Current Advice on Active-Shooter Situations

The Wall Street Journal recently did an interesting article on the latest training for best practices in active-shooter situations.  It begins with the most commonly advised approach to active-shooter situations, relating to three words:  Run, hide, fight.  Some experts say that thinking has evolved and that additional tactics, such as building barricades, breaking through windows and creating distractions, can also be critical.  Unquestionably, the priority in “run, hide, fight” is the “run.”  If running is not an option, the next best approach is to find a hiding spot in an out-of-the-way place.  In the recent Park Avenue shooting in New York City, workers hid in bathrooms, conference rooms and other areas, used blankets to block windows, and created barricades of office sofas and desks in front of the doors.  Shooters know they have limited time, and they are likely to move on if an area is hard to reach.  Fighting is considered a last resort.  Fighting can mean throwing something at a gunman, creating a distraction, improvising a weapon or creating chaos in the room by yelling and running around.

In terms of communications, the best thing is to report any active-shooter emergency to 911.  At the same time, it is a good idea to silence electronic devices, including ringers and vibrate functions.  If possible, fax or send direct messages to law enforcement or over social media to share your location.

One thing not to do is to pull the fire alarm.  This is because people are conditioned to immediately evacuate a building when they hear the alarm, potentially putting them in harm’s way.  The alarm also risks disabling elevators.

Another part of any training is that employees can play a role in spotting potential threats.  Comments about violence, acts of revenge or firearms should be taken seriously and reported to supervisors or Human Resources.  Another point is to consider bleeding-control training and learning how to properly apply gauze and tourniquets, as such methods have helped others survive shootings.

This article is part of our September 2025 Newsletter. 

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