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Jun 1, 2023
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Public Safety
Emergency Preparedness Guide
Active Shooter Protocol
Carlin Hall Basement
(202) 651-5445
Email Us
An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.
Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims.
Because 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.
Good practices for coping with an active shooter situation
CALL 202-651-5555, email Contact OR CALL 9-1-1 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!
Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that customers and clients are likely to follow the lead of employees and managers during an active shooter situation.
1. GET OUT
If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:
2. HIDE OUT
If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:
To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:
If the active shooter is nearby:
If evacuation and hiding out are not possible:
3. TAKE OUT
As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:
Law enforcement’s purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard.
How to react when law enforcement arrives:
Information to provide to law enforcement or 9-1-1 operator:
The first officers to arrive to the scene will not stop to help injured persons. Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers. These rescue teams will treat and remove any injured persons. They may also call upon able-bodied individuals to assist in removing the wounded from the premises.
Once you have reached a safe location or an assembly point, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control, and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Do not leave the safe location or assembly point until law enforcement authorities have instructed you to do so.
Adapted from Department of Homeland Security publication “Active Shooter: How to Respond” published 2008.
(202) 651-5555