How to Respond to an Active Shooting Event or other Act of Violence April
Responding to a Active Shooting Event or Other Act of Violence Run - Hide - Fight Since the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech all of us are acutely aware of how fragile life is, even on college campuses. (at right, the VTCC and a detachment of VMI cadets bury Cadet Matt La Porte VTCC ’09, 1 of 32 victims killed on April 16, 2007) VMI has established a Violence Prevention Committee, a Threat Assessment Team, fielded a mass notification system, and enhanced VMI Police training in order to secure cadets, faculty, staff, and visitors. Unfortunately, VMI cannot make itself immune to senseless acts of violence. The next logical step is to prepare yourself for an active shooting event or other act of violence and be ready to “Run-Hide-Fight”. 2
Actions You Should Take Now Be aware of your surroundings: entrances, exits, rooms with doors that lock, potential avenues of escape should you need them. Be aware of who is in the Barracks, the workspace or the classroom and should they be there If the situation does not look right, sound right, or feel right – call 911. Be prepared to execute Run-Hide-Fight See the video below which provides information on Run-Hide-Fight: P:\Emergency Management\RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event - English.mp4. P:\Emergency Management\RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event - English.mp4 3
RUN If you can escape an active shooting, run. Run immediately – leave everything behind. Encourage others to escape with you, but do not wait on them. Once you are safely away from the shooter call, or have someone call, 911 and report what you know. 4
HIDE If escape appears impossible, hide. Lock and barricade doors, turn off lights, silence cell phones completely, remain quiet. Take cover behind furniture or fixtures away from doorways. Stay away from windows. Prepare yourself and others for FIGHT. 5
FIGHT If running or hiding are not possible or fail, and you are confronted by the aggressor, fight. Use items around you as weapons to fight with. Fight to create an opportunity to escape. 6
What’s Next? VMI will conduct an exercise on 18 April at 1155hrs and your participation is important VMI Police and Emergency Management Coordinator will conduct training to counter an active shooter The VMI Mass Notification System will be utilized to begin the exercise. The exercise will focus on “HIDE”. When you get the exercise alert message stop what you are doing and invest a few minutes in your own training: – Focus on HIDE – In a classroom, laboratory, or Barracks look to see how will you secure the door(s), locks, windows and how you will use barricades if available. – Identify furniture or fixtures that you would take cover behind. – Completely silence all cell phones and turn off lights, be quiet. – Prepare to FIGHT and organize others that may be hiding with you. 7
Things to Remember Develop situational awareness – at home, at VMI, and out in public Pay attention to events, conversations, and visitors – if it doesn’t look right, sound right, or feel right then report it. “See Something – Say Something” If an active shooting or other act of violent starts – execute “Run-Hide-Fight” If you have to fight – fight to win and escape – there are no rules! 8