If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival. It is important for each person to think and be an active participant in his/her own safety.
Active Shooter Outside Your Building
- Shelter in place. This means to proceed to a room that can be locked or secured by some other means such as a door wedge or barricade materials. Lock all doors and windows and turn off the lights. If possible, get everyone to one side of the door frame along the wall. Ensure that no one is visible from outside the room. Do not leave the location until the university issues an "All Clear" message or the location becomes unsafe.
- Call 911 or 765-285-1111 by using the classroom call box or a cell phone. Advise the dispatcher of what's taking place, and inform him/her of your location. Remain in place until the police or a campus administrator that you know gives the "All Clear." Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe space; do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify that they are being issued by a police officer.
Active Shooter Inside Your Building
- Secure the room you are in by either the door lock, a wedge, or barricade material, then follow the procedures above.
- If you cannot secure the room, determine if there is a nearby location that can be reached safely and secured or if you can safely exit the building.
If you decide to move from your current location, follow the instructions below under "Escape."
Active Shooter Inside Your Classroom
- Try to remain calm. Call 911 or 765-285-1111 if possible and alert police to the shooter's location. If you can't speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can hear what is taking place. Usually the location of a caller can be determined without speaking.
- If there is absolutely no opportunity of escape and the shooter gains entry, you may have to collectively work to overpower the shooter. In many instances, victims will outnumber the shooter. Do not fight fair, use objects to distract and inhibit the shooter’s ability to use his weapon. If the shooter leaves the area, immediately secure your area and look for ways to evacuate to a safer place. Do not touch anything that was in the area of the shooter because of possible explosives being left or crucial evidence being lost.
Escape
No matter what the circumstances, if you decide to flee during an active shooter situation make sure you have a plan and escape route in mind.
- Do not attempt to carry anything in your hands while fleeing.
- Move quickly.
- Keep your hands visible.
- Follow instructions given by any police officers you may encounter.
- Do not try to move any injured people; leave them where they are and notify authorities of their location as soon as possible.
- In some instances leaving the immediate campus area may be the best option.
What to Expect from Responding Police Officers
Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area where the shots were last heard.
Their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.
- The first responding officers will immediately enter the building and engage the shooter.
- They will possibly be from different agencies and dressed in different uniforms.
- They may even be in civilian clothes and wearing an external bulletproof vest.
- Some officers may be dressed in Kevlar helmets and other tactical equipment.
- The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, or handguns.
- Remain calm regardless of how they appear.
- Do as the officers tell you, and do not be afraid of them.
- Put down any bags or packages that you are carrying. Keep your hands visible at all times.
- If you know where the shooter is, tell the officers.
- The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured victims.
- Rescue teams composed of other officers and emergency medical personnel will follow the first team into secured areas to treat and remove injured persons.
- Keep in mind that once you have escaped to a safer location, the entire area is still a crime scene.
- Police will usually not let anyone leave until the situation is under control and witnesses have been identified.
- Until you have been released, remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate.