Ingenuity-Summer-2017

Pond Ingenuity Summer 2017 15 workplace, or any other venue. What would your plan be if you were in the office and heard shots coming from the floor beneath you? If you heard the shots just down the hallway and there’s no place to run or hide? What would be your next step? Visualize your plan. Events today are communicated nearly instantly, and we love to read them on our smart phones. We must change the way we think and act when it involves situational awareness and preparing for an active shooter situation. Watch what is happening around you always and identify anomalies that could signal a developing event. Look for the exits, and the places that could be used as quick exits like a fire door, emergency exit, “staff only,” and others. Think about your first line of defense in an active shooter event, run! Where will you go, how long will it take, what route will you follow. These questions and answers will probably change quickly, and you need to remain calm and get out. Leave your belongings, and try and convince others near you to do the same, but get out as quickly as possible. The second line of defense is to hide. Hide out of sight in an area protected from the bullets. Being able to lock the door behind you is a bonus. Place your phone on silent, call 911, turn off the lights, and maintain situational awareness. Do not “play dead,” because the shooter will probably shoot the bodies too. If you are unable to run or hide, then you must be prepared to fight with the same violence and viciousness as your attacker(s). Be aggressive, use improvised weapons, understand your advantages, fight as a team to control the weapon, subsequently controlling the shooter. Responsible employers understand the value of a properly planned and exercised emergency action plan. First, to prevent workplace injuries and accidents, and secondly, to maintain business continuity. Develop a plan, practice real situations and always be prepared. There are many lives that are depending on you to do so. By James E. Davis, CSP, PG | Corporate Health and Safety Director We must change the way we think and act when it involves situational awareness and preparing for an active shooter event.