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