Attempts to rescue people should only be made if that can be done without further endangering the persons inside a secured area

The shooter may bang on the door and yell for help to entice you to open the door

Remember the safety of the masses versus the safety of a few

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HIDE

If there is any doubt to the safety of the individuals inside the room, the area needs to remain secured

During the Virginia Tech shootings people who did take refuge in locked rooms were badly frightened by gunfire and the general commotion, but all of them survived.

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FIGHT

The shooter is there to kill people.

If there is no other option subdue the shooter, this is a last resort.

You ARE fighting for your life.

What to do?

Throw Club Tackle

Stab Punch Improvise

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FIGHT

Isolate the weapon
Fight as a group
Use weapons

Butterknife Fork

Pencil/pen Letter Opener

Scissors Fire Extinguisher

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FIGHT

Watch from 1:20 to 1:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0csUrGpd5A
Remember, this is the shooters first time doing this to. They aren’t ready for hiccups in their plan.
Remember a gun can only hurt what it points at and can only shoot so many times before needing to be reloaded.
In class exercises

Point of a video, Inexperienced little people can win against bigger more experienced people. You can do this.

Exercises

1^st scenario: Ask the class what weapons are in the room right now. Ask them what they would do if they heard gunshots outside the room right now? Lock door? Where to escape? Where to hide? They need to do this for their place at work. Only if you can’t flee or secure your hiding spot would you attack back.

Scenario 2: Have big volunteer. The “Attacker” Give him nerf gun. Pistol or rifle. Rifle will be easier for you to point away but harder to take away. Instruct him to wait outside the door. To come in and shoot people with the Nerf gun when he comes in. Don’t aim for the head or try to actually hurt anyone.

You wait on the other side of the door so it opens into you. Have someone call him to start. When he points the gun in the room as the door opens, grab the barrel of the gun and twist it out of his hand. Practice before at home with someone. Point out that the barrel is a lever providing you leverage. At worst you can point the gun in a good place, at best you can take it. Remind them, you aren’t a highly trained martial artist or anything.

Ask the attacker if this was a challenge for them.

Scenario 3: Tell the attacker to wait outside just like last time for your call. Have the attacker leave the room.

Have 4 other volunteers. Instruct each one to grab each limb as he comes in the door. They should be to the side of the door. The two that are taking the arms should direct the arms up in the air. As a group they should try to lower him to the ground. Remind them, this is just an exercise and they aren’t trying to hurt anyone. Ask if they have any medical issues that would make this not a good exercise for them to do.

End result should be attacker on ground or at least controlled with gun not aimed at people.

Talk through scenarios that are likely for this place of business. Customers, clients, workers, etc.

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Law Enforcement Objective

Law enforcement will immediately respond to the area

Law enforcement’s goal is to locate, contain, and stop the shooter

The safest place for you to be is inside a secure room

The shooter may not flee when law enforcement enters the building. Remember the shooter’s mindset may not be escape.

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Law Enforcement Responders

When law enforcement officers enter, do not present a threat to them

Do not point at them or the shooter

Do not make quick movements

Do not run towards them or attempt to hug them

Do not scream or yell

Keep your hands up and obey directions

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Law Enforcement Responders

Evacuation

- Safety corridors will be established. This may be time consuming

- Remain in secure areas until instructed otherwise

- You may have weapons pointed in your direction

- You may be instructed to keep your hands on your head

- You may be searched and handcuffed

- You will be escorted out of the building by law enforcement personnel

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Law Enforcement Responders

Injured persons

-Initial responding officers will not treat injured or begin evacuation until the threat is neutralized or the area is secure.

-You may need to explain this to others in an attempt to calm them

-Once the shooter is contained, officers or first responders will begin treatment and evacuation

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The Investigation

The entire area will be treated as a crime scene.

Once you have been evacuated you will not be permitted to retrieve items or access the crime scene.

After evacuation you will be taken to a holding area for medical care, interviewing, counseling, etc.

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The Press

The press will be onsite.
They are not here to provide first aid, secure the scene, or other onsite need.
They will aggressively try to talk to everyone.
At a time of high stress you may say something you later regret.
Avoid the press and direct them to your management team. To someone trained and prepared to talk to the press.

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Summary

Active Shooter

You should take a leadership role

“RUN”

“HIDE”

“FIGHT”

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Summary

Law enforcement response

- Objective is to neutralize threat

- Evacuation

- Follow up medical care, interview, counseling

- Investigation

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QUESTIONS?