Education, Prevention, and Mitigation

for Violence in the Workplace

The FBI defines an active shooter as one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Implicit in this definition is the shooters use of one or more firearms.

Having an awareness of the door locks and hardware mechanisms in your environment can save your life. Seconds matter when the armed response is minutes away. Pay attention to how your doors swing (open and close), how they lock (or don’t lock), and what can be used to improvise as a lock for your doors.

What if the doors in your environment don’t lock? Improvise with belts or extension cords on door hardware, lanyards around door mechanisms, door stops, etc. Barricading is a must when doors don’t lock. You can also barricade when doors lock, adding an additional layer to your security.

Rules #4-5 - Lock Doors / Barricade

Lock Doors

Always lock doors if/when possible. Check to see how the doors in your environment lock. If the doors don’t lock, do you have a plan for barricading? What other methods could you use to keep the doors locked and secured?



Improvised Door Locking

Door wedges, placing chairs under doorknobs, and securing door hardware on top of the door with a belt, rope, etc., are improvisions that could be used.



Barricade 

Use items that are heavy at the base of your barricade and work your way up. Barricading can buy you time for the police or armed security to arrive. Depending upon how the door(s) swing in or out, the barricade can slow down, but not always prevent the attacker's entrance into your environment.

Turn the Lights Out & Silence Cell Phone

Darkness will always help us hide in our environment. Getting a call or text message could alert the shooter to your location even though you are locked/barricaded. Make sure your cell phone is placed on silence.



Remain Quiet & Alert

Stay as calm and quiet as possible. Pray that the shooter does not hear or see you and goes right on by.

Prepare to Attack the Attacker

If your locks/barricades do not prohibit the attacker's entrance, prepare yourself mentally and physically to attack (fight). You may need to act!

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Increase your awareness, preparedness, and responses for an active shooter. This email is a brief overview on one of the Rules for Surviving an Active Shooter. AVADE® provides in-depth training on active shooters and how to survive this extreme violence.  

Register for training today or bring AVADE® Training to your organization.