Hw t Prepare Yur Business Fr an Active Shter Prvided by: SilverStne Grup 11516 Miracle Hills Drive Omaha, NE 68154 Tel: 402-964-5400
Active Shter Guide Training Yur Staff fr an Active Shter Situatin An active shter is an individual actively engaged in killing r attempting t kill peple in a cnfined and ppulated area. T best prepare yur staff fr an active shter situatin, create an emergency actin plan (EAP) and cnduct training exercises. Tgether, the EAP and training exercises will prepare yur staff t effectively respnd and help minimize lss f life. Cmpnents f an EAP Create the EAP with input frm several stakehlders, including HR, yur training department (if ne exists), facility wners r peratrs, yur prperty manager, and lcal emergency respnders. An effective EAP includes the fllwing: A preferred methd fr reprting fires and ther emergencies An evacuatin plicy and prcedure Emergency escape prcedures and rute assignments (e.g., flr plans r safe areas) Cntact infrmatin fr, and respnsibilities f, individuals t be cntacted under the EAP Infrmatin cncerning lcal area hspitals (e.g., the name, telephne number and distance frm yur lcatin) An emergency ntificatin system t alert varius parties f an emergency, including the fllwing: Individuals at remte lcatins within premises Lcal law enfrcement Lcal area hspitals Cmpnents f Training Exercises The mst effective way t train yur staff t respnd t an active shter situatin is t cnduct mck active shter training exercises. Lcal law enfrcement is an excellent resurce in designing training exercises. Training cmpnents may include the fllwing: Recgnizing the sund f gunshts Reacting quickly when gunshts are heard and/r when a shting is witnessed: Evacuating the area Hiding ut Acting against the shter as a last resrt Calling 911 Reacting when law enfrcement arrives
Active Shter Guide Adpting the survival mindset during times f crisis Additinal Ways t Prepare Fr and Prevent an Active Shter Situatin Belw are steps yu can take t imprve preparedness: Ensure yur facility has at least tw evacuatin rutes. Pst evacuatin rutes in cnspicuus lcatins thrughut yur facility. Include lcal law enfrcement and first respnders during training exercises. Encurage law enfrcement, emergency respnders, SWAT teams, K-9 teams and bmb squads t train fr an active shter scenari at yur lcatin. Emergency Numbers In additin, make sure t have the phne numbers n hand fr the fllwing: Emergency services Lcal emergency infrmatin line Lcal plice department Lcal fire department Lcal hspital Lcal FBI field ffice Facility security Make sure yur facility s address, including flr, suite and/r rm numbers, is als easily accessible, alng with yur ffice phne number and extensin. Fr mre infrmatin n creating an EAP, cntact the U.S. Department f Labr, Occupatinal Health and Safety Administratin, www.sha.gv. Preparing Fr and Managing an Active Shter Situatin Yur HR department and facility managers shuld engage in planning fr emergency situatins, including an active shter scenari. Planning fr emergency situatins will help t mitigate the likelihd f an incident by establishing the mechanisms described belw. Human Resurces Respnsibilities The fllwing are respnsibilities f HR prfessinals: Cnduct effective emplyee screening and backgrund checks. Create a system fr reprting signs f ptentially vilent behavir.
Active Shter Guide Make cunseling services available t emplyees. Develp an EAP which includes plicies and prcedures fr dealing with an active shter situatin, as well as after actin planning. Facility Manager Respnsibilities The fllwing are respnsibilities f facility mangers: Institute access cntrls (e.g., keys and security system passcdes). Distribute critical items t apprpriate managers and emplyees, including the fllwing: Flr plans Keys Facility persnnel lists and telephne numbers Crdinate with the facility s security department t ensure the physical security f the lcatin. Assemble crisis kits cntaining the fllwing: Radis Flr plans Staff rster and staff emergency cntact numbers First-aid kits Flashlights Place remvable flr plans near entrances and exits fr emergency respnders. Activate the emergency ntificatin system when an emergency situatin ccurs. Reactins f Managers during an Active Shter Situatin Emplyees and custmers are likely t fllw the lead f managers during an emergency situatin. During an emergency, managers shuld be familiar with their EAPs and be prepared t d the fllwing: Take immediate actin. Remain calm. Lck and barricade drs. Evacuate staff and custmers via a preplanned evacuatin rute t a safe area. Assisting Individuals with Special Needs and/r Disabilities T assist thse with special needs and disabilities, ensure that EAPs, evacuatin instructins and any ther relevant infrmatin addresses individuals with specials needs and/r disabilities.
