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Shots Fired on Campus - Surviving an Active Shooter Incident

No campus today is immune from an active shooter incident. Unfortunately, these events have occurred on campuses of all sizes from coast-to-coast. CSI’s Campus Safety organization is responsible to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff and community visitors. Therefore, we are making campus residents aware of this very important topic and how they can act to increase their chances of survival should such an event occur. The key is to develop a survival mindset - decide that you will survive! There are a few key principles to follow in such an incident. These concepts are discussed and demonstrated in the video entitled "Run, Hide, Fight – Surviving an Active Shooter Event". CSI Campus Safety has a copy of this video in their library and will present to any CSI campus group or class upon request.


The basic principles that the video presents


Run

When an active shooter is in your vicinity
• If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate
• Evacuate whether others agree to or not
• Leave your belongings behind
• Help others escape if possible
• Prevent others from entering the area
• Call 911 when you are safe


Hide

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide
• Lock and/or block the door
• Silence your cell phone
• Hide behind large objects
• Remain very quiet


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

Law Enforcement response considerations

• Police will move rapidly toward the sounds of violence
• They will not spend much time helping bystanders or victims initially until the threat has been neutralized
• Do not represent a threat to arriving police units. Remember they do not know who part of the threat might be, do not run toward them, show them your empty hands, provide any information that you have regarding the event quickly and calmly, immediately follow their directions.