Initial Actions
When it comes to safety on college campuses today, many colleges are not only implementing fire, earthquake or active shooter drills but lockdown drills as well.
Lockdown drills are a set of initial action procedures designed to have the occupants in a building familiarize themselves with ways to protect themselves against a threat, such as an armed intruder.
In the event of a crisis situation such as an active shooter, it is important to be prepared.
The most effective way to implement a lockdown procedure is to train and prepare staff and faculty to respond to an active shooter situation. Conducting frequent mock active shooter training exercises and having an action plan in place will allow for the greatest chances of survival and minimize the number of casualties.
Your Campus Safety Department and Local Law Enforcement Agencies are an excellent resource in designing and implementing training scenarios and Initial Action Plans.
What is a Lock-down?
A lock-down protects staff, faculty, and students from a human threat.
Buildings are secured, and everyone hides and maintains as quiet as possible to avoid detection. The primary objective of a lock-down is to protect everyone on or near the campus and prevent armed intruders from entering occupied areas.
Shelter-in-Place: Unlike a Lock-Down if the threat is from an Environmental situation, buildings don't need to be locked and students, staff, and faculty are free to move about, but must remain indoors.
Lock-Down Procedures
- Remain calm. Encourage others to remain calm.
- Immediately cease all activity (i.e. teaching, group work, meetings etc...)
- Lock or barricade all doors where possible. Card access doors will be locked during a lockdown but can be opened from the inside.
- If possible cover any windows or openings that have a direct line of sight into a hallway.
- Shut the blinds or pull the shades down. Turn off the lights and try to give the impression that the room is empty.
- Stay low, away from windows and doors and barricade door(s) if possible; use furniture or desks as cover.
- Sit on the floor or crouch under or behind desks and bookshelves where possible, so as to be as invisible as possible.
- Immediately put all cell phones into "Vibrate" or "Silent" mode. Calls to Campus Safety & Security should be made only if specific information becomes available regarding the location or conduct of the intruder or if the status of the emergency changes.
- Be as quiet as possible.
- DO NOT respond to anyone at the door until an "all clear" text message is received or if you are certain it is safe to do so.
- If you are directed by police to leave your secured area, assist others in moving as quietly and quickly as possible.
- Do not sound the fire alarm in the building unless there is a fire. People may be placed in harm's way when they are attempting to evacuate the building. If a fire alarm does go off during a lockdown, do not evacuate unless you smell smoke or see fire in your area.
- If you are outside of a building when a lockdown is announced, if it is safe to do so, run into the nearest building and follow the above lockdown instructions. If it is not safe to run into a building, hide behind a large heavy object (i.e. vehicle, tree). Notify Campus Safety & Security of your location when safe to do so.
- Be aware of alternate exits if it becomes necessary to flee.
- Individuals should not attempt to leave the building until told to do so by police personnel.
The degree to which a “Lock-Down” is implemented will depend on the threat.
Immediate on-site threats will require all actions described above.
Threats from off-site activities, such as a nearby Police action, may require only that exterior doors be secured, lookouts posted, and that all staff remains indoors until Police announce that it is safe to resume normal activity.
If you find that the campus has been put in a Lock-down with an armed intruder on our campus the Department of Homeland Security says there are three courses of action to take that are designed to maximize your chances of survival during such a critical situation until help arrives: RUN/HIDE/FIGHT
Run:
- Have an escape route and plan in mind
- Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
- Leave your belongings behind
- Help others escape, if possible
- Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
- Keep your hands visible
- Follow the instructions of any police officers
- Do not attempt to move wounded people
- Call 911 when you are safe
Hide:
Your hiding place should:
- Be out of the active shooter’s view
- Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
- Not trap you or restrict your options for movement
To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:
- Lock the door
- Close blinds.
- Block windows.
- Turn off radios and computer monitors if necessary to make it seem the room is not occupied.
- Blockade the door with heavy furniture
If the active shooter is nearby:
- Turn off any source of noise (i.e. radios, televisions, cell phones)
- Hide behind large items (i.e. cabinets, desks)
- Remain as quiet as possible
If Evacuation and Hiding are not possible:
- Remain Calm
- Keep others calm and quiet.
- Dial 911, if possible, to alert police of active shooter's location
- If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen
- Assure others that you and the police are working to protect them.
Fight:
- Act as aggressively as possible against him/her
- Throw items
- Improvise weapons (scissors, sticks, rods, chairs, fire extinguisher, etc.)
- Committing to your actions
When committing to your actions nothing is off-limits, the end goal is to stop the threat and ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. When you don't have anything immediately on hand your body can be your weapon:
Personal Body Weapons:
- Fist
- Palm
- Fingers
- Knuckles
- Head (front and back)
- Elbow
- Knee
- Foot
If you attempt to stop the threat some weak point areas that you can target are:
Emergency Action Plan (E.A.P.)
What is an E.A.P?
A written procedure outlining the appropriate response to various types of emergencies.
The response to many emergencies will include similar components, but they will also have unique components that will require careful planning and execution.
When planning and outlining your EAP, It is important to identify the emergencies most likely to impact your organization and plan accordingly, some emergency responses will have radically different recommendations than others.
Creating an EAP and training employees on how to follow it can greatly reduce employee injuries, and can ensure the safety of everyone in the event of an emergency.
An Effective EAP Includes:
- A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies likely to impact our campus
- An evacuation policy and procedure
- Emergency escape procedures and route assignments (i.e., floor plans, safe areas)
- Contact information for, and responsibilities of individuals to be contacted under the EAP
- 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/campus
- Individuals En route to campus
- Local law enforcement
- Local area hospitals
Evacuation Procedures, Escape Routes, and Floor Plans
It is important that each person in an office, a department, or a classroom is prepared to respond quickly In the event of any crisis situation, and that everyone is as familiar as possible with the EAP. Depending on the type of emergency, people will either need to exit the building as quickly as possible or be prepared to navigate to a safer part of the building and knowing exactly what to do and what you're individual role entails is just as important.
Floor plans on the EAP should include:
- clearly marked evacuation routes
- emergency exits
- easily identifiable supplies or tools needed depending on the type of emergency.
The information contained within these plans isn't only for the good of employees and guests, emergency personnel will also rely on this information to navigate the building safely and to provide aid in the most efficient way possible.
Change is constant and since emergencies can occur anytime without warning, it is essential to develop policies to train all staff, faculty, and new employees on the various EAPs and their role within the EAP.
It is crucial to keep all EAPs current. Implementing or redesigning an EAP is a major undertaking, but is the only way to assure an efficient emergency response. EAPs should be reviewed and revised constantly.
OSHA recommends EAP's to be reviewed annually or more frequently as needed.
Note: New hires, building redesigns, new programs, office changes, remodeling, and much more can all impact the effectiveness of an EAP.