Knowles Security, Inc.

Part 3 Training Your Staff for An Active Shooter Situation To best prepare your staff for an active shooter situation, create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), and conduct training exercises. Together, the EAP and training exercises will prepare your staff to effectively respond and help minimize loss of life. ... Components of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Create the EAP with input from several stakeholders including your human resources department, your training department (if one exists), facility owners / operators, your property manager, and local law enforcement and/ or emergency responders. An effective EAP includes: A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies An evacuation policy and procedure Emergency escape procedures and route assignments (i.e., floor plans, safe areas) Contact information for, and responsibilities of individuals to be contacted under the EAP Information concerning local area hospitals (i.e., name, telephone number, and distance from your location) An emergency notification system to alert various parties of an emergency including: - Individuals at remote locations within premises - Local law enforcement - Local area hospitals. Components of Training Exercises The most effective way to train your staff to respond to an active shooter situation is to conduct mock active shooter training exercises. Local law enforcement is an excellent resource in designing training exercises. Recognizing the sound of gunshots Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard and/or when a shooting is witnessed: - Evacuating the area - Hiding out - Acting against the shooter as a last resort Calling 911 Reacting when law enforcement arrives Adopting the survival mind set during times of crisis. Additional Ways to Prepare for and Prevent an Active Shooter Situation Preparedness - Ensure that your facility has at least two evacuation routes - Post evacuation routes in conspicuous locations throughout your facility - Include local law enforcement and first responders during training exercises - Encourage law enforcement, emergency responders, SWAT teams, K-9 teams, and bomb squads to train for an active shooter scenario at your location. Prevention - Foster a respectful workplace - Be aware of indications of workplace violence and take remedial actions accordingly. For more information on creating an EAP contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, www.osha.gov.

Part 2 How to Respond When Law Enforcement Arrives Law enforcement’s purpose is to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to the area in which the last shots were heard. ... Officers usually arrive in teams of four (4) Officers may wear regular patrol uniforms or external bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, and other tactical equipment Officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns, handguns Officers may use pepper spray or tear gas to control the situation Officers may shout commands, and may push individuals to the ground for their safety How to react when law enforcement arrives: Remain calm, and follow officers’ instructions Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets) Immediately raise hands and spread fingers Keep hands visible at all times Avoid making quick movements toward officers such as attempting to hold on to them for safety Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating, just proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises. Information to provide to law enforcement or 911 operator:: Location of the active shooter Number of shooters, if more than one Physical description of shooter/s Number and type of weapons held by the shooter/s Number of potential victims at the location. The first officers to arrive to the scene will not stop to help injured persons. Expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers. These rescue teams will treat and remove any injured persons. They may also call upon able-bodied individuals to assist in removing the wounded from the premises. Once you have reached a safe location or an assembly point you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control, and all witnesses have been identified and questioned. Do not leave the safe location or assembly point until law enforcement authorities have instructed you to do so.

Part 1 Profile of An Active Shooter An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms(s) and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. Because active shooter ...situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation. How to Respond When an Active Shooter Is in Your Vicinity Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that customers and clients are likely to follow the lead of employees and managers during an active shooter situation. 1. Evacuate If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to: Have an escape route and plan in mind Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow Leave your belongings behind Help others escape, if possible Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be Keep your hands visible Follow the instructions of any police officers Do not attempt to move wounded people Call 911 when you are safe. 2. Hide out If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should: Be out of the active shooter’s view Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door) Not trap you or restrict your options for movement To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place: Lock the door Blockade the door with heavy furniture. If the active shooter is nearby: Lock the door Silence your cell phone and/or pager Turn off any source of noise (i.e., radios, televisions) Hide behind large items (i.e., cabinets, desks) Remain quiet If evacuation and hiding out are not possible: Remain calm Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen 3. Take action against the active shooter. As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by: Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her Throwing items and improvising weapons Yelling Committing to your actions.

Interesting... A very detailed 3D animation showing how the Glock 43 handgun works by 45Snipers.

Enhancing the Security of Your Home, Yourself, and Your Family (Part 3) Get a dog; dogs will often bark when they sense unfamiliar people coming to your doorstep, warding off potential criminals. If getting a dog is not practical for you, then installing a home security camera/alarm system. You’ve probably seen the headlines about burglars being foiled by security camera footage. This is one home security solution that works as both a deterrent and a means to get justice. You... can get security cameras that are part of a complete home security system, or you can use cameras that work on their own. Whichever way you go, we recommend using a security camera with a mobile app, so you can see footage in real time and store it if you ever need to go to the police. A home security camera will essentially keep tabs on people, and help you keep an eye on unwanted visitors and behavior, whether it’s a basic DIY system or one that comes with professional monitoring and home automation. Today, there are plenty of home security options for every budget and every level of protection. To choose a system that you’re comfortable with, evaluate the needs of your neighborhood and your house or you can contact Knowles Security, Inc for a free home security evaluation. Get to know your neighbor; a great way to ward off unwanted visitors and potential burglars is to get friendly with your neighbors so that everyone can help each other out. This is especially helpful when/if you go on vacation for an extended period of time and need someone to help you keep a closer eye. Burglars are a lot less likely to go through with their criminal activity if they think they might be watched.

Enhancing the Security of Your Home, Yourself, and Your Family (Part 2) Don’t Forget the Garage; this entry point to your home is becoming more popular with criminals. And even if they can’t access your house, chances are you have plenty of good stuff stored in the garage. Make it a habit to lock all doors to the garageboth interior and exterior. You may also consider keeping your garage door opener in the house. That way a burglar can’t grab it out of your car. And if you u...se a security code to open the garage, make sure you keep it secret and never enter it in front of delivery people, neighbors, or anyone else. Here are some more easy ways to secure the garage: Upgrade to a smart garage door opener, cover windows to hide the goodies inside, secure garage doors with extra locks (or even zip ties!). Use home automationand never leave the garage door open again. Install lights outside your doorstep area so that your home is well-lit at night; thieves will frequent dark areas because it's harder for them to run away and not get caught if there is plenty of light. With that said, having light around your home at night will keep your area well-lit and more likely clear of criminals. Vandals, burglars, and other criminals don’t like to be in the spotlight. Keep bad folks at bay with ample outdoor lighting. Place lights around your front and back yards, along pathways, and near the garage and other outdoor structures. Not only will you make intruders skittish, you’ll also cut down your risk of a stumble on your way up the front steps. Make your outdoor security lights even more effective with these tips: Use motion-activated. lights, save energy with solar-powered lights, outdoor lights on a timer. Keep your home well-kept; by trimming your bushes and eliminating potential "hiding spots", thieves are a lot less likely to show up and try to steal from your home. Keeping your place well-kept also signifies that the home is lived in and that you're not away on vacation for an extended period of time. Eliminate hiding places; trees and shrubs may give your house curb appeal, but they also give burglars a handy place to hide. Trim down trees and plants close to your home that could be used for cover. Opt for smaller flowers and bushes instead. If you have trees near windows, either remove them or reinforce those windows with extra security. And don’t neglect the rest of your home’s exterioruse these best practices to keep things locked up tight. Always put away stools and ladders. Lock gates, sheds, and other outdoor buildings. Don’t tempt thieves by leaving pricey goods on display in the yard. Add security signs and stickers.