Workplace violence has been with us for a long time. Unfortunately with increased media attention to these events I think there are more high profile/multi-casualty events. There are those that take domestic violence and extend it to the workplace, and also those that are specifically targeted to workplace. Certainly it has been shown again and again that our schools are not immune to these types of incidents with Columbine and VA Tech being the worst ones.
The Department of Homeland Security has an Active Shooter Guide for the General Public
Certainly the best course of action is to evacuate any building/space that has someone walking around and shooting people. There are situations described where you might be able to barricade and shelter in a room that the shooter has not entered.
Not described in the guide is the situation where you are trapped in a room that a shooter has entered and is walking around and shooting people. To hide in such a situation is to wait for an execution in my opinion. They do provide some limited guidance about taking direct action against the person with the gun. One other item I've read years ago was a study that said that running out of the room, even if it mean running past the gunman, is better than staying there trapped and in hiding.
This situation is not the type that I've not included in my disaster preparedness presentations. Given the frequency of these events it might be appropriate that we start incorporating the preparedness and response actions that the average person can take.
What do you think?
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The Department of Homeland Security has an Active Shooter Guide for the General Public
Certainly the best course of action is to evacuate any building/space that has someone walking around and shooting people. There are situations described where you might be able to barricade and shelter in a room that the shooter has not entered.
Not described in the guide is the situation where you are trapped in a room that a shooter has entered and is walking around and shooting people. To hide in such a situation is to wait for an execution in my opinion. They do provide some limited guidance about taking direct action against the person with the gun. One other item I've read years ago was a study that said that running out of the room, even if it mean running past the gunman, is better than staying there trapped and in hiding.
This situation is not the type that I've not included in my disaster preparedness presentations. Given the frequency of these events it might be appropriate that we start incorporating the preparedness and response actions that the average person can take.
What do you think?
