1 minute read
Surviving an Active Shooter – Training for School and University
Officials
An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; and continues to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims. “Active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.”
Advertisement
Active shooters often look for soft targets like malls, churches or schools due to their low presence of security and high access to potential victims. The active shootings at Columbine High School, Omaha Mall, Virginia Tech, and Fort Hood left a trail of victims because the shooters were far more prepared than those who suffered in those ordeals. Financial or emotional stressors, forced separation from a lover or a job, bullying or an overly aggressive manager or insensitive instructor may create the flashpoint which triggers workplace or school violence.
As protection specialist we understand first-hand a school or universities challenges associated with a changing reality. High profile crime incidents on campuses across the nation communicate to parents that the campus environment can be as risky as ‘the real world.’ Because active shooter situations are quick and incredibly violent active shooter training is a necessity for school and university administrations to understand immediate actions needed even before police arrive on a scene. Individuals must be prepared themselves with strategies to increase their chances of survival while awaiting help.
At Virginia Tech, student Seung Hui Cho killed 32 people and injured 15 others within 11 minutes. The active shooter didn’t discriminate - students and administrators were shot.
At Panther Protection Services we help you:
• Identify your security challenges
• Develop proactive risk reduction strategies
• Identify pre incident indicators
• Help your administrators, teachers and students understand the appropriate sense of urgency in response
• Learn survival tactics for school officials and students during an actual attack
• Learn how to engage with first responders
• Learn how to assist victims post attack
When agencies, departments, educational institutions and employers try to avoid high-risk situations at all costs, and wait for SWAT to arrive, history has shown us the cost will be innocent victim’s lives. Let us customize and active shooter survival plan for your institution today!