ACTIVE SHOOTER/HOSTILE INTRUDER ON CAMPUS

If you witness (or are otherwise directly involved in) an active shooter/hostile intruder incident on campus and your life is in imminent danger, take the following actions:

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT

• Run. Evacuate the premises only if there is an accessible escape route.
  • Have an escape route and a plan in mind.
  • Attempt to run away from the threat if you can, as fast as you can.
  • Evacuate whether others agree to follow.
  • Never run in a straight line.
  • Do not stop to collect your personal belongings.
  • Warn others and help them if it is safe to do so.
  • Warn others to prevent them from entering an area where the shooter(s) may be.
  • Keep your hands visible when you encounter a police officer.
  • Follow the instructions of a police officer.
  • Notify Safety & Security at (315) 229-5555 or x5555 when it is safe to do so and convey any known information about shooter/intruder:
    • Name
    • Description
    • Location
    • Type of weapon (pistol or rifle)
• Hide. If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is much less likely to find you. Optimal hiding locations include areas protected by thick walls made of steel, cinder block or brick and mortar; solid doors with locks; areas where there is furniture that can be used to barricade the door; and areas with minimal glass and interior windows.
  • Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view.
  • Lock door(s) or block entries to your hiding area. If the door cannot be locked, blockade the door with whatever is available (heavy furniture, door wedges, file cabinets, etc.).
  • Hide behind large items (e.g., cabinets, desks, etc.).
  • If possible, cover any windows or openings which have a direct line of sight into the hallway.
  • Remain quiet and silence all cell phones and turn off any source of noise (e.g., radios, televisions, etc.).
  • Turn off all lights.
  • Do not activate the fire alarm. An alarm would signal building occupants to evacuate and thus place them in potential harm as they attempt to escape.
  • Notify Safety & Security at (315) 229-5555 or x5555 when it is safe to do so and convey any known information about shooter/intruder:
    • Name
    • Description
    • Location
    • Type of weapon (pistol or rifle)
• If evacuation and hiding are not possible:
  • Remain calm.
  • Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location.
  • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen.
• Fight. This is a last resort to saving your life. Use any available means within reach that can be used as a weapon and position yourself for attack if your door is breached.
  • Act as aggressively as possible against the active shooter.
  • Attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter.
  • Improvise weapons and throw items at the active shooter.
  • Yell.
  • Commit to your actions…your life may depend on it.

If you are notified that an active shooter/hostile intruder is on campus via SLUALERT our emergency notification system and a “shelter in place” directive is given, take the following actions:

SHELTER IN PLACE

• If the active shooter is not near your location, stay inside the building you are in, even if you do not normally work or reside in that building. If you are outdoors, proceed to the nearest accessible building.
• If you are in your residence hall or office, lock yourself in your room, close any blinds or curtains and eliminate sources of sound (including cell phones).
• If you are in a more public location (classroom, athletic venue, dining hall, social/study area), people in positions of authority should take the lead and initiate the following actions:
  • Terminate any ongoing activities (teaching, research, etc.).
  • Close, lock, block or obstruct all windows and/or doors to the building to minimize accessibility and close any blinds or curtains to obscure direct lines of sight.
  • Move people to smaller interior rooms within the building (if available) and secure those spaces to the maximum extent possible.
  • If there are campus visitors or other members of the public around you, invite them to follow your lead.
  • Do not arbitrarily activate a building alarm to evacuate the building unless directed to do so by Safety & Security or another authority as this may alert the intruder(s) of response activities.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVAL

Once the police arrive, obey all their commands. This may involve your being handcuffed or made to put your hands in the air. This is done for safety reasons, and once circumstances are evaluated by the police, they will give you further directions to follow.

Evacuation. During evacuations, assist special needs individuals with exiting the building and proceed to a safe location as directed by emergency responders. 

• Remember that elevators are reserved for handicapped and special needs people during evacuations.
• Remain calm and do not panic.
• If an emergency is impacting your evacuation, or if you are instructed to do so by emergency responders, proceed to a safe location outside the building and await further directions from emergency responders.
• When police, fire and/or rescue officials arrive, comply with their commands immediately. They may treat you as a potential threat as they secure the area.

IMPORTANT—DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING until and unless told to do so by authorized emergency responders.

Active Shooter Training Video

To view an instructional video on what to do in the event of an active shooter situation, please watch the video below. Additional resources can be found on FBI.gov.