Active shooter training
I hate that I’m making this post but at this point pretty much any workplace can fall victim to a shooting.
That being said, does anyone conduct an active shooter training? If you do, who conducts the training and what’s the format?
Comments (20)
Does anyone have a good resource how we (or one of my employees) could become certified to do a workplace violence training? We are fully capable of putting a class together, but we are interested in having some sort of certification stating we have been properly trained as well.
My Concern with local law enforcement is the training they provide is to "their" benefit when they arrive on scene and not to the benefit of the victims. The Run/Hide/Fight video is okay but it has glaring issues in its presentation such as hiding along a wall that is just sheet rock or the use of the fire extinguisher as the intruder breaches the room... (why would you try to get close and hit the shooter over the head when you can aim it into his eyes from 10 feet away)?
Last year I did a webinar class on "Three Responses to Active Shooter Situations", in which I also gained a small amount of CEU credits for, that was given by BNP Media. I found the information on the Security magazine website, where they have a number of webinars for different types of industries and disciplines. It wasn't required for me to participate in the webinar, but like you said in today's day and age you never know what is going to happen on any given day. From personal experience I can tell you fist hand, that showing a video and giving a quiz or test at the end is not a guarantee that you will remember any of the training. The biggest piece of advice I can give anyone is to do your very best to remain calm. I know that this can be extremely difficult at times, but if you can't remain as calm as possible your ability to think will be reduced greatly. 20 years ago, chaos at Fort Bragg’s Towle Stadium, Fog hung over Fort Bragg’s Towle Stadium in the early morning of Oct. 27, 1995. We trained almost every day!! https://www.fayobserver.com/article/20151026/news/310269934
We partnered with our local Sheriff's office.
They had 2 instructors that would come out to your site, help you evaluate and/or develop an active shooter plan, and then they would incorporate that plan into a site-specific training, which they would then provide.
The only portion of that process that we paid for was the presentation to our workforce, and it was very reasonable.
The FBI has a bunch of resources for active shooter incidents. https://www.fbi.gov/about/partnerships/office-of-partner-engagement/active-shooter-resources/responding-to-an-active-shooter-crisis-situation
Also, check with your local law enforcement. They may have resources available.
We had an online course at a prior employer. That the only online that I have ever badly failed, probably 50% wrong answers. These trainings have a basic element that’s consistent, close doors - turn off lights - stay quiet. I missed on the other part. I cannot remember the specifics, but there was a mind set that I just didn’t agree with.
At my current employer our training is online through our training software. At my past employer I reached out to the city police department and found out they give presentations on the topic. We brought them in and had every employee listen to the presentation.
We have a yearly and initial onboarding training video that discusses the run, hide, fight components followed by a quiz.
During the onboarding process, the video is presented by Loss Prevention / Security personnel. This gives the new employees an opportunity to discuss and ask questions in person.
Pre-covid, leadership across the company would get together in their regions and attend a workshop that discussed work place violence and emergency preparedness. The leaders would then go back to their primary work locations to share the information and develop plans with their employees.
This way way tremendously impactful since each location has unique challenges that a cookie-cutter one-size fits all solution just wouldn’t be sufficient. Zoom workshops have now become the new norm.