3 Things You Should do in an Active Shooter Situation

"You will react as you have trained."

​- Darin Lucas, Associate Director, Security, Patrol, and Investigation, 
  Eskenazi Health 

Are you and your co-workers prepared to react in an active shooter situation? Does your facility have a plan in place? What would you do?

These are important things to think about, but many people do not. "You will react as you have trained", states Darin Lucas, Associate Director, Security, Patrol, and Investigation of Eskenazi Health, in the video below. Your training sets the tone for your response in any type of situation.  

When it comes to responding to an active shooter within your organization, there are 3 key things to remember:

           1. Run
           2. Hide
           3. Fight

In the following video, it is mentioned to stop what you are doing and get yourself to safety- Even if that means, leaving anyone who will not follow or securing and abandoning the patient you are with if they are unable to run. Your ultimate goal is to see to your own safety, meaning "You run so you can be there for patients after the shooting", states India Owens, MSN, RN, CEN, NEBC, FA-EN, Director of Emergency Services and EMS Operations at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

"You run so you can be there for patients after the shooting"    

-India Owens, MSN, RN, CEN, NEBC, FA-EN, 
​Director of Emergency Services and EMS Operations
Franciscan St. Francis Health.

When planning and training for an active shooter situation, it is important to label all the safe hiding places. Train staff to be able to identify these hiding places. A safe hiding place is one that has minimal windows, minimal points of entry and a lock on the door. Additionally, quickly scan the room for heavy furniture or anything that can be moved in front of the door and act as a barrier between you and the shooter. Once you are safely hidden, if you have time and can safely do so, report the situation to authorities via phone call. 

"Work as a team and be committed to your actions."
-Preparing to fight in an active shooter situation

There may be a time when running and hiding just isn't enough. As healthcare workers, self-preservation is important. Your patients and co-workers need you. As the video states, "be prepared to fight if it comes down to it. Commit to your actions and work as a team to disrupt and incapacitate the attacker. Act as aggressively as possible- Your commitment to your actions could meant the difference between life and death."

The MESH Coalition suggests knowing the key features of your environment. Know where all the panic buttons are, know the procedures, the doors that lock, and all the exits. Remember: by failing to plan, we plan to fail. By creating and exercising these plans, workers have a higher chance of coming out on the other side successfully. 

To watch the full video, click here: MESH Coalition Responding to an Active Shooter in a Healthcare Setting

Note: The video linked above was shared as a reference piece and not necessarily as a formal recommendation.