Perhaps one of the most prevailing concerns in our country today is becoming a victim of an active shooter. Supervisors and administrators in schools and workplaces must invest appropriate time, thought, and planning about the possibility of an active shooter event, and how to best react if one occurs. In a high stress situation, it must be stressed that people seldom rise to the event, and more often regress to their highest level of training.
With this in mind, an active shooter event represents the most grave need to plan, train, and prepare before the event occurs. If your school or workplace is creating its plan of action during an active event, it is already far behind the power curve.
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
In reference to active shooter events, the Department of Homeland Security suggests key components of an Emergency Action Plan should include:
- A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies
- An evacuation policy and procedure
- Information concerning local area hospitals (i.e., name, telephone number, and
- distance from your location)
- An emergency notification system to alert various parties of an emergency including:
- Individuals at remote locations within premises
- Local law enforcement
- Local area hospitals
Thoughtful, well-rehearsed plans including these key procedures will enable your employees to have a predetermined list of actions to take in the event of an emergency, and will undoubtedly arm them to better address the scenario than workplaces without such procedures. Plans such as these, while immensely practical, offer marginal help unless coupled with meaningful and realistic training exercises. While uncomfortable and time consuming, these exercises are the most effective way to prepare your employees for such an event, and oftentimes local law enforcement will make themselves available to assist.
Training Exercises
The Department of Homeland Security offers a few key components to include in active shooter event training:
- Recognizing the sound of gunshots
- Adopting the survival mindset during times of crisis
- Calling 911
- Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard and/or when a shooting is witnessed (Run, Hide, Fight)
- Reacting when law enforcement arrives
These exercises are paramount in instilling the training and habits that your staff will fall back on in a moment of crisis. From something as simple as recognizing the sounds of a threat to actually engaging with the suspect, your investment in meaningful and realistic training will make the difference for your staff’s survival. In addition, the inclusion of local law enforcement does more than simply increase the realism of the scenario. More importantly, it offers that same law enforcement training and some familiarity with your workplace and employees—both of which might prove life saving in the chaotic scenarios they face in responding to an active shooter event. Simply put, the more information your employees and your local law enforcement are provided through training, the better chance an active shooter event can be resolved with as little loss of life as possible.
Where to Start?
Most importantly, organizations should partner with an experienced security firm to ensure the safety of their employees. JS Security Consulting, LLC is a Nashville-based security firm providing top-of-the-line security for organizations of all sizes.
The firm designates knowledgeable law enforcement professionals with relevant experience for each security contract, ensuring that the customers get the best service.
Some benefits of working with a security firm like JS Security Consulting, LLC include:
- Crime Deterration: The professionals from a security service understand how to deter a crime from taking place. This includes knowing what questions to ask and when they can be requested. It also involves having active communication with the employees and encouraging reporting.
- Sense of Security: A security firm provides employees with a feeling of security. Employees may feel secure knowing that there are people present who can help if something goes wrong.
- Peace of Mind: Working with professionals trained to handle all kinds of scenarios regarding active shooter events provides peace of mind. This is especially true when your organization doesn’t have the budget or resources to hire a full-time security team.
Final Words
In many cases, active shooter events are often random and difficult to predict. As a result, preparation is the best prevention. Realistically arming your staff with reliable information, life saving procedures, and realistic training is paramount in ensuring their survival against an active shooter event. Having said that, it’s essential for organizations to be well-prepared to handle an active shooter event in the workplace. That’s where we come in. With JS Security Consulting, you can know you’ve chosen a team of industry professionals boasting over 100 combined years of experience in keeping businesses like yours safe and secure. Don’t wait for life to uncover your security flaws. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today, and let JS Security Consulting keep you and your business safe, secure, and ahead of the worst.