Active Shooter: Proper response could save lives

Published Feb. 10, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Matt Davis
Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- When serving, military members know sometimes they will be in harm's way to support the mission. When forward deployed, Airmen receive training to prepare them to engage the enemy.

But what if the threat was within your base? Knowing basic active shooter response can save lives.

According to the Air Force's Be Ready website, an active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people, most often in populated areas. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooters can also use improvised explosive devices to create additional victims and to impede first responders.

"An active shooter could be a domestic incident or as we saw at the Navy Yard, an insider who worked in the building who became disgruntled," said Mark Allen, Air Force District of Washington Security Forces director. "The Navy Yard shooter was an active shooter and an inside threat. The guy worked there and had the credentials to get into the installation and facility."

AFDW personnel follow guidelines established on the Air Force's Be Ready website on how to react to an active shooter threat. Here are some tips to follow if an active shooter incident occurs:

Evacuate
· If an escape route is accessible, evacuate the immediate area.
· When safe, call 911 or equivalent. Stay on the phone until the operator ends the call. · Once evacuated, prevent others from entering the area.
·Follow any law enforcement instructions.

Barricade
"The shooter is looking for the easy target and a lot of times they are looking for numbers," said Allen. "If something blocks or obstruct them, they'll most likely move on to an easier site."
· If evacuation is not possible, find a place to create a barricade between you and the active shooter.
· If possible, lock the door and/or block the door with heavy furniture. Turn off any lights and cover windows.
· Remain quiet and silence any devices (e.g. a cell phone) that may give away a hiding place.

Take action against the shooter, "fight"
· As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/ or incapacitate the shooter.
· Personnel should use whatever means possible to overpower the subject to save further lives.

When law enforcement arrives
· Law enforcement's purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible.
· Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard and will not stop to help injured persons until the shooter is neutralized.
· Remain calm and follow instructions.
· Provide any information that may assist them in countering the threat.

Just knowing a few of these guidelines could potentially help you and others survive an active shooter incident. For more information on responding to and active shooter threat, visit http://www.beready.af.mil/disasters&emergencies/activeshooter.asp or contact the installation's emergency management office.