Active Shooter Response Guide | School Safety Measures
An active shooter situation can occur anytime, unexpectedly. This creating chaos in a populated area where individuals are at risk within seconds. These incidents typically involve a person using firearms. They can worsen quickly, leaving little time for response.
Due to this unpredictable nature of these events highlight the serious need to have effective safety measures for school environments. This will ensure students and staff are equipped to act quickly and decisively.
That’s where Wihkum steps in to help schools.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on safety measures schools should adopt in the event of an active shooter incident. Additionally, we’ll explore how Wihkum’s quick response app offers emergency help for school situations and guidance for protecting students in schools.
Let’s get started.
Essential Safety Measures to Respond an Active Shooter in School
Pre-Incident – Preparedness and Prevention
Preparing for emergencies is important to minimise risks and ensure effective action. Here are key steps to consider:
- Develop a School Emergency Response Plan
Schools should develop a clear emergency response plan that includes procedures for various crises, such as:
- Lockdowns
- Evacuations
- Reunification Processes
This plan should be reviewed and updated regularly to address new safety concerns and protocols.
- Conduct Regular Drills and Training
Schools should conduct regular drills for students, teachers, and staff to practice emergency responses. These drills should mimic realistic scenarios to help everyone understand how to react quickly in high-stress situations. This frequent training can significantly improve response time during an actual event.
- Enhance Campus Security Measures
This involves installing:
- security cameras
- controlled access points
- metal detectors
This can help monitor and prevent unauthorised access. Additionally, schools can consider hiring trained security personnel and establishing partnerships with local law enforcement for increased campus security.
- Implement Clear Communication Systems
Efficient communication ensures everyone is aware of the situation and can take appropriate action. That’s why, schools should establish reliable communication methods to quickly inform students, staff, and parents of an emergency. This can include:
- public address systems
- mass notification apps
- social media alerts
- Wihkum App for School Security
During the Incident – Survival and Response
If a shooting occurs, following the right steps can help individuals stay safe and mitigate the risk of harm.
- Run, Hide, Fight
This school safety protocol provides clear guidance on how to react effectively based on the circumstances. Let’s get into the details.
- RUN | Evacuate
‘Run’ when you hear gunfire or sense immediate danger.
- If there is significant distance between you and the threat. Quickly move away from the sound or sight of danger. If the shooter is in your building and you can exit safely, leave immediately and get to a secure location.
- Leave your belongings behind to move swiftly.
- Ensure your hands are visible to first responders or law enforcement.
- Encourage others to follow. But don’t delay your escape if others are hesitant.
- Use the Wihkum app’s discreet alert feature to notify school authorities and nearby responders of your location.
- HIDE | Lockdown
‘Hide’ if you can’t safely escape and need to stay out of sight.
- Choose a hiding place with solid barriers, like walls and furniture, and as few windows as possible.
- Lock doors and barricade them with any available furniture to reinforce your hiding spot.
- Turn off lights, silence phones, and turn off other electronic devices.
- Close blinds or shades and avoid any movement that could expose your location to the shooter.
- If outside and unable to run safely, find cover, such as behind brick walls, large trees, or buildings.
- Send a silent alert using Wihkum App to notify school administrators and nearby responders of your location and status without drawing attention.
- FIGHT | Take action to disrupt the shooter
‘Fight’ if there are no other options, using whatever means are available to protect yourself.
- When your life is in imminent danger, act decisively to incapacitate the shooter.
- Use any items around you, such as fire extinguishers, chairs, or other objects, to defend yourself and disrupt the shooter’s actions.
- If possible, throw items at the shooter to disorient them.
- Notify the school’s emergency response team via Wihkum app.
- Provide First Aid if Safe to Do So
If it’s safe, offer first aid to those injured until help arrives. Basic knowledge of first aid can be priceless in emergencies.
Keep in mind that professional medical assistance can take time to arrive. So, maintaining calm and providing support can make a significant difference.
- Stay Alert and Avoid Risky Actions
Stay vigilant and avoid actions that could increase danger. Like opening doors for unknown individuals or moving out of your hiding place before law enforcement arrives.
Wait for clear instructions from authorities before making any moves.
Explore more about: What to Do in Case of an Armed Intruder?
Post-Incident – Recovery and Support
Once the immediate danger has passed, supporting students, staff, and families is important for recovery.
- Coordinate Reunification with Families
Schools should have a reunification plan to safely reconnect students with their families. Designate a safe, organised location where parents can meet their children.
Clear communication and assistance from staff or law enforcement can help make this process as smooth as possible.
- Provide Access to Counseling and Mental Health Services
After a traumatic event, many individuals may experience emotional distress, anxiety, or PTSD.
Schools should offer counseling services and resources to students, staff, and families. Encourage open conversations to help people process their emotions and understand that it’s normal to seek support after such an incident.
- Conduct a Debrief and Review of the Incident
Gather input from staff, students, and local authorities to assess how the emergency response plan worked and identify areas for improvement. A thorough review can help improve future protocols, making the school better prepared to handle any potential emergencies.
- Implement Long-Term Security Enhancements
Assess the effectiveness of current security measures and make necessary updates. Consider additional investments in technology or policies that could prevent future incidents, such as increased surveillance or improved building access control.
Comprehensive Safety Measures and Wihkum’s Solution for School Shooting Incidents
We bring you innovative solutions that can enhance school protection strategies and improve overall safety in schools. Let’s see how:
| Incident Phase | Safety Measure | Description | Wihkum App Security Feature |
| Pre-Incident | Emergency Plan Customisation | Specific safety protocols for various emergency scenarios, like active shooter responses. | Customisable emergency response plans |
| Discreet / Silent Activation | Silent alerts prevent attention from being drawn. | Silent, smartphone-based alerts / Duress Alarms | |
| Real-time Location Tracking | Staff and responders have accurate location data for enhancing the speed and precising emergency responses. | GPS Tracking pinpoints the exact location of alerts | |
| Multi-Channel Communication | Alerts reach multiple channels for rapid response. | Voice calls Email notifications Push notifications | |
| During Incident | Run, Hide, Fight Assistance | Safety strategy to help staff and students act according to the particular situation. | Real-time tracking and push notifications for situational guidance on barricading and hiding |
| Medical Assistance | Quick help for injuries that may occur, such as minor wounds or serious injuries requiring urgent care. | Emergency Help for School feature directs responders to those in need of medical assistance. | |
| Silent Communication | Reduces the risk of escalating the situation by discreetly alerting staff and authorities without loud alarms | Silent alert system keeps communication discreet and secure. | |
| Post-Incident | Incident Reporting | Records communication logs for post-crisis review and protocol improvement | Email and in-app incident reporting and record provide detailed logs for future reference. |
| Mental Health Support | Supports recovery by providing resources for mental health assistance for those affected | Customisable help allow schools to offer targeted mental health support post-incident | |
| Safety Protocol Improvement | Schools can analyse data to improve response times and protocols. | Incident data review and protocol refinement options for safety enhancements. |
Is your school equipped to respond effectively to a shooting incident?
Let’s Improve Your School’s Safety with Wihkum’s Emergency Response Solutions
At Wihkum, we are dedicated to providing the tools necessary for protecting students and staff during critical situations.
Prepare your school for the unexpected. Don’t wait for an emergency to strike.