If the situation should arise that an armed assailant has entered the campus area and threatened violence and/or started shooting, the University may enter into a lockdown mode. Please note that these situations are highly unpredictable, and that the following guidelines are based on past experiences. Altering responses may be necessary depending on the situation.
AVOID- Run and Escape, if possible
- Get away from the shooter/threat is top priority.
- Leave your belongings behind and get away.
- Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
- Warn and prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.
- Call Police when you are safe, and describe shooter, location, and weapons.
DENY
- Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet.
- Barricade door, lock door, shut off lights and close blinds
- Try to communicate with the police when possible.
- Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
DEFEND-Fight
- Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible against him/her.
- Recruit others to ambush the shooter with makeshift weapons like chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc. to distract and disarm the shooter.
- Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the shooter.
AFTER an Active Shooter Incident
- Keep hands visible and empty.
- Know that law enforcement’s first task is to end the threat, and they may have to pass injured along the way.
- Follow law enforcement instructions and evacuate in the direction they come from.
- Officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, and/or handguns and may use pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation.
- Officers will shout commands and may push individuals to the ground for their safety.
- Take care of yourself first, and then you may be able to help the wounded before the first responders arrive.
- If the injured are in immediate danger, help get them to safety.
- While you wait for first responders to arrive, provide first aid-apply direct pressure to wounded and use tourniquets if you have been trained to do so.
- Turn wounded people onto their sides if they are unconscious and keep them warm.
Lockdown Procedures
If you are inside a building and you hear gunfire or receive an emergency message signifying a lockdown, please follow these steps:
- Go to the nearest room, office, or closet
- Close and lock the door
- Place whatever you can in front of the door to prevent anyone from entering
- Stay quiet and stay out of view
- DO NOT answer the door
- If you hear gunfire or have pertinent information to the situation, notify police. Do this ONLY if it is reasonably safe to do so
- Give the communications officer the following information
- Your name
- Location of the incident
- Number of known shooter(s)
- Identification of the shooter
- Type of weapon (handgun, rifle, etc.)
- Your current location
- Location of known victims
- Stay barricade inside the room, closet, etc. until you’re escorted out by an emergency official or given an “all clear” notification message.
If you are outside of a building, run and seek shelter.
Police Response
Police are trained to respond to an active shooting incident by entering the building as soon as possible and proceeding to the area of the shooter. Early on in the incident medical treatment may be impossible to deliver to victims, because their main goal is stopping the shooter. Try to remain as calm as possible so as not to interfere with police operations. Once the area is maintained, Rescue Task Force Teams will arrive to provide assistance to those injured.