Active Shooter Training

Active Shooter Training Guide

Active shooter incidents can occur anywhere, are unpredictable, and evolve quickly. But with proper training, anyone can help to mitigate the consequences of the incident. Here are some basic resources for active shooter incidents:

CISA & The Department of Homeland Security

Many of the resources on this page come courtesy of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is an integral part of the Department of Homeland Security. CISA aims to enhance active shooter preparedness through a "whole community" approach that provides resources to the community at large. For more information, visit their active shooter preparedness website: [[ https://www.cisa.gov/topics/physical-security/active-shooter-preparedness ]]

Signs To Watch Out For

If a current or former employee exhibits some of the below signs, it may be an indication of potentially violent behavior that HR should be notified about. Signs include:

  • -Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs
  • -Unexplained increase in absenteeism, and/or vague physical complaints
  • -Depression/Withdrawal
  • -Increased severe mood swings, and noticeably unstable or emotional responses
  • -Increasingly talks of problems at
  • -Increase in unsolicited comments about violence, firearms, and other dangerous weapons and violent crimes
  • Be Prepared In Case Of
    An Active Shooter Event

    It pays to be constantly informed about the situation or environment around you. If you notice something that can lead to an active shooting incident or other violence, you should alert the authorities immediately.

    You should identify the nearest exits, at least two, that can give you a path for escape. You should also identify any places where you can hide and remain safe. Remember that persons with disabilities or other functional problems may need special plans.

    Make sure every member of your family knows that in case of an active shooter, one should run away if possible, hide if running is not possible, and fight only if hiding and running are not possible.

    Escape is your Top Priority

    The best way to survive an active shooter situation is to run and escape if it is possible. This must be your top priority. Do not try to retrieve your belongings; they are not more valuable than your life. Leave them behind, help others to escape, but whether others agree or not, save your own life and get out of the active shooter area as soon as possible. While you are doing so, warn others not to enter that area.

    Once you have escaped to a relatively safe area, you can try to call the police to inform them of the ongoing situation. Describe the location where it is happening, the shooter and their clothing/appearance, and the weapons that are being used.

    How To Hide Safely

    If you cannot safely run away, find a place where the shooter cannot see you, and then keep down, keep quiet, and keep still. Make sure that all your electronic devices are silenced and will not even vibrate, as this can give away your presence to the shooter or accomplices. Turn off lights, lock and if possible block doors. Do not hide in a group, but spread yourselves out along walls, so that you present less of a target to the shooter.

    Use text messages to communicate with people or the police so that your location is known to as many people as possible. Putting a sign in a window can convey this information in a better way if you have the means to do so. Stay in the place where your safety is assured until the police arrive and give you the clearance to move out. Hide in a place that is not being seen directly by the shooter, and where you can get protection from any shots fired in your direction.

    Fighting must be an absolute last resort

    If escaping or hiding are not possible and your life remains in danger, then as a last resort you may attempt to incapacitate the active shooter. If you do decide to do so, you must commit to aggressive action and attempt to injure the shooter severely enough to stop their assault. It can be advantageous to use improvised weapons -- anything hard or heavy -- and throw them at the shooter so that the shooter is distracted and can be disarmed. If you take this course of action, you must be prepared to continue attacking until the threat is neutralized.

    Post-Incident Protocol

    When the incident is over, law enforcement officials will likely enter the scene. Keep your hands visible and preferably empty, as the armed officers responding to the situation do not know your identity. Listen to the instructions given and evacuate the areas as they instruct you to do. After taking care of yourself, if first aid responders have not yet arrived, help others who are wounded by asking them to lie on their side and keeping them warm. Once you are back home and safe from the active shooter situation, attend to any injuries you or those with you may have sustained. Active shooter incidents can be quite traumatic, so consider asking for help from psychiatrists or other such professionals.

    How to Respond to an Active Shooter

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

    1. EVACUATE
      • Have an escape route and plan in mind
      • Leave your belongings behind
    2. HIDE OUT
      • Hide in an area out of the active shooter’s view.
      • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
    3. TAKE ACTION
      • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
      • Aggressively attempt to incapacitate the active shooter

    Pocket Reference Card

    CISA and The Department of Homeland Security have put together helpful guides of various lengths for how to deal with an active shooter situation.

    Quick Reference Guide

    An “active shooter” is an individual who is 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 - How To Respond Booklet