An active shooter is a person who is actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. These dynamic situations evolve quickly and are usually over within ten to fifteen minutes. This demands immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to innocent victims. Faculty, staff, and students must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with the situation. The Ohio University Police Department advocates preparedness for this type of incident and pro-actively instructs members of our community on the CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) principle of responding to an active shooter. Below are guidelines for those who may be caught in an active shooter situation and a description of how to react and of what to expect from responding officers.
Active Shooter Presentation (archived)
Preparation:
- Individual colleges, administrative offices, etc. should create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
- The plan should include: listing of emergency numbers, a preferred method for reporting emergencies, emergency escape procedures and route assignments, and an evacuation procedure
When there is an active shooter incident and you can evacuate the building:
- When a threat is recognized, rapidly assess the threat level and immediately initiate a response. Your perception is your reality; there can be no second-guessing the option you decide to react to the situation with
- If you can evacuate, do it
- Run away from the building as quickly as possible
- Stop when you feel you are in a safe zone and contact 911
When there is an active shooter incident, you are unable to evacuate the building, and your door opens to the inside / outside of the room:
- When a threat is recognized, rapidly assess the threat level and immediately initiate a response. Your perception is your reality; there can be no second-guessing the option you decide to react to the situation with
- Take shelter in the nearest office, room, or closet
- Stay low to the ground. Maintain a position where a person in the hallway cannot see you through glass
- Lock and barricade the door with anything available in the room (chairs, desks, trash cans, etc.)
- If possible, tie down the door by attaching a belt to the door handle
- Look for alternate escape routes (windows, additional doors, etc.)
- Call 911 and provide detailed information. The phone line can remain “open” which helps the 911 operator in hearing what is happening
- Do not open the door for anyone. Responding law enforcement personnel will have access to all of the rooms in a building
- You may have to take the offensive if the shooter enters your area. There are numerous weapons in the room (chairs, trashcans, computers, etc.) Be prepared to utilize anything close at hand and prepare yourself for the physical encounter
- Position yourself in a location that will allow for the element of surprise if the shooter enters
When there is an active shooter incident and you must evacuate the area where the shooter may be located:
- When a threat is recognized, rapidly assess the threat level and immediately initiate a response. Your perception is your reality; there can be no second-guessing the option you decide to react to the situation with
- Run in a zig-zag pattern
- Do not stop running until you are well clear of the building
- Is escaping through a window an option?
- Consider the risk factor of falling from a window
- Make an improvised rope out of clothing, belts, or any other item that can be used to limit the distance you would fall
- Hang by your hands from the window ledge
- Attempt to fall into shrubs, mulch, grass, etc
When there is an active shooter, you cannot escape and the shooter is in your room:
- When a threat is recognized, rapidly assess the threat level and immediately initiate a response. Your perception is your reality; there can be no second-guessing the option you decide to react to the situation with
- Run
- Fight
- Throw anything at the shooter. Aim at the face to distract them.
- Attack in a group. Grab the shooter’s extremities and take them to the ground using body weight to secure them
- Fight Dirty!!! There is no unfair fighting when survival is the goal
When there is an active shooter incident and you have incapacitated the shooter:
- When a threat is recognized, rapidly assess the threat level and immediately initiate a response. Your perception is your reality; there can be no second-guessing the option you decide to react to the situation with
- Call 911 and advise law enforcement the shooter is down
- Provide your location and stay on the line
- Secure the suspect (body weight, belts, etc.)
- Move any weapons away from the suspect. Do Not Hold It!
- Do not run from the room. Help is on the way
What to expect from responding officers:
Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which the shots were last heard. Their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.
The first responding officers will normally be in teams of four. They may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, or handguns and might be using pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation. Regardless of how they appear, remain calm, do as the officers tell you and do not be afraid of them. Put down any bags or packages you may be carrying and keep your hands visible at all times. If you know where the offender is, tell the officers.
The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured people. Rescue teams composed of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow behind the first officers to treat and remove injured people.
Keep in mind that even once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene. Police personnel will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is fully under control and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Until you are released, remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.