Active Shter Guide Recgnizing Ptential Wrkplace Vilence An active shter in yur wrkplace may be a current r frmer emplyee, r an acquaintance f a current r frmer emplyee. Intuitive managers and c-wrkers may ntice characteristics f ptentially vilent behavir in an emplyee. Alert yur HR department if yu believe an emplyee r c-wrker exhibits ptentially vilent behavir. Indicatrs f Ptential Vilence by an Emplyee Emplyees typically d nt just snap, but display indicatrs f ptentially vilent behavir ver time. If these behavirs are recgnized, they can ften be managed and treated. Ptentially vilent behavirs by an emplyee may include ne r mre f the fllwing: Increased use f alchl and/r illegal drugs Unexplained increase in absenteeism; vague physical cmplaints Nticeable decrease in attentin t appearance and hygiene Depressin and/r withdrawal Resistance and verreactin t changes in plicy and prcedures Repeated vilatins f cmpany plicies Increased severe md swings Nticeably unstable, emtinal respnses Explsive utbursts f anger r rage withut prvcatin Suicidal; cmments abut putting things in rder Behavir which suggests parania ( everybdy is against me ) Increasingly talks f prblems at hme Escalatin f dmestic prblems int the wrkplace; talk f severe financial prblems Talk f previus incidents f vilence Empathy with individuals cmmitting vilence Increase in unslicited cmments abut firearms, ther dangerus weapns and vilent crimes Remember that this list f behavirs is nt cmprehensive, nr is it intended as a mechanism fr diagnsing vilent tendencies. Managing the Cnsequences f an Active Shter Situatin After the active shter has been incapacitated and is n lnger a threat, HR and/r management shuld engage in pst-event assessments and activities, including the fllwing:
Active Shter Guide An accunting f all individuals at a designated assembly pint t determine wh, if anyne, is missing and ptentially injured Determining a methd fr ntifying families f individuals affected by the active shter, including ntificatin f any casualties Assessing the psychlgical state f individuals at the scene, and referring them t health care specialists accrdingly Identifying and filling any critical persnnel r peratinal gaps left in the rganizatin as a result f the active shter Lessns Learned T facilitate effective planning fr future emergencies, it is imprtant t analyze the recent active shter situatin and create an after actin reprt. The analysis and reprting cntained in this reprt is useful fr the fllwing: Serving as dcumentatin fr respnse activities Identifying successes and failures that ccurred during the event Prviding an analysis f the effectiveness f the existing EAP Describing and defining a plan fr making imprvements t the EAP
Active Shter Guide Hw t Respnd t an Active Shter In mst cases, there is n pattern r methd t active shters selectin f victims, and the situatins are unpredictable and evlve quickly. Typically, the immediate deplyment f law enfrcement is required t stp the shting and mitigate harm t victims. Because active shter situatins are ften ver within 10 t 15 minutes befre law enfrcement arrives n the scene individuals must be prepared bth mentally and physically t deal with an active shter situatin. Gd Practices fr Cping with an Active Shter Situatin Belw are sme general practices fr cping with an active shter: Be aware f yur envirnment and any pssible dangers. Take nte f the tw nearest exits in any facility yu visit. If yu are in an ffice, stay there and secure the dr. If yu are in a hallway, get int a rm and secure the dr. As a last resrt, attempt t take the active shter dwn. When the shter is at clse range and yu cannt flee, yur chance f survival is much greater if yu try t incapacitate him r her. Call 911 when it is safe t d s. Hw t Respnd When an Active Shter is in Yur Vicinity Quickly determine the mst reasnable way t prtect yur wn life. Remember that custmers and clients are likely t fllw the lead f emplyees and managers during an active shter situatin. 1. Evacuate If there an accessible escape path, attempt t evacuate the premises: Have an escape rute and plan in mind. Evacuate regardless f whether thers agree t fllw. Leave yur belngings behind. Help thers escape, if pssible. Prevent individuals frm entering an area where the active shter may be. Keep yur hands visible s the shter des nt see yu as an immediate threat. Fllw the instructins f any plice fficers. D nt attempt t mve wunded peple. Call 911 when yu are safe.
