Disaster Preparedness : 5 Good Practice Dealing with Active Shooter

Have you ever imagine yourself getting into a situation where an active shooter is present. Do you know what to do? Do you know the risk involved for any action taken by you? Should you hide or should you attempt to disable the shooter? These are the questions that would come to your mind once you get into the situation.

  Before we proceed further with the 5 good practice when dealing with active shooter , lets take a look at the profile of active shooter. From the Department of Homeland Security website (www.dhs.gov)

PROFILE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER 

An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.

 Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims.

Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.


The following are  5 Good practices for coping with an active shooter situation

1 Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers

2 Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit

3 If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door

4 If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door

5 As a last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down. When the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.

Lets take a look on HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that customers and clients are likely to follow the lead of employees and managers during an active shooter situation.

1. Evacuate If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.
 Be sure to:
• Have an escape route and plan in mind
• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
• Leave your belongings behind
• Help others escape, if possible

2. Hide out If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:
• Be out of the active shooter’s view
• Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
• Not trap you or restrict your options for movement

To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place
:• Lock the door
• Blockade the door with heavy furniture

3. Take action against the active shooter 
As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:
• Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
• Throwing items and improvising weapons

FINALLY HOW TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES

Law enforcement’s purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard. 

• Officers usually arrive in teams of four (4)
• Officers may wear regular patrol uniforms or external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment• Officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, handguns
• Officers may use pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation
• Officers may shout commands, and may push individuals to the ground for their safety 

How to react when law enforcement arrives:

• Keep hands visible at all times

• Avoid making quick movements toward officers

 • Immediately raise hands and spread fingers

• Remain calm, and follow officers’ instructions

• Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets)

Effective Disaster Preparedness Tips
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