I am a big fan of stress balls; however, I never thought I would come home from work having been “shot” with a grape-sized one.
I also never thought that L&D professionals and HR teams would need to host active shooter trainings in the workplace. How sad, and how true.
The rate of shootings at schools, public gatherings, Churches and our workplaces has increased in recent years. The data is sobering, including reports from the Gun Violence Archive and CNN. (Early in my HR career, I remember when a workplace shooting killed an HR manager and an HR intern on his first day and thinking “that could be me.”) These tragedies have refined the program offerings and techniques available for educating workforces. Many lessons and techniques have been borrowed from educational settings.
The need to keep employees safe remains paramount, despite how difficult trainings on this topic can be to plan, host and participate in. What options are readily available? How can you educate and support your team? Let’s explore a few options:
Run, Hide, Fight
Summary
This methodology, quite simply, directs people to run, hide and fight. One should run if possible. If running is ill advised, hide by locking a door or concealing oneself behind furniture. Finally, fight if left with no other options.
Pro’s
This methodology is frequently taught using a free and readily available video produced by the US Department of Homeland Security. The video depicts a workplace shooting in a non-gory action movie-esque style. The video is of high quality and provides recaps after each response option is demonstrated. The video closes with a summary of the role of first responders and how best to interact with them.
The slogan “run, hide, fight” is extremely easy to remember.
This method can be taught to employees in 5-10 minutes. The video is about 5 minutes long and a brief recap or discussion facilitated by any company representative can personalize the training.
Con’s
Adult learning theories prove that hands on application provides a more lasting understanding of content. The Run, Hide, Fight approach does not include application.
The method over simplifies the “hide” and “fight” responses. This approach encourages hiding behind a locked door or piece of furniture. While this is a start, a more thorough lockdown, which will be discussed next, is more protective. To truly “fight” a violent threat is a poor choice for many since this would require extensive training and ability. Any action is better than none; however, a more effective approach will be discussed in the next methodology.
The video provides organizations with a ready-made solution ready for upload into a Learning Management System (LMS) or to share via email. Organizations should be wary of these approaches because of the limitations of read receipts and system acknowledgements. In addition, this is such a sensitive topic that it should be delivered in person with the opportunity for discussion, Q&A and appropriate candor/empathy for those who may be negatively impacted due to a past experience.
ALICE Training
Summary
ALICE Training is an in-person facilitator-led 4-hour training. It includes 2-hours of classroom multi-media content reviewing the 5-step mythology: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. The classroom portion is followed by multiple scenario-based drills where all participants gain hands-on practice of the skills taught.
Pro’s
This course is very hands on. Its hallmark and arguably most marketable strength is its drill-based learning. The simulations draw on multiple senses to trigger a mild stress response. Strong facilitators reduce the daunting nature of practicing in favor of giving participants an opportunity to rehearse skills we hope none of us will ever have to use. This practice is designed to empower and encourage muscle memory in such life and death circumstances.
Thanks to its length, this course includes much more detailed and tactical information.
The course’s content can also be nuanced to suit an organization’s physical environment (e.g. glass enclosures, multi-story buildings, cube farms, etc.).
ALICE promotes countering rather than fighting. Anyone can counter, which entails making noise, throwing objects and remaining in motion rather than acting as a sitting duck. The purpose of countering is to reduce the speed and accuracy of the shooter. By breaking the shooter’s focus, he/she has to restart the OODA Loop; this stands for our mind’s standard “observe, orient, decide, and act” behavior. If an object that a shooter is oriented (focused) on moves, then he/she is knocked back to observing. A bullet is not fired until “act.” By circumventing the loop, seconds to escape are gained.
ALICE also promotes an enhanced lockdown in lieu of simply hiding. Locking down can include locking and barricading a door as well as taping a cover over a window and creating a mountain of chairs and tables. Even if a shooter were to breech the door, he/she may choose to go onto another room if the chair mountain is too complex to navigate. Shooters know that the time until first responders arrive is limited and complex lockdowns reduce the number of individuals they can harm.
This training approach also includes blended and e-learning options. Blended courses begin online and finish in person. E-learning is entirely online, lasting approximately 1-hour.
ALICE provides a series of free videos on its website which provide a taste of the methodology and assist organizations with ongoing implementation of best practices. These videos provide insights and tips, drawing mainly from educational settings despite ALICE’s wide applicability (e.g. individuals, families, schools, businesses, Churches, etc.).
Con’s
A certified ALICE instructor is required in order to host this form of active shooter training. Becoming certified is a relatively brief process and includes a modest cost; certification renewal is required every two years. Alternatively, a list of national trainers is available on ALICE’s website, and many law enforcement officers are ALICE certified.
The ALICE acronym is designed as a series of options rather than an order in which to act. In an emergency, remembering this acronym verbatim may be challenging for some. However, the lessons themselves leave quite an impact.
This course can last up to 4 hours, depending upon the setting and needs of the audience. This is notably lengthier than Run, Hide, Fight.
The movement involved in the scenarios (e.g. fast walking during an evacuation drill) poses a slight risk of injury. Some organizations may opt to have participants sign waivers.
Unlike Run, Hide, Fight, this methodology involves a few costs such as certification fees or facilitator costs. Other potential costs include travel expenses and e-learning fees. In addition, organization must also consider the cost of lost production time.
My Experience as a Facilitator & Student
I have facilitated Run, Hide, Fight trainings for over 300 people in multiple small group settings and have participated in ALICE training hosted by our local police department. Run, Hide, Fight’s ease of adoption, duration and essential “primer” content is noteworthy. This training should be a bare minimum for organizations to provide to employees. As a facilitator, the video is well received and is semi-cheesy enough to break the ice and encourage dialogue.
