Active Shooter Protocol | Services + Resources | Bucks County Community College

If the shooter is outside your building:

Remain calm
Turn off all lights, close and lock windows and doors, close blinds
Barricade doors if not lockable
Warn others, if possible and safe to do so
Get yourself and others on the floor and attempt to hide behind/under something
If safe to do so, move to a core area of the building and lock/barricade yourself in a room
Silence radios, cell phones and other devices; remain silent
Call 911 and Security as soon as safely possible
Remain in place until given the all clear by an identifiable police or security officer

If the shooter is inside your building:

Remain calm
If safely possible, flee the area
If not safe to flee, lock/barricade yourself in a room
Turn off lights and hide under/behind furniture - stay low to the floor
Remain silent, silence radios and cell phones
Call 911 and Security as soon as safely possible
Remain in place until given the all clear by an identifiable police or security officer

If the shooter enters your office/classroom:

There is no right answer for this scenario - response must be based on variables related to the situation, shooter and your own intuitions and common sense
Remain calm
Call 911 and Security as soon as safely possible
If possible, flee the area
Negotiating may work
"Playing dead" may work
Attempting to overcome the suspect with force is always the last resort which should only be considered in extreme circumstances. Only you can decide if this is something you should do.

If you are outside:

Remain calm
Move away from the active shooter and/or sounds of gunshots
Warn others to take immediate cover
Look for appropriate cover/protection (brick walls, retaining walls, large trees, parked cars, etc)
Remain silent; silence cell phones
Call 911 and Security as soon as safely possible

Points to remember:

There may be more than one (1) shooter
Do not touch anything in the area, as it is a crime scene
Prepare a plan of action in advance - predetermine possible escape routes for yourself, and always know where exits are located
DO NOT go to a Shelter-in-Place site
When fleeing, get as far away from the shooting scene as quickly and safely possible - do not take/carry anything with you

Police response and you:

Police will quickly respond to the area in which shots were last heard and attempt to immediately engage/contain the active shooter
First arriving officers will not stop to assist the injured, or evacuate personnel
Remain calm
Do exactly as police tell you
Keep your hands empty and visible at all times
If you know where the shooter is, quickly tell the officers
DO NOT get in the way of officers