Active shooter is a person who is using a firearm or other weapon with the intent to injure or kill others. Law enforcement personnel will deploy to the location of the active shooter with the primary goal of stopping the shooter.

An active shooter incident can occur under a variety of circumstances, so no one set of guidelines is able to cover specific actions to take in every situation. Even so, familiarity with the following information can help with planning your own survival strategy in a variety of incidents. When an active shooter situation arises remember the acronym A.D.D. to assist in planning your response strategy:

 

AVOID the Confrontation, if an active shooter event occurs outside or inside your building:

• Call 911 as soon as possible.
• AVOID any area you see signs an active shooter event is taking place.
• If it is safe to do so, employees, faculty, and students should exit the building immediately to AVOID the shooter.
• How exit a building safely:
  • Have a route planned before attempting to leave.
  • Do not attempt to carry anything with you while fleeing.
  • Move quickly and keep your hands and palms visible and upraised, as you exit the building.
  • Do not attempt to treat or remove injured people, but note their locations so that you may provide the information to emergency responders.
  • Proceed to a safe location.
  • Remain at the designated assembly area until you are released.
  • ALWAYS comply with commands from law enforcement officers.

DENY access to your location if unable to AVOID the confrontation.

• If a shooter is inside your building proceed to a room that can be locked. On your way to the room tell as many people as possible to do the same.
• Lock all doors and windows and turn off the lights in the building or classroom.
• Place cell phone on vibrate if possible. Phones that omit sound will attract attention to your location.
• Stack desks, chairs, or heavy objects against doors or windows to DENY access. Stay away from windows and out of sight of the shooter if possible.
• Have one person call 911 and be prepared to provide the following:
  • Your location
  • Your name
  • The number of people in the room with you.
  • Any and all information about the shooters location and actions.

DEFEND yourself if an active shooter enters your room.

• DEFEND yourself as a LAST resort. If you are forced to protect yourself or the lives of others the following will assist in planning your survival strategy:
  • Swarm the shooter using a pack mentality.
  • Use improvised weapons e.g. chairs, fire extinguishers, or other available objects.
  • Grab any weapons the shooter has and point it away from people to protect them.

 

What to expect from responding officers:

Police officers are responding to an active shooter may be wearing regular uniforms, plainclothes, or special tactical gear. They will be clearly defined as law enforcement officers. The following may happen during an active shooter event.

• Responding officers will point firearms at you while seeking the threat. This is a normal part of their training and response. Avoid any sudden furtive movements and obey all officer commands. Keep your hands visible to officers at all times.
• Responding officers are trained to proceed immediately to the area where shooting is taking place to neutralize the threat. If you are injured, they will not stop to assist you.
• Another group of officers and/or tactical medics will follow to provide medical assistance and help with evacuation.
• Remain calm and immediately comply with all commands from law enforcement officers.

Follow these instructions in the event you receive a telephone bomb threat:

• Listen to the caller carefully and write down what you are told. Always remember to ask the caller when and where the device is supposed to activate. Try to fill out as much of the information on paper, but don't be surprised if the caller simply hangs up before you can react.
• Do not panic. The vast majority of phone in bomb threats are pranks.
• Call 911 or Public Safety immediately at (479)968-0222 and report what the caller said. Stay on the telephone with the police dispatcher or an officer over the phone depending on the circumstance.
• Do not activate a fire alarm unless told to do so by an officer or the dispatcher. Public safety follows procedures regarding bomb threat response and evacuations. Building evacuations will be conducted only if ordered by the person in charge of the incident.
• If you are told to evacuate, close your room door but do not lock it. Take all your personal belongings, lunches, purses, backpacks (as they could be mistaken for concealed explosives) and exit building. Move well away from the building (500 feet is recommended) for you safety. Stay away from windows.

Bomb Threat Checklist

Remember to stay calm and not hang up.

Time and Date

Caller ID/Telephone Number of person issuing the threat

SEX: Male [ ] Female [ ]

: Adult [ ] Juvenile [ ] Approximate Age ____

CALL ORIGIN: Local [ ] Long Distance [ ] Internal [ ]

VOICE CHARACTERISTICS

[ ] Loud [ ] Deep [ ] Intoxicated [ ] Soft [ ] High Pitched [ ] Other

SPEECH

[ ] Fast [ ] Distinct [ ] Slurred [ ] Slow [ ] Distorted [ ] Lisp [ ] Other

LANGUAGE

[ ] Excellent [ ] Good [ ] Fair [ ] Poor [ ] Foul [ ] Other

ACCENT

[ ] Local [ ] Foreign [ ] Regional:

MANNER

[ ] Calm [ ] Rational [ ] Coherent [ ] Deliberate [ ] Party [ ] Deliberate [ ] Righteous

[ ] Angry [ ] Irrational [ ] Incoherent [ ] Emotional [ ] Laughing

BACKGROUND NOISE

[ ] Machines [ ] Confusion [ ] Music [ ] Office [ ] Mixed [ ] Trolley/Train

[ ] Busses/cars/trucks [ ] Animals [ ] Quiet [ ] Voices [ ] Airplanes GENERAL PROCEDURES

1. Keep the caller talking if possible.

2. Questions to ask:

• When will it go off?
• Hour:
• Time Remaining:
• What Does it look like?
• Where is it Located?
• Building:
• Area:
• What kind of bomb is it?
• Where are you now?
• What is your name and address?

3. Write out the message in its entirety along with any other comments.

A Chemical or Hazardous material is defined as any substance or material could adversely affect the safety of the public, handlers or carriers during transportation. It may be explosive, gaseous, flammable, toxic, radioactive, corrosive, combustive or leachable.

• Keep people away from the spill.
• If you know what the substance is, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for hazards and clean-up instructions. If the release is small enough and can be cleaned up easily and isolated safely, handle it as a part of your normal job duties.
• If the MSDS is not available or the substance is unknown and the severity of the hazard cannot be determined, please contact:
  • Your immediate supervisor (if unable to reach supervisor)
  • Department of Public Safety at (479)968-0222
  • If you determine an imminent hazard (i.e. serious fire or major injury) exists contact the Department of Public Safety at (479)968-0222 and evacuate the area. Next, notify your supervisor.

Do not call 911 unless an immediate medical emergency exists.

Note: Whenever handling chemicals or hazardous waste, employees have the right and are required to have the appropriate MSDS available for immediate consultation. Also, it is good practice to consult the MSDS prior to handling any chemical or hazardous waste.

If you are a victim or a witness of a verbally abusive individual or disruptive event:

• Call 911, either personally or have someone else call.
• Identify your name, location, and need for assistance. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher and follow any directions given.
• Stay calm and supportive of others who may be experiencing the verbal abuse.
• If you can, remove yourself or the targeted person(s) to a room and lock the door.
• Attempt to diffuse the situation. Acknowledge anger, but calmly ask the person to leave.
• If the person(s) refuse to leave inform them the police have been called and they must leave immediately.
• If the person(s) leave be prepared to provide a detailed description to responding law enforcement officers. (i.e. clothing description, height, weight, build, etc.)
• Never endanger yourself needlessly or continue to argue with an abusive person.