While the presence of a gunman in the workplace represents a rare but severe risk, it's crucial to be informed and prepared for such a situation. Events involving an armed intruder are characterized by the aggressor's intent to inflict severe harm or death on one or multiple individuals, often without a discernible pattern in choosing victims.
An active shooter situation involves someone who is actively attempting to kill people in an area that is both confined and populated, typically using firearms. These scenarios are inherently unpredictable and unfold rapidly, necessitating immediate law enforcement intervention to cease the violence and minimize victim injuries.
Given that active shooter incidents usually conclude within 10 to 15 minutes, often before law enforcement can arrive, personal readiness to confront such an event is essential.
Should you encounter someone with a firearm in the workplace, it's critical not to become immobilized by fear. Instead, take decisive action:
- Recognize the Reality - Accept the situation as it is happening.
- Constantly Evaluate - The circumstances will likely change swiftly, so keep assessing:
- What exactly is occurring?
- Where is the shooter located?
- Take Immediate Action - Act based on the reality of the threat and proceed with the following strategies, in order:
- Avoid: Get away from the shooter's area and evacuate if a safe route exists; if you cannot, seek refuge out of sight in a lockable room.
- Barricade: Further secure your hiding place by blocking the entry with heavy objects.
- Fight: As a last resort, prepare to defend yourself if a confrontation with the shooter becomes unavoidable.
- Inform Authorities: As soon as it's safe, provide detailed information to law enforcement, including the shooter's location, appearance, the weapons they have, and the number of people involved.
By understanding these steps and mentally preparing to act, individuals can improve their chances of safely navigating a highly dangerous situation.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Recognize the reality | Accept the situation as it is happening rather than becoming immobilized by fear. |
| Constantly evaluate | Keep assessing what is occurring and where the shooter is located, because circumstances change swiftly. |
| Take action: avoid | Get away from the shooter and evacuate if a safe route exists; if not, seek refuge out of sight in a lockable room. |
| Take action: barricade | Further secure the hiding place by blocking the entry with heavy objects. |
| Take action: fight | As a last resort, prepare to defend yourself if confrontation with the shooter becomes unavoidable. |
| Inform authorities | As soon as it is safe, give law enforcement the shooter’s location and appearance, the weapons involved, and the number of people involved. |
