How to prepare yourself, employees for an active shooter situation
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Richland Fred Meyer shooting
A shooting at a Richland Fred Meyer store on Feb. 7, 2022, left an Instacart worker dead and a store employee in critical condition. Stick with the Tri-City Herald as we report the latest in this developing story.
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Active shooter scenarios are one of those situations in which most people think ‘that’ll never happen to me.’
And hopefully it doesn’t. But just like tornado and earthquake drills, it’s just as important to have a plan in place for an active shooter situation — it can mean the difference between life and death.
The United States endured 611 mass shootings in 2020, which is the most recent data provided by the Gun Violence Archive, or GVA. The GVA characterizes a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot, either injured or killed, not including the shooter.
So far in 2022 there have been 4,476 gun violence related deaths in the United States according to GVA’s data, including Monday morning’s shooting in the Richland Fred Meyer store that killed one man.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself in an active shooter situation and how to prepare for one if you’re a business or facility owner:
What to do if you’re in an active shooter situation
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends three options if you find yourself in an active shooter situation: Run, hide or fight.
The most ideal of those situations is running, which is possible when you’ve already identified the best possible exit and escape route.
Once outside of the building, DHS recommends to continue running as far from the scene as possible and to call law enforcement to give information about the shooter, such as their appearance and what weapons they are carrying. Be prepared to encounter law enforcement while escaping and keep your hands visible and empty and comply with any police demands.
The department also recommends only helping someone who needs medical assistance if it does not hinder your own escape.
If you can’t easily evacuate, the next-best option is to hide.
“Lock the door, stay close to the ground, and try to find cover from any stray gunfire that may penetrate the walls,” a video from the Department of Homeland Security says.
If you are hiding, expect that you may need to fight.
“Making a decision to hide does not prevent you from putting up a fight later,” the video notes. “If you are confronted by the active shooter, you have to assume that your actions are all that stands between yourself, your colleagues and grave harm.”
The video recommends to search around for heavy or sharp objects and to not stop fighting until you are certain of safety.
How to prepare your building and employees
While it’s crucial for individuals to be prepared for the worst, it’s also important for business and building owners to prepare their employees and facilities for an active shooter situation.
Identifying emergency escape routes and exits can help in designing evacuation plans which can then be relayed to employees. You can reach out to your local law enforcement agency to ask if they can assist in drafting a response plan based on your building. Local law enforcement should also be able to direct you to resources and training to help your employees.
Easy changes that can revolutionize a response plan is providing employees with first aid kits and escape ladders in case someone is stuck in a room on the second floor or higher. The video also stresses the importance of training your employees to look out for and help those who cannot run or fight, such as a person in a wheelchair.
Finally, the Department of Homeland Security also recommends technology that can help alert those in the building of an active shooter situation, such as audio and visual cues on walls and ceilings.
More information on active shooter preparedness can be found on the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency website.
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 11:10 AM with the headline "How to prepare yourself, employees for an active shooter situation."
