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SURVING AN

ACTIVE SHOOTER

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Course Outline

  1. 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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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?

  1. 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

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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

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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?