Campus and workplace violence safety tips
Surviving a hostile intruder incident
Hostile intruder incidents are highly dynamic, dangerous situations where the risk to life is imminent and ongoing. While we cannot provide a step by step plan, which covers all possible contingencies, we encourage you to remember this phrase:
Run. Hide. Fight!
Sound somewhat familiar? Much like “stop, drop, and roll” this simply remembered phrase will help you easily recall three options which are generally available in all hostile intruder incidents. We’ll break them down step by step:
Run
The safest option is always evacuation from the immediate area of a hostile incident.
What to consider…. Accordion Closed
- Exit quickly and quietly
- Leave your belongings behind
- Keep your hands raised, free of any objects, and your fingers spread
- Continue moving from the area, using cover if possible. Avoid wide open areas.
Hide
If evacuation is not possible, shelter in place
What to consider…. Accordion Closed
- Hide out of hostile intruder’s view
- Lock doors
- Turn off lights
- Barricade entry and windows using any available items (furniture, etc.)
- Spread out
- Silence cell phones
- Make an action plan which covers what to do if the intruder enters the room
- Call 911. Only one person from the room should do this to avoid overloading phone lines.
- Report your location, how many are with you, and everyone’s condition to the dispatcher.
- If the intruder enters the room, keep the phone line open
Fight
If contact with the intruder can be avoided, do not otherwise attempt to take action against them. As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, engage the intruder in order to neutralize the attack or allow others time to escape.
What to consider…. Accordion Closed
- Decide what you are going to do, totally commit to that decision, and execute your plan decisively
- Throw objects at the intruder, as this may physically and mentally disrupt their plan of attack
- Incapacitate the intruder by any means necessary
- Act with extreme physical aggression
- Physically separate any weapons from the intruder
- Overwhelm the intruder by using as many people as possible…this should not be a “fair fight”
Above all, believe you will survive!
Identifying potential violent offenders
A person exhibiting some or all of these indicators, does not necessarily mean he or she will act out violent tendencies. Most will not. However, if a person exhibits some of the warning signs listed below, it may be prudent to intervene as quickly and directly as possible.
Violent offender warning signs Accordion Closed
- History of violent behavior
- Interest in violent acts
- Obsessed with weapons, gun magazines, or the discussion of weapons
- Use various forms of intimidation on fellow employees
- Obsesses with the job but has little involvement with coworkers
- Makes unwanted romantic advances toward others
- Exhibits paranoid behavior
- Incapable of accepting criticism, holds grudges
- Has marital, financial, and custody problems
- Exhibits an undo interest in recent violent acts in the workplace
- Has a history of testing the limits of rules, regulations and social norms
- Has job related stress due to a termination or introduction of technology
- Exhibits an extreme change in behavior or political or religious beliefs
Source: FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime