Active Shooter Training: What it is and Who Needs It

What Is An Active Shooter?

According to the FBI, an active shooter is "an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area." Active shooter events can happen at schools, transportation centers, workplaces, houses of worship, communities, and other public gathering sites.

Active shooting events typically involve the use of firearms. There is often no choice or pattern in their selection of victims. Most active shooter situations occur within a 10 to 15-minute timeframe.

Because not all active shooter events involve a firearm, the following terms are also used to describe these violent events: active killer, active assailant, and violent intruder.

Why Is Active Shooter Safety Training Important?

In December 2021, there were 693 active shooter events in the United States. A total of 3,545 victims suffered as a result of these horrific shootings.

Workplace violence can happen anywhere, any time. These high-impact events happen rapidly and leave little opportunity to assess the next steps. Providing training in advance improves staff preparedness and survivability.

Active Shooter Safety Training is a comprehensive training that covers safety measures from multiple types of potential threats at various critical points during these events.

Active Shooter Safety Training objectives help employees recognize and respond during a dangerous event. This course teaches individuals how to:

• Identify an active shooter situation.
• Apply proper procedures to remain safe in dangerous situations.
• Follow your evacuation plan.
• Recognize when hiding is the most responsible action.
• Describe last-resort response actions.
• Recognize appropriate reactions to law enforcement.

Active Shooter Safety Training increases workplace safety by providing your employees with the training needed to take appropriate action when faced with an active shooter in the workplace. This training boosts employee morale by providing them with confidence and the skills to take appropriate action during a threatening situation.

Who Needs Active Shooter Training?

Active shooters target many public spaces. Schools, transportation centers, workplaces, houses of worship are common targets.

Stores, offices, and other businesses also experience active shooters and violent events. For this reason, all employees must become equipped with Active Shooter Safety Training. This training could be the difference between life and death for everyone in the space.

Employees understanding the correct protocol during a violent event like an active shooter ensures that someone on the floor can take charge in case of a violent emergency. Not only does it ensure everyone working for you is trained for a violent event, but this training also grants your employees confidence that they can handle the worst possible situation.

Any public space is susceptible to a violent intruder event. If there is a place where people gather, there is a possibility of a violent event. For this reason, it is a good idea for everyone to have a basic understanding of the emergency procedures in the chance they find themselves in an active shooter situation.

The bottom line is that Active Shooter Safety Training is a training that everyone should take to help keep themselves and others safe. It is a necessary base of knowledge for anyone who works in or frequents public spaces.

Where Is Active Shooter Training Available?

Active Shooter Safety training is available at 360training. You can sign up for the course here.

The course is one hour long and takes place 100% online.