[Factc] campus security

[Ortiz, David]

Hi Melissa,

Good morning and thanks for the email message.  This message is posted on our Cascadia College web site under "Active Shooter."



Guidelines for Active Shooter Situation

Introduction
An active shooter is a person actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people. They typically act in  populated areas and display no pattern or method for selection of their victims. Active shooter situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate response by the community and immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and prevent further harm to the community. 

Guidelines
If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, you will be required to rely on your judgment and intuition. Try to remain calm and call 911 as soon as possible.

You generally have three options:

RUN 

Can you safely escape? Always be aware of your surroundings, make note of the nearest exit, and have an escape route in mind. If there is an escape route, take your cell phone if handy but leave all other possessions and run for safety. Call 911 when it is safe to do so.

HIDE

Is there a place to hide? If you are in a classroom or office, lock the door and block it with heavy furniture, close the blinds, and take cover behind large items. If you are in a hallway, take cover in a room and barricade yourself inside. Turn cell phones to vibrate and remain quiet. Make a plan with others in the room in the room about what you will do if the shooter enters. Call 911 when possible. Be persistent because call volume might be heavy.

FIGHT

Is your life in imminent danger? As a last resort, you might choose to try and disrupt or incapacitate an active shooter by fighting back. Work as a team if possible, fully commit to your actions, and do whatever is necessary to survive the situation. 

If outside when a shooting occurs

Drop to the ground immediately, face down as flat as possible. If within 15-20 feet of a safe place or cover, duck and run to it.
Move or crawl away from gunfire, trying to utilize any obstructions between you and the gunfire. Remember that many objects of cover may conceal you from sight, but may not be bulletproof.
When you reach a place of relative safety, stay down and do not move. Do not peek or raise your head in an effort to see what may be happening.
Wait and listen for directions from Public Safety and/law enforcement personnel.
Calling for help
Only call for help when it is safe to do so. Do not assume that someone else has reported the incident.

Call 911 first, then call the campus Security and Safety at 425.352.5222.
Be persistent because phones may be jammed.
Be ready to identify yourself and your exact location. Remain calm and answer the dispatcher's questions. The dispatcher is trained to obtain the necessary and required information for an appropriate emergency response.
When law enforcement arrives
The priority of the first responders will be to identify the shooter. Law enforcement will need to ensure that you are not the shooter.

Do not run at them or make sudden movements.
Do not scream, yell, point, or wave your arms.
Do not hold anything in your hands that could be mistaken for a weapon. Show the officers your empty hands and follow their instructions.
When it is safe to do so, you will be given instructions as to how to safely exit your location.
For additional information please watch this short video and refer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

We currently do not have any direct training (for anyone), besides showing students in our courses an "Active Shooter" video during the first week of a quarter.  We don't have any signage at this point signifying escape paths.  We just have the web site and video.

Best Regards,

David Ortiz
Founding Faculty
TLA Director
Cascadia FACTC Representative 
Cascadia DEHPD Representative  
Communication Studies / Humanities
Cascadia College
425-352-8164


-----Original Message-----
From: Factc [mailto:factc-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Melissa Williams
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2016 3:26 PM
To: factc at lists.ctc.edu
Cc: Debra A. Walker <dwalker at centralia.edu>; Donna Burkhart <dburkhart at centralia.edu>; Brooke Merchant <bmerchant at centralia.edu>; Mary Rushton <mrushton at centralia.edu>; Teresa Schneider <tschneider at centralia.edu>; Dan Taylor <dtaylor at centralia.edu>
Subject: [Factc] campus security

Fellow Faculty Members, 

I am working with a group on our Centralia College campus in hopes of encouraging better emergency response and prevention, especially in the area of an active shooter event. 

Unfortunately, our group has hit several brick walls, and we are in need of some solid evidence in the form of 'what other colleges are doing.' 

Would you be willing to answer the following questions? This would help our group significantly. 

 

1.Do you have signs like the attached around your campus? If so, an attached picture of said sign would be greatly appreciated.

2. Does your school have a dedicated security/safety/emergency webpage that can be accessed directly from the homepage? 

3. Does your school provide active shooter training to its students, staff, and/or faculty? If so, by what means (in a face-to-face large group, face-to-face by department, online video, etc)? 

4. If your school does provide active shooter training,  does the training involve Run, Hide, Fight or ALICE?  

5. What school do you represent? 

 

Thank you so very much for your time.  It is sincerely appreciated. 

 

Melissa Williams x468

English and Communication

Centralia College