Active Shooter Protocol
Please adhere to response procedures below for responding to an active shooter in your building. If you can evacuate the area, please do so in as safe a manner as possible.
Secure your immediate area
- Lock and/or barricade doors with any available object(s) (chairs, tables, desks, etc).
- Turn off lights.
- Close blinds.
- Block windows.
- Turn off computer monitors.
- Keep occupants calm, quiet, and out of sight by laying low to the ground.
- Keep yourself out of sight and take adequate cover/protection (i.e. concrete walls, desks, chairs, tables, filing cabinets, etc.). Such cover may protect you from injury.
- Silence cell phones.
- Place signs in exterior windows to identify the location of injured persons.
Contact Authorities
- Dial 911 or 9-9-1-1 from any campus telephone. Be aware that the 911 system will likely be overwhelmed.
- Program the Campus Security emergency line into cell phone for emergency use. Extension 4444 or 366.4444 (emergency line).
What to Report
- Your specific location- building name and office/room number.
- Number of people at your specific location.
- Injuries- number injured, types of injuries.
- Assailant(s)- location, number of suspects, race/gender, clothing description, physical features, type of weapon(s) (long gun or handgun), backpack, shooter’s identity if known, separate explosions from gunfire, etc.
Un-Securing an area
- Responding special forces will assist in un-securing and rescuing victims who are locked down; Consider risks before un-securing rooms.
- Remember, the shooter will not stop until he/she is engaged by an outside force.
- Attempts to rescue people should only be attempted if it can be accomplished without further endangering the persons inside a secured area.
- Consider the safety of masses –vs- the safety of a few.
- If doubt exists for the safety of the individuals inside the room, the area should remain secured.
Security Response
- If possible, limit suspect(s) movement(s) by securing all unaffected buildings; evacuate victims to safety; provide master keys and logistical support to responding special forces and emergency medical services.
- Facilitate basic first aid or triage injured victims, if possible.
- Assist law enforcement authorities with investigation.