Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 4th Quarter 2017 | Page 103

Once a subject seemingly relegated to the occasional news report or movies and TV, the reality of active shooter incidents has steadily crept into the social consciousness at an alarming rate. Such events have taken place an average of 18 times per year over the past five years, more than double the same period a decade earlier. As organizations seek to adapt to this growing concern, a greater focus is being placed on what a person can do to be safe and how to impart this vital information. With the daunting task of providing critical information as quickly and effectively as possible, leaders from organizations big and small are faced with the same question: where does one even begin to train active shooter mitigation? Thankfully, the same training utilized by first responders can easily be adapted and incorporated by any group, regardless of size or type. Breaking through the barrier of discussing uncomfortable subjects, understanding common characteristics, learning from past incidents, and mental (if not physical) preparation are all essential to equip individuals with the tools necessary to respond to a critical situation. ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM The biggest obstacle most companies have faced in the past and present with such training is the inherent discomfort and disturbing nature of an active shooter scenario. As with anything, challenging the status quo is likely to encounter resistance. Introducing active shooter mitigation into regular training curricula faces even more apprehension since the topic may come off as fear mongering or negatively impacting an organization’s brand. NDER The workplace is naturally seen as a safe space; a place where the day-to-day environment does not drastically change and a person can rightfully assume they will not encounter anything remotely resembling life-threatening danger. However, clearing the hurdles of trepidation begins with stressing the importance of why everyone should know how to respond to a workplace violence event. By Jay Hart ILHA 103