Active Shooter: How To Respond

How to Respond

INTRODUCTION
Unfortunately, active shooter incidents are occurring with catastrophic results. This plan empowers our university to be prepared. This document provides guidance to staff, faculty, and students who may be caught in an active shooter situation.

GUIDELINES
In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation remain calm and call 9-1-1.

ACTIVE SHOOTER
An active shooter is an event in which one or more persons are actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no apparent pattern or method to their selection of victims. These situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, with the immediate deployment of law enforcement officers to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to innocent people.

PROCEDURES
If faced with an active shooter incident, there are THREE things you can do that make a difference. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.
Call 9-1-1 and the Campus Safety Department at 415-618-3911.

RUN - When an active shooter is in your vicinity.

• If there is a way out, and you can get out, GET OUT! This is your best option
• Get out whether others agree or not
• Leave your belongings behind
• Keep others from entering the danger zone

HIDE - If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.

• Lock and/or barricade the door
• Turn off lights
• Silence your cell phone
• Spread out - Do not cluster in-groups
• Hide behind large objects if possible
• Remain very quiet and do not leave until directed by law enforcement officers
• Your hiding place should:
  1. Be out of shooters view
  2. Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction
  3. Don’t trap or restrict your options for movement (if possible)

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
• Once the shooter is incapacitated call 911 and Campus Safety at 415-619-3911.

POLICE RESPONSE - When law enforcement arrives.

• Keep your EMPTY hands raised and visible, with your fingers spread apart
• Remain calm and follow instructions
• Avoid pointing or yelling
• The first police officers to arrive will not respond to or aid those who are injured. They will go directly to the shooter.
• Know that help for the injured is on its way. Rescue team officers and emergency personnel will care for the injured as soon as possible.
• The area is a crime scene. Police officers may secure all witnesses until identified and questioned.

Communication Plan
The University will activate its Emergency Notification System in response to an Active Shooter on Campus. Students and staff will be informed via text message alerts, email, and through the Emergency Notification Televisions located in most of our building's lobbies.
We encourage you to sign up for text message alerts please follow the instructions below.

Please text EZAAU to 313131.
Note: Type EZAAU in upper case, otherwise, your spell checker may substitute something other than the correct EZAAU keyword.