However, when one considers what would best serve employees, ALICE is the clear winner because of its level of detail, opportunity for customization and sensory, skill-driven drills. ALICE is a best in class training program worthy of sincere consideration, budgeting and adoption. As a one-time participant and L&D advocate, I can see myself becoming certified in the future. The drills provide a rare opportunity to practice the related skills in a safe, simulated environment. Just enough realism is applied to trigger one’s fight or flight response. In the introduction of this post, I mentioned being “shot” by a stress ball from a Nerf gun. Indeed, our simulations began with a traditional “hide”/duck under the desk approach. One of our facilitators taught us what if felt like to be a sitting duck waiting to be shot. This experience motivated us to try, experiment and become empowered by action. Knowing we had options and that our actions could change the outcome meant more than words can say.
Understandably, committing to ALICE’s in-person content may be challenging to some organizations. Why not consider either an enhanced Run, Hide, Fight or a blended approach? (Note, ALICE Training is trademarked and can only be hosted by certified facilitators.) The Run, Hide, Fight training video can be enhanced with small group discussions and a facilitator-led recap of the video’s content with added insights relative to an organization’s specific needs and environment. This training could also be paired with a pre-scheduled fire drill that is transformed into an evacuation drill. A blended approach could include training all employees on Run, Hide, Fight and select employees, such a supervisors or safety teams/committees, in ALICE. By embedding more detailed content among a workforce informed of basic content, a group of leaders will rise up and be able to guide others.
For those who find the rigor and depth of ALICE intimidating, I must stress that with proactive pre-course communication, I have seen participants go from hesitant to genuinely excited. Organizations should not forego active shooter training, regardless of format, out of fear that it will be uncomfortable or traumatizing. When handled respectfully and with due empathy, this topic can be successfully introduced to and discussed with employees. At the start of such a training, I make a point to acknowledge the sensitivity of the topic, how likely it is for someone in the course to have a friend of a friend who has been impacted by a shooting and that anyone is most welcome to step out of the room if needed. Start by articulating that the company raises such a difficult subject because it cares about employees’ safety. Managers should be prepped for how to handle conversations that may arise after the training.
Training Facilitation Tips
From my experience with trainings on this topic, a few tips I would share with new facilitators include:
Consider how frequently to host this training relative to changes in staff and other safety refresher training schedules. Some organizations host active shooter training every year. Some include it as part of new hire orientation to ensure, from day 1, everyone has this potentially life-saving knowledge. What timing best serves your organization?
If you are concerned about “training the enemy,” namely a future internal threat, know that both training methodologies offer employees a series of options and not a sequential or defined course of action. Because each person is empowered to make a choice, training a potential future threat does not give the person a leg up or insider knowledge of how the organization and fellow employees will respond.
Be sure to highlight that the knowledge gained from “workplace” active shooter trainings applies to all venues. The same techniques are applicable in public spaces, Churches, concerts, schools, etc.
Consider combining this topic to existing workplace violence trainings. They dovetail and complement one another quite well.
Include drill(s) to make the lessons “sticky” and memorable. If suitable to employee privacy and company media policies, consider filming the drill scenarios. These videos can then fuel additional training materials and create a content library. Debriefing on the footage can also provide insights on where skills can be enhanced.
Encourage discussions so that employees can raise concerns and have any questions addressed. I have seen that military veterans often have important anecdotes to share or advice to add.
Lead with empathy, and do not shy away from realism.
Aha Moments About Responding During an Active Shooter Event
A few insights I gained from ALICE training and our esteemed police facilitators about the proper response during an active shooter event are outlined below. Under-sung nuggets of Run, Hide, Fight training are also included. Many of these points surprised me; I now highlight them in the active shooter trainings I host because of their practical nature and insight into best practices. I hope these tidbits of wisdom are memorable, but remain ones you will never have to act on.
Never drive away: Police must slow down and evaluate each car they pass near the location of the shooting. This will delay their arrival on scene and permits the shooting to continue. Run away; don’t drive away.
Never hold your phone in your hand when evacuating: From a distance, a phone with a black screen can look like a firearm.
Silence your cell phone: The “ping” of a new email could give away your hiding location to the shooter.
If you disarm the shooter through a counter maneuver, hide and guard the weapon: You do not want to be holding the gun when police enter the room. They will think you are the shooter. Instead, place the gun in a drawer, cabinet or trashcan. Assign one person to guard it until its safekeeping is transitioned to law enforcement.
Get creative with counter techniques: The goal is to break the OODA Loop and slow down the shooter. Even a few seconds of distraction can provide you and others the time to get away. Use objects, noise and movement. Even throwing paper and pencils can be enough. The action does not have to be big, just distracting.
Do not be a sitting duck: Despite how powerless you may feel, remember the options at your disposal. How you respond matters. It could be the difference between life and death. Remember to remain moving because moving targets are harder to shoot.
Use a door leader when evacuating: Evacuation efforts can be made safer and more strategic when one person acts as a lookout. Once the coast is deemed clear, allow a handful of folks to run. Check the condition of the hallway again by peeking through the doorway. Then, repeat.
Do not bog down the very first-responders with first-aid needs: Their singular focus is to stop the shooter. Once the shooter is stopped, first-aid and further evacuations assume priority.
Know all evacuation points: So often, we come and go through a single exit. We can easily forget alternative doors and pathways. Be sure to know all methods of egress. Fight the mental temptation to turn infrequently used emergency exit doors into solid walls in your mind.
To the Point
Active shooter training should be included in every organization’s learning curriculum in order to empower and equip employees with critical knowledge. It could be the matter of life or death.
Shout Out: Special thanks to the Newark, DE Police Department for advocating the ALICE Training program and for giving of their time and talent as ALICE facilitators, among their many other lifesaving duties.
Note: This post was not written in partnership with nor is endorsed by either training program.
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