Active Shooter Preparation Steps All Business Owners Must Know
Active shooter cases have become a major problem for businesses of all sizes. Nobody wants to think about the possibility of going through such a terrible occurrence, but with the right planning, many lives can be saved. This article will focus on the steps that business owners are supposed to take to guard or respond to an active shooter in order to ensure that their staff is safe.
We shall discuss prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. These are the key areas that you ought to understand so as to come up with an active shooter plan that works for your company. Being proactive now will help ensure as peaceful and protected a workplace as possible.
Prevention
The first step is prevention. Although there is no failsafe way of preventing violence against others, proper readiness counts. It is very important to conduct a thorough background check on any new employees being hired into an organization. It’s also crucial for fostering a respectful and equitable work culture in a place where all employees can feel valued and included.
Warning signs don’t necessarily mean violence will happen. However, observing changes and patterns in behavior helps in early intervention. Staff should know how to report any concerns or alarming behaviors exhibited by others.
In addition to background checks and a sound workplace culture, awareness, and training are key prevention tools. Educate staff about signs of potential violence. These include:
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Social isolation and mood swings
- Resentment of authority
- Paranoia and conspiracy theories
- Mental illness
- An interest in previous attacks
No single trait guarantees violence. However, recognizing clusters of concerning behaviors allows early intervention. Routinely assess your business for safety risks. Have emergency plans and training resources ready. Keep employees informed about what to watch for and how to respond. Awareness empowers people to speak up about concerns early on.
Protection
If prevention fails, protection measures add a critical layer of defense. The Department of Homeland Security advises making an Emergency Action Plan. This lays out emergency communication methods, means of notifying staff of threats, and key actions to take. Response time is critical, with active shooting events lasting about 12.5 minutes on average. Sixty percent conclude before police arrive, so informing employees quickly saves lives.
Develop close coordination with local law enforcement and first responders. Share building layouts and emergency plans. Arrange on-site assessments with police to identify vulnerabilities. Discuss law enforcement’s likely response protocol. This ensures a more integrated, effective response during a real emergency.
Invest in physical security measures to make unauthorized entry harder. Options include bullet-resistant doors, panic buttons, security cameras, metal detectors, fencing, improved lighting, and guards. While expensive, these measures boost protection. Assess your needs and budget to strike the right balance.
Mitigation
Mitigation involves detecting threats and limiting resulting damage. It’s about being proactive to reduce risks. A key mitigation strategy is creating a threat assessment team. They work with law enforcement to identify and document potential dangers. This allows early intervention to resolve issues before violence occurs.
Installing physical security measures is also important. Video surveillance, metal detectors, security guards, and single-entry access points make it harder for a shooter to enter undetected. Monitoring your business’s surroundings is also wise. Quickly finding employees in danger facilitates rapid, effective response.
Keep first aid kits, trauma kits, and other emergency equipment on hand to treat injuries faster. Once a shooting starts, minutes matter, so having supplies in central locations aids victim survival. Provide medical and stop-the-bleed training to some staff as well.
Regularly practice how your business will respond to emergency scenarios. Drills ensure policies and procedures are realistic and effective. They identify gaps in mitigation strategies, which can then be addressed. Practice makes response more automatic when lives are at stake.
Response
Despite best efforts, violence may still occur. Response planning becomes critical. Keeping staff informed and trained is the foundation of an effective response. Employees need to understand emergency alert procedures, evacuation routes, and how to interact with law enforcement.
Active shooter training focuses on three strategies – run, hide, or fight. Evacuating the area quickly and safely is ideal. If escaping is impossible, hiding in secure rooms away from the shooter’s view is recommended. As a last resort, fighting back with improvised weapons, fire extinguishers, office items, or strength in numbers may be necessary.
Practicing these response procedures ensures less panic during real emergencies. Drills should cover safely exiting, securing doors and barricading, remaining quiet, how and when to call 911, and other key actions. Muscle memory developed through practice saves precious seconds.
Train staff how to properly interact with law enforcement when officers arrive. Keep hands visible and follow all commands. Avoid pointing at officers or grabbing them. Provide critical details like the location, number of shooters, weapons used, and more. Remain calm.
Ensure emergency equipment like first aid kits, communication devices, protective gear, and weapons are accessible in strategic locations. This allows employees to reach lifesaving equipment faster. Store equipment in easy-to-identify areas.
Recovery
If a shooting occurs, providing trauma support in the aftermath is vital for recovery. Offer counseling and time off to employees affected by the event. Check in regularly on their mental health and wellbeing. A compassionate recovery process promotes healing and helps re-establish workplace safety and trust.
When employees are ready, develop a phased plan for resuming business operations. This may start with reduced hours and increase incrementally. Monitor employees for signs of re-traumatization or emotional distress. Providing time off and workload accommodations during early return phases can help ease the transition. Be prepared to slow things down if employees are not coping well.
Find meaningful ways to honor employees or customers lost in the tragedy. This could include a memorial service, dedicating part of the office in their memory, planting trees on the property, setting up a victim fund, or hosting an annual remembrance event. Continuing to share stories and memories of lost loved ones can aid healing.
Conclusion
To create a good active shooter preparation plan, various prevention, protection, mitigation, and response measures should be considered. The whole process of preparation is overwhelming; however, it can be made more bearable by dividing it into five achievable stages.
Companies that have put in place tailored emergency action plans, awareness instruction on approaching threats, police partnership with learning institutions, and therapy services for traumatized employees can enhance the safety of their workers if an unthinkable happens. Active shooter incidents may not kill off businesses created with readiness as well as empathy and flexibility.