Niagara College Canada

This course of action should be taken when there is an opportunity to get out of the area safely.

When exercising this option, you should:

• avoid attracting the perpetrator’s attention;
• if you are in a hallway or open/common area when an Active Threat is present, find a room or an area that can be secured;
• know your surroundings and consider possible exit routes;
• leave your belongings behind;
• when out of the building, and if possible, leave campus;
• ensure your safety before helping someone else;
• call 911 and call, or direct someone to call, the Security Control Centre at ext. 6999, once it is safe to do so; and
• follow direction of first responders.

This action should be taken when it is not possible to get out safely, the perpetrator’s location is unknown, or any movement to get out would draw the perpetrator’s attention.

Anyone exercising this option should:

• take shelter, closing and locking and/or barricading the door;
• turn off the lights and close all blinds or window coverings, where possible;
• silence all electronic devices, especially cell phones, also taking them off vibrate;
• avoid sight lines (e.g. windows where the perpetrator(s) can see into the room) and avoid any areas where you are visible;
• where possible, take cover/protection behind concrete walls, filing cabinets, desks, etc.;
• remain quiet;
• call 911 if safe to do so, providing essential information such as the perpetrator’s location if known, and injuries;
• remain calm and assist others with you in remaining quiet and out of sight;
• when the all-clear is given, wait for first responders to clear your area; and
• be patient and follow all direction from first responders.

Choosing to defend is a personal decision and is done as a last resort.

This action may be required in Active Threat situations where individuals are unable to get out safely or hide, and:

• they are a target; or
• the potential is great that they will be a target (e.g. the perpetrator has entered the area).

When choosing to defend:

• if others in the area have made the same personal decision, work together;
• improvise weapons with what is readily available (e.g. fire extinguishers, furniture, etc.);
• commit to an aggressive physical confrontation, with the objective of stopping the threat by disarming and incapacitating the perpetrator; and
• be aware that this will be a fight for survival.

Once the threat has been stopped, get out of the building providing it is safe to do so. If it is not possible, get out of current room and hide. Notify police of the perpetrator’s location from a safe location. When the all-clear is given, wait for first responders to clear your area. Be patient and follow all directions from first responders.

Active threat situations happen very fast. They evolve quickly and are often over in a matter of minutes, sometimes before police arrive.

Keep in mind that defending yourself is the last resort. Active threat situations often continue until something happens to stop them. If you are trapped with nowhere to go, it might be your only choice. Nobody can force you to take this step, but you should at least be aware that it is an option. What you do in such a situation is your own decision.

No, it’s not practical to have a detailed plan for every situation, but you can take a moment in various locations to ask “What If?” It will prompt you to make mental notes of exits and possible safe spaces. That small amount of forethought could make a critical difference in how you react in a real emergency.

It is impossible to predict how anyone will react in such an extreme event. Any one of us is capable of becoming a leader with the presence of mind to remember what to do and to take action. It might be an instructor, a member of administration, a member of support staff or a student. With this education, we are all equally prepared to make informed decisions for ourselves.

The sound of gunfire can vary a lot. Sometimes it can sound like a firecracker. Sometimes it’s more like a pop or a loud bang. Gunshots sound different inside and outside. It probably won’t sound like you expect it to sound. The sound of gunfire on campus however, will be out of the ordinary. Listen and look for other clues and if there’s any doubt in your mind, treat the situation as though it is gunfire.

You are not expected to be a hero. You must do what is right for you. If you are confident you can help others without putting yourself in unnecessary danger, you may choose to do so.