Beyond ‘run, hide, fight’: what to do in an active-shooter situation

More workplaces are having to prepare for the rare, nightmare scenario. How should you respond?

The scene on 52nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenue where an New York Police Department police officer was shot on Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis

It’s a rare, nightmare scenario yet one that more people have confronted in recent years: A shooter shows up at your workplace — as one did at a Park Avenue office tower in New York City this week — forcing quick decisions.

For years, the most commonly advised approach has boiled down to three words: run, hide, fight. But many security experts say that thinking has evolved and that additional tactics, such as building barricades, breaking through windows and creating distractions, can be critical to survival.

Here’s what the latest training in active-shooter situations says are best practices:

What does ‘run, hide, fight’ actually mean?

Training courses use a variety of names to describe the basic active-shooter protocol, but the tactics are largely the same. The priority in “run, hide, fight” is the “run,” security specialists say. “You want to escape if you can,” said Jim Hayes, a veteran of the Department of Homeland Security, who now advises companies in his role as a vice president at the security firm Guidepost Solutions.

If fleeing isn’t an option, try to find a hiding spot in an out-of-the-way room. Some companies also teach “ABC,” an acronym that instructs people to avoid the threat, barricade themselves and, as a last resort, confront an assailant. Other training programs prefer “ALICE,” which stands for alert, lock down, inform, counter and evacuate.

The bottom line is the same: “Running or getting out gives you the best chance of success,” Hayes said. “Then, if you can’t do that, what’s the next best option?”

What are the best ways to hide or barricade?

In this week’s Park Avenue shooting, workers hid in bathrooms, conference rooms and other areas, using blankets to block windows. Some created barricades of office sofas and desks in front of doors. That can delay a shooter from getting to a hiding spot before law-enforcement officers arrive, security specialists say.

Use the heaviest furniture or equipment available to block entrances, such as desks, filing cabinets and tables. Try to hide along the wall closest to the exit but out of sight — that provides the best chances for ambushing the shooter or escaping if the shooter enters or walks past.

Many shooters know they have limited time, so if an area is hard to reach, they might move on, security specialists say.

“Generally, these people are not going to spend a lot of time trying to get into a locked room or a barricaded room,” Hayes said.

Can you plan for any of this in advance?

Yes, said Dale Buckner, chief executive of the security firm Global Guardian. Creating a “what if?” escape plan can save seconds, even minutes in an emergency.

Take the “run.” Do you know where the various exits and access points are in your workplace? If elevators are shut off, would you know how to get downstairs? If a colleague is in a wheelchair, or is older and might need assistance, who is ready to help them?

“Those little things matter,” Buckner said.

Map out your office to determine whether certain rooms are more secure from gunfire, should you need to hide. That could be a conference room without windows or a storage closet with cinder-block walls.

Should I pull the fire alarm?

Federal law-enforcement officials generally advise against that. People are conditioned to immediately evacuate a building when they hear the alarm, potentially putting them in harm’s way.

A fire alarm also risks disabling elevators — which could be needed to help injured people — or unlocking certain doors, increasing a shooter’s ability to move throughout a building.

How do you know when it’s time to hide and when it’s time to fight?

Fighting is seen as a last resort. But when a gunman has found your hiding place and is pointing a weapon in your direction, it is time to switch from hiding to confronting.

Fighting can mean throwing something at a gunman — a fire extinguisher, a chair, even a handful of pens — to create a distraction, improvising a weapon or creating chaos in the room by yelling and running around. Law-enforcement officials recommend that, when in fight mode, it is best to act aggressively.

I’m in lockdown. Where should I look for updates and how should I communicate? Silence all electronic devices, including ringers and vibrate functions. If possible, text or send direct messages to law enforcement over social media to share your location. Try to report any active-shooter emergency via 911 first; use social media only as a backup, not a replacement for contacting emergency services directly.

My company doesn’t offer active-workplace-shooter training. Where can I find it?

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency maintains resources for active-shooter preparedness, with advice for workers and employers. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation posts videos on its website and other tips for knowing how to respond. — Some local police departments, universities, schools and government agencies also conduct active-shooter training, even if your company doesn’t.

What should active-shooter training include?

Besides running through “run, hide, fight” protocols, security specialists say training courses should emphasise that employees can play a role in spotting potential threats. Take any unsolicited comments about violence, acts of revenge or firearms seriously and report any threats of violence to supervisors or human resources.

“Colleagues are the ones who can identify a significant change,” said Brian Stephens of Teneo, who advises companies about security matters and is a former chief security officer at Bank of America.

Many security experts also advise ” stop the bleed” training, a national program to teach bystanders how to treat gunshot and other life-threatening wounds before first responders arrive. An analysis of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando found that 16 people died because quick care wasn’t provided to survivable wounds. Some students have survived school shootings because teachers had bleeding-control training and knew how to properly apply gauze and tourniquets.

The Wall Street Journal