-By Matthew Martie, Managing Director
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Build ongoing awareness with group members that although threats may not be in the building today, a shooter is often someone who is close to a member of the community – business, hospital, school, etc.
Develop now an immediate Emergency Alert Notification capability leveraging Intercom, fire alarm speakers or similar system along with a simple directive like “Code Red” if Hospital, “Code Blue” if Business or “Emergency Evacuation” for all others. Remember that phone trees are too slow and cumbersome for immediate crisis management.
Training is essential and should be announced for the first few sessions with unannounced drills to follow. Training normally should be conducted during the morning hours and must be done in moderation as not to develop complacency within the group.
Ensure that everyone understands that normal fire drill-type evacuations do not apply to active shooter environments and everyone must escape with urgency.
If it is impossible to safely escape, group members must learn how to lock themselves in an appropriate room with no corridor windows and a solid door with a lock as well as place effective barricades to provide both cover and concealment.
Don’t leave secured areas unless police instruct you to do so and always comply with all police instructions.
Group members will most likely need to assist each other in escaping and providing immediate first aid once in a safe environment, as most often Police and EMS responders maybe overwhelmed with the threat.
Make sure to establish safe marshaling areas at a much greater distance from the normal fire alarm evacuation.
Designate a small management group to be the liaison with police and coordinate and practice with police when and where possible.
Evaluate and upgrade physical security barriers where practical.
Matthew Martie is a veteran Global Corporate Security Director of a Fortune 500 Company. He has directed Security and Investigations in 47 countries and has specialized in the prevention and investigation of workplace violence through prudent physical security measures for over 25 years. He is certified by the Department of Defense as a Physical Security Inspector/Designer and has completed the FBI’s Active Shooter Countermeasures (Train the Trainer) Course. Mr. Martie has conducted training for civilian law enforcement, military police, corporate executives and private security guards, and has designed physical security plans for hundreds of facilities through out the globe.
