In today’s world, the threat of an active shooter or other violent incidents is a harsh reality that organizations must prepare for. These situations can unfold rapidly and have devastating consequences, but proper preparation and recovery strategies can significantly mitigate risks and save lives. Here’s an overview of how organizations can effectively prepare for and recover from an active shooter or active threat situation.
1. Understanding the Active Threat
An active shooter or active threat is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. These attacks are unpredictable, evolve quickly, and typically last only a few minutes. Therefore, organizations must focus on both immediate action plans and long-term recovery strategies.
2. Organizational Preparedness: Key Steps
A. Develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) The foundation of preparedness is a well-structured Emergency Action Plan. An EAP provides clear instructions for employees on how to respond to different types of threats, including:
Evacuation routes for escaping safely.
Shelter-in-place locations for areas that may need lockdown.
Communication procedures to inform law enforcement and employees.
Designating emergency roles, such as team leads for evacuation, first aid responders, and points of contact for law enforcement.
B. Conduct Employee Training Regular training is critical to ensure that employees understand the EAP and know how to react under pressure. Key training aspects include:
Run, Hide, Fight strategy: Run if there is a safe escape route. Hide if running isn’t possible, lock or barricad the door, and stay out of sight. Fight as a last resort if confronted directly by the attacker, using any objects as weapons.
Alert systems training so staff know how to initiate alerts.
Medical response: Training a portion of the staff in first aid, CPR, and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
Rehearsals through active shooter drills to test response effectiveness and identify gaps.
C. Enhance Physical Security Assess your organization’s physical security measures and implement changes where necessary:
Access control: Limit entry points and use secure methods, such as keycards or biometric systems, to prevent unauthorized access.
Surveillance systems: Install CCTV cameras to monitor key areas, ensuring they cover exits, entrances, and high-traffic zones.
Physical barriers: Reinforce areas like reception, meeting rooms, and offices with locking mechanisms that can be quickly activated during a threat.
Panic buttons: Install panic alarms that instantly notify local law enforcement or internal security teams.
D. Establish Relationships with Law Enforcement Building a strong relationship with local law enforcement is crucial. Law enforcement can:
Help review and improve your EAP.
Conduct on-site assessments to suggest additional security measures.
Participate in joint training exercises to ensure coordinated responses.
Provide active shooter response teams if needed during an actual event.
3. Immediate Response During an Event
If an active shooter situation occurs, the immediate priority is to protect lives. The Run, Hide, Fight approach serves as the backbone of most response protocols. Additionally:
Stay calm and assess the situation: Quickly evaluate where the threat is coming from and determine if running, hiding, or fighting is the best option.
Help others if possible, but do not jeopardize your safety.
When law enforcement arrives, keep your hands visible, follow their instructions, and do not make sudden movements. Avoid pointing, screaming, or attempting to hold onto officers for safety.
4. Organizational Recovery: What to Do After the Incident
Once the immediate threat is neutralized, the organization enters the recovery phase. Recovering from an active shooter incident can take time, but several steps can facilitate the process:
A. Post-Incident Care for Employees
Physical health support: Ensure that injured employees receive prompt medical attention. Follow up with healthcare providers for ongoing treatment as necessary.
Mental health support: Trauma from these events can have long-lasting effects. Providing access to counseling services and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) is essential for employees to process their experiences.
Debrief sessions: Hold sessions to discuss what happened, allowing employees to express their feelings, ask questions, and receive information about ongoing support.
B. Crisis Communication
Internal communication: Be transparent with employees about what occurred, the actions being taken to improve safety, and the available resources for recovery.
External communication: Ensure consistent messaging to the public and stakeholders through designated spokespeople. Avoid misinformation and only release verified details to the media.
Social media monitoring: Keep an eye on social media platforms to track public sentiment and correct any incorrect narratives.
C. Security Assessments
Post-incident review: Conduct a thorough review of the incident to evaluate how the EAP functioned, identify any security weaknesses, and adjust policies accordingly.
Physical upgrades: Consider new investments in security technology or infrastructure improvements, such as additional surveillance, reinforced walls, or advanced emergency notification systems.
D. Legal and Insurance Considerations
Legal obligations: Work with legal teams to understand potential liabilities. This may include reviewing if proper safety measures were in place or if negligence played a role.
Insurance claims: File timely claims to cover damages and employee injuries. Ensure your policies, such as business interruption or worker’s compensation, address active threat scenarios.
E. Returning to Normal Operations
Staggered return: If the incident caused significant emotional trauma, a gradual return to normalcy may be best. Create flexible work arrangements, allowing employees time to recover.
Review and reinforce: Use the recovery period as an opportunity to reiterate the importance of safety protocols and continue training, fostering a culture of preparedness.
5. Building a Culture of Preparedness
The ultimate goal of organizational preparedness is creating a culture where safety is prioritized, and everyone knows their role in maintaining it. This involves:
Ongoing training: Reinforce the importance of situational awareness and emergency preparedness through regular drills.
Leadership commitment: Ensure that management demonstrates their commitment to safety by actively participating in training and allocating resources for security improvements.
Employee engagement: Encourage employees to share concerns and suggestions on improving workplace safety, ensuring they feel heard and valued in the organization’s safety efforts.
We Can help!
We have training available for Active Shooter and Active Treat so your organization can be prepared. Click here https://www.bistrainer.com/store/safety-services-safe365-store/productdetails/active-shooter-active-threat-organizational-preparedness-recovery or visit or website Safety.Inc
We also offer on-site risk reviews and walk-downs to inspect your workplace for potential security improvements within your Emergency and Business Continuity Plans. We can also help support conducting training/test drills of your plans. Contact Mike@Safety.inc
Conclusion
While no organization wants to face an active shooter or active threat scenario, preparedness is critical to minimizing harm and ensuring a quicker recovery. By implementing robust plans, training employees, and maintaining open communication channels, organizations can reduce the risk of fatalities, manage crises effectively, and support employees through the recovery process. Preparedness is not just about reacting to danger; it's about building resilience and safeguarding your organization’s most valuable asset—its people.
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