Active Shter Guide 2. Hide Out If evacuatin is nt pssible, find a place t hide where the active shter is less likely t find yu. Yur hiding place shuld have the fllwing characteristics: Be ut f the active shter s view Prvide prtectin if shts are fired in yur directin (e.g., an ffice with a clsed and lcked dr) Nt trap yur r restrict yur ptins fr mvement Yu shuld als take sme basic steps t prevent a shter frm nticing yur presence r entering yur hiding place: Lck any drs, if pssible. Blckade the dr with heavy furniture. Silence yur cell phne and/r pager. Turn ff any surce f nise (e.g., radis r televisins). Hide behind large items (e.g., cabinets r desks). Remain as quiet as pssible. If evacuatin and hiding are nt pssible: Remain calm. Dial 911 t alert plice t the active shter s lcatin, if pssible. If yu cannt speak, leave the line pen and allw the dispatcher t listen. 3. Take actin against the active shter As a last resrt, and nly when yur life is in imminent danger, attempt t disrupt and/r incapacitate the active shter by ding the fllwing: Acting as aggressively as pssible against him r her Thrwing items and imprvising weapns Yelling Cmmitting t yur actins Hw t Respnd When Law Enfrcement Arrives Law enfrcement s purpse is t stp the active shter as sn as pssible. Officers will prceed directly t the area in which the last shts were heard:
Active Shter Guide Officers usually arrive in teams f fur. Officers may wear regular patrl unifrms r external bulletprf vests, Kevlar helmets and ther tactical equipment. Officers may be armed with rifles, shtguns r handguns. Officers may use pepper spray r tear gas t cntrl the situatin. Officers may shut cmmands, and may push individuals t the grund fr their safety. When law enfrcement arrives, d the fllwing: Remain calm, and fllw fficers instructins. Put dwn any items in yur hands (e.g., bags r jackets). Immediately raise yur hands and spread yur fingers. Keep yur hands visible at all times. Avid making quick mvements tward fficers, such as hlding n t them fr safety. Avid pinting, screaming r yelling. D nt stp t ask fficers fr help r directin when evacuating, just prceed in the directin frm which fficers are entering the premises. Prvide the fllwing infrmatin t law enfrcement r the 911 peratr: Lcatin f the active shter Number f shters, if there is mre than ne Physical descriptin f the shter(s) Number and type f weapns held by the shter(s) Number f ptential victims at the lcatin The first fficers t arrive t the scene will nt stp t help injured persns. Instead, expect rescue teams cmprised f additinal fficers and emergency medical persnnel t fllw the initial fficers. These rescue teams will treat and remve any injured persns. They may als call upn able-bdied individuals t assist in remving the wunded frm the premises. Once yu have reached a safe lcatin r an assembly pint, yu will likely be held in that area by law enfrcement until the situatin is under cntrl and all witnesses have been identified and questined. D nt leave until law enfrcement authrities have instructed yu t d s. Surce: U.S. Department f Hmeland Security s, Active Shter Hw t Respnd
Active Shter Guide There are ther steps yu can take t prevent an active shter situatin. Cntact yur partners at SilverStne Grup. We can prvide yu with cmprehensive articles and psters t safeguard yur business and yur emplyees. Belw are just a few f the resurces we can prvide yu with: Safety Sptlight Wrkplace Stress and Taking Shrtcuts Risk Insights: Creating a Strng Safety Culture Take Cntrl f Wrk Stress Pster Office Safety Matters: Office Safety Stress at Wrk Study Wrkplace Safety Meeting Plicy Managing Wrkplace Stress: Cnsideratins Fr Emplyers