Active Shooter: Part 2 Hide – Toolbox Talk

If you aren’t able to escape, sometimes the best action is to hide and make it difficult for the active shooter to see you, find you, or get to you. Use cover and conceal techniques to minimize your exposure to the threat. Concealing yourself should hide you from sight, while sufficient cover may stop a bullet.

There are many different ways to hide. Closing and locking doors has proven effective in many active shooter incidents. Moving into a room and locking the door is just the first step, however. A locked door alone is only a temporary obstacle for someone wanting to cause harm. You should also barricade the door, or stack objects in an opening to block the entrance. If the active shooter does get through the locked door, the items used as a barricade will be the next barrier he or she will have to overcome. If the door doesn’t have a lock, place many heavy objects in front of the door in order to create a barricade. If the door opens out, you should also use a strap to secure the hinge or door opener. Belts, cords, etc. can make it difficult to open the door. These actions may at least slow the active shooter down and give you time to identify an alternate means of escape through adjoining rooms or windows or provide an opportunity to plan to fight.

Another example of hiding is turning off the lights. Besides giving the appearance that the room is empty, if the active shooter does gain access into the room, the darkness will be a disadvantage for him or her.

Stay away from windows and remain quiet and out of sight until instructed to come out by law enforcement or other emergency personnel. It is important to silence your cell phone or any other electronic devices. Even a phone vibration setting can give away your location. If you have a choice in selecting from multiple areas to hide, try to find an area that does not trap or restrict you or your options for movement.

While you are hiding, you need to prepare for the next step should it become necessary. Begin planning your next opportunity to escape, whether through an exit route that was previously not an option or by creating a new route through a method such as breaking a window. Otherwise, this may be the time to decide if you are able to fight.

To view the next strategy in Active Shooter situation, find the Active Shooter: Fight – Toolbox Talk.

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