Active Shooter

Active shooter incidents are on the rise and can occur anywhere at any time. An active shooter is an individual who attempts to kill numerous people usually in a confined space. On average, these volatile events last between 10 to 15 minutes.

Recommended Safety Measures

Quick-thinking individuals can often mitigate the amount of destruction wrought by enacting safety measures recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.


  1. During
  2. After

During

  • Run and escape, if possible.
    • Leave your belongings behind and get away from the shooter.
    • Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
    • Warn and prevent individuals from entering the area of danger, if you can do so safely.
    • Call 911 when you are safe, and describe the shooter, location, and weapons.
  • Hide if escape is not possible.
    • Get out of the shooter's view and stay very quiet.
    • Silence all electronic devices and make sure they won't vibrate.
    • Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off lights.
    • Communicate with police silently using texts or social media to tag your location, or put a sign in a window.
  • Fight as an absolute last resort.
    • Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible against the shooter.
    • Recruit others to ambush the shooter with makeshift weapons like chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc.
    • Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the shooter.
    • Throw items and improvised weapons to distract and disarm the shooter.