Active Shooter Guidance for Faculty

As a faculty member, in the unlikely event of an active shooter incident on campus, there is an expectation that, to the best of your ability, you will aid in keeping yourself and your students safe.  

The following guidance is provided to assist you in making the best decisions on whether to evacuate your classroom or lab (run), secure your classroom or lab (hide), or in a worst-case scenario, prepare to defend yourselves against an assailant (fight).

Assess the Situation

• Be mindful of how your actions may influence others and try to remain calm
• Can you determine where the event is taking place?
  • How close is it to you and your classroom or lab?
  • Do you have time to move yourself and students out safely [RUN]?
  • Do you have time to secure your classroom or lab [HIDE]?
  • Which items in your classroom or lab can be used as weapons for defense [FIGHT]?

RUN – Evacuating the Classroom or Lab

• If you are able to do so in a safe and timely manner, you and your students should move as quickly as possible to a safe location away from the assailant
• Once you and your students are safely out of harm’s way, contact 911, and notify JHU Public Safety at 410-516-4600
  • Answer all questions asked by the 911 or public safety operator, and provide as many details as possible, to include:
    1. Your classroom or lab location (building, room number)
    2. Your current location
    3. Any known injuries
    4. The location of the assailant, if known
    5. How many assailants are there?
    6. Provide as many details and descriptions about the assailant as possible

Hide – Securing the Classroom or Lab

• If you and your students are unable to safely move from the immediate area of danger, you should stay inside your classroom or lab
• Lock and/or barricade all doors using heavy furniture (e.g., desks, tables, chairs)
• After securing the doors, turn off the lights, stay away from the door, and hide behind any solid objects
• Additional protective actions to reduce your vulnerability are:
  • Close blinds
  • Block interior windows
  • Silence cell phones
  • Keep people calm
  • Identify items in the classroom or lab that might be used as weapons for defense
  • Monitor and/or obtain updates via emergency notifications and text messages
• Note: Be aware that the assailant may bang on the door, yell for help, or otherwise attempt to entice you to open the door. DO NOT open your door for anyone, with the exception of law enforcement. If needed, call 911 to verify law enforcement is responding.

FIGHT – Defending Yourselves

• As an absolute last resort, prepare to defend yourself and your students
• Commit to the defense of yourself and your students
• Do not purposely confront an assailant unless they are in your immediate or secured area and you and/or others are in danger
• Work as a team if you must confront the assailant
• Distract, disorient and/or disable the assailant by using tactics such as throwing heavy or sharp objects or other identified weapons

Law Enforcement Response

• Responding officers will establish safe corridors for persons to evacuate
• Remain in secure areas until instructed otherwise
• Follow all instructions given by law enforcement officers
• You may be searched
• You may be escorted out of the building by law enforcement personnel – follow their directions
• After evacuation, you may be taken to a staging/holding area for medical care, interviewing, counseling, etc.
• Once you have been evacuated you will not be permitted to return to the area to retrieve items until law enforcement releases the crime scene
• Officers may not immediately stop and render medical aid to injured victims until the scene is rendered safe.

Final Considerations for Faculty

There is no one demographic profile of a targeted violence offender. Any individual, no matter what age, sex, gender, race, religion, education or income level, marital status, or occupation, has the potential to engage in targeted violence.

Familiarize yourself with resources that may be needed at the conclusion of the event such as mental health support, EAP, Human Resources, and Student Affairs.