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Active Threat

How to Respond to an Active Shooter

When an active shooter is in your vicinity:

1. Run

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

2. Hide

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

3. 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

When law enforcement arrives:

  • Remain calm and follow instructions
  • Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets, etc.)
  • 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

Call 911 or Campus Police when safe to do so

Information you should provide to law enforcement or 911 operators:

  • Location of the shooter
  • Number of shooters
  • Physical  description of shooters
  • Number and type of weapons held by shooters
  • Number of potential victims at the location

Coping with an active shooter situation…

  • Be aware of your environment  and any possible dangers
  • Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit
  • If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door
  • Attempt to take the shooter down as a LAST RESORT

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, typically through the use of firearms.

Characteristics of an active shooter situation:

  • Victims are selected at random
  • The event is unpredictable and evolves quickly
  • Law enforcement is usually required to end an active shooter
     

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randomness