Active Shooter Response

How to respond when an active shooter is in your vicinity:

RUN

• Have an escape route and plan in mind.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Keep your hands visible.

HIDE

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

FIGHT

• 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

How to Respond When Law Enforcement Arrives

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

Information You Should Provide to Law Enforcement or 911 Operator

• 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 location

Un-Securing an Area

• Consider risks before un-securing rooms.
• Remember, the shooter may not stop until they are engaged by police.
• Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe space; do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
• Efforts to rescue people should only be attempted if it can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area.
• Consider the safety of many versus the safety of a few.
• If doubt exists for the safety of the individuals inside the room, the area should remain secured.