HOW
TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY:
In
the event of an emergency notification, or if you become personally aware of an
active shooter/hostile intruder event while in a University building, quickly
determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life.
UNF
staff members are encouraged to take the actions listed below:
RUN:
When an active shooter is in your
vicinity:
- If
there is an escape path, and it is safe to do so, attempt to evacuate.
- Evacuate whether others agree or not.
- Leave your belongings behind.
- Help others escape if possible.
- Prevent others from entering the area.
- Call 9-1-1 when you are
safe.
HIDE:
If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.
Your hiding place should:
- Be
out of the shooters view.
- Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.
- Not trap or restrict your options for movement.
- Allow you to lock and/or blockade the door.
- In classrooms where doors have glass panes, if available, use class furnishings
to block glass openings.
The vast majority of campus spaces are
equipped with mechanical thumb turns on the door that only require the thumb
turn to be moved to a position in which the lock dead bolt is engaged with the
strike of the door jamb. However in a number of larger classrooms and lecture
halls on campus (Social Sciences Building, Brooks Brown Hall Addition, John E.
Mathews Jr. Computer Science Building) a lock/unlock switch has been installed
at the classroom near the entry/exit door or in the front of the classroom near
the podium. If so equipped, an LED light indicating the lock status of the door
will illuminate the switch. In order to secure such doors, flip or push
the switch to a position so that the indicator light on the switch changes from
green (open) to red (closed). The activation of the switch will engage an
electromechanical locking device that will secure the door(s) until emergency
personnel clear the emergency.
Once doors are locked and secured, only
open doors for uniformed first responders.
When hiding:
- Turn off the lights.
- Silence your cell phone.
- Spread out, do not bunch together.
- Hide behind large objects.
- Remain very quiet
If
evacuation and hiding are not possible:
- Remain calm
- Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location
- If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen
FIGHT:
- As
a last resort, and ONLY if your life is in danger, attempt to
incapacitate the shooter:
- Act with physical aggression.
- Improvise weapons.
- Commit to your actions.
HOW
TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES:
- Remain calm
and follow instructions.
- Keep your hands visible at all times.
- Avoid pointing or yelling.
- Know that help for the injured is on the way.
When
informed to evacuate by emergency personnel, leave all personal effects behind
unless instructed otherwise by emergency personnel.
Upon
exiting a campus space, promptly proceed to the location designated by or led
to by emergency personnel.
Do
not reenter campus space until directed or given an all clear by emergency
personnel.
Here is an informative video that puts many of the concepts in this document in context to an actual active shooter/hostile intruder incident. It is strongly recommended that you take the time to review the material BEFORE debriefing members of your organization. Should you deem it appropriate, showing the video to your staff is also encouraged and recommended.