Subject: Security Alert-Active Shooter
Policy #696-SC-26
Current Revision: April 2016
Scope:
All Spooner Health staff, medical staff, contractors, vendors, patients, volunteers and visitors.
Purpose:
To provide all facility staff response information to address an active shooter, person wielding a weapon
or hostage situation within the facility (see also Security Alert-Active Shooter(s))
Policy:
To provide a safe and secure environment for all employees, patients and visitors. In the event of a
person or persons taking a hostage during an incident on the property, or someone actively firing
a weapon, facility staff will respond quickly and efficiently to secure the affected areas, protect
life, and to clear the area for response by law enforcement.
In the event that a person or group of persons enter the property and take any person as a hostage,
begin to fire or use weapons, there must be a controlled response to the situation.
Patients, staff and visitors must be removed from the affected areas. Movement by the hostage
takers must be reduced as much as possible. Information must be clear so law enforcement can
respond in a timely manner.
The goal of this policy is to expedite the conclusion of the incident in the safest manner possible.
It is of the utmost importance that no employee risk injury to him/herself or others to try to
end the situation. Employees are to cooperate as much as possible without putting
themselves into further danger.
DEFINITIONS:
Active Shooter(s) – is an individual or persons actively engaged in killing or attempting
to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use
firearms (but consider other weapons such as knives, explosives) and there is no
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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 of the situation over in 10 to 15 minutes, before law
enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and
physically to deal with the situation
Hostage Situation – is defined as a person being held by force by one or more
individuals in a conflict with security until certain terms are met.
ACTIVE SHOOTER PROCEDURE:
I. In the event an individual or individuals come into the facility displaying a firearm or
other weapon as an “active shooter” as defined above, employees in the affected
area should quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect their own life.
Remember that visitors are likely to follow the lead of employees during an
active shooter situation.
A. RUN
1. If there is an accessible/safe escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.
a. DO NOT HESITATE
b. Do NOT run to an exit through an open hallway
c. Maintain your own personal safety at all times
d. Be familiar with the hospital layout and have an escape route
planned ahead of time
e. Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
f. Leave behind your belongings
g. Help others escape, if possible
h. Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active
shooter may be
i. Keep your hands visible (critical when law enforcement come in)
j. Follow the instructions of any police officer
k. Do not attempt to move wounded people
B. HIDE
1. If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is
less likely to find you. Take visitors and patients with you if possible. Your
hiding place should be:
a. Out of the active shooter’s view
b. Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction
c. Not trap you or restrict your options for movement if possible
2. To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place:
a. Lock the door
b. Barricade the door with heavy furniture
3. To minimize the chances of your hiding place being discovered
a. Silence your cell phone and/or pager
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b. Turn off any source of noise (TV/Radios/ Walkie Talkies). Turn
off lights.
c. Hide behind large items (cabinets/desks)
d. Remain quiet
C. CALL OUT
When in a safe place call 9-911. If it is too risky to speak, leave the phone line open so
that 911 Dispatch can hear what is going on around you.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
“THIS IS SPOONER HOSPITAL AT 1280 CHANDLER
DRIVE.WE HAVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER(s) IN THE
HOSPITAL. SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED”
Relay as much information as possible so help can be deployed to
the scene (location of shooter(s), description, types of weapons)
If possible, dial “80-0 announce:
“SECURITY ALERT – ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN THE BUILDING”
If possible, ED staff can press the silent alarm (Panic button, before
taking cover. Remain outside or in your safe area until the Active
Shooter Alert is called “All Clear” or police have given approval to
re-enter the building.
When police arrive keep your hands visible and follow their
directions.
D. FIGHT
Take Action against the active shooter(s).
1. As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt
and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:
a. Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
b. Throwing items and improvising weapons
c. Committing to your actions
SECURITY/ENGINEERING
When police arrive on site, assist with access to restricted areas, provide
additional access cards if necessary and advise on best routes to access the
incident areas.
ADMINISTRATION/COMMAND CENTER
A. Upon arrival, law enforcement will assume accountability for the situation
B. The Command Center will automatically be activated with representatives from
the Administrative team, Safety Officer, Security Director, or Nurse in charge
when the situation is stabilized. Until that time all staff will take action as
outlined above.
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C. A unified Command Center will be established with hospital administration, the
police/sheriff departments and emergency medical services responding to the
incident.
D. The Essentia Clinic (715-635-2151) and Home Care Ext 238 will be notified of
the situation and precautions they are to take.
E. Departments outside the affected area:
1. Lock down their units if possible, close curtains, and block off windows (in
doors) with paper if possible.
2. Reassure patients and visitors who may be distressed and keep them as calm
as possible.
3. If unable to lockdown, follow Run, Hide and Fight steps above.
4. When directed by the Incident Commander and when it is safe to do so,
department managers or clinical leaders for patient and non-patient areas
should take a count of all individuals in their respective units or departments
and be ready to report the following to the Incident Commander:
a. Number of staff members
b. Number of patients
c. Number of other individuals such as visitors, vendors, etc.
d. Number of individuals who may have been hurt or wounded.
In the event that anyone is taken hostage, follow the Hostage Procedure below:
HOSTAGE PROCEDURE:
A. If you receive a call that a hostage or hostages have been taken on the facility
property and the caller is the hostage taker, you should try to keep the caller on
the telephone as long as possible and attempt to obtain as much information as
possible (number of people taken hostage, location) If the caller is a staff
member, you should obtain whatever information is available and obtain a callback number for the staff member.
B. The operator should listen to the background of the phone call to see if there are
any identifying sounds or noises that may indicate the location, number of people
involved or extent of danger,
C. Under no circumstances will the operator try to solve the situation or otherwise
discuss the incident with the caller, other than to obtain the necessary
information.
D. The operator can then follow the procedure for the Security Alert-Active
Shooter(s) /Hostage with location and dial 9-911 and inform them of the
situation.
E. SECURITY/SAFETY OFFICER
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1. Will provide a safe perimeter for staff and visitors and assist with
evacuating the areas next to the hostage location to the best of their
ability and await the arrival of law enforcement.
2. Traffic in and out of the facility will be limited. Any suspicious activity
should be reported immediately to the Incident Commander or agency in
charge of the event. Hospital and/or law enforcement will provide a list
of persons allowed access to the facility.
3. Appropriate personnel will be available to assist the police who will
include the Safety Director, Security Director, Senior Leaders,
Engineering or other key personnel as determined by the incident
command center.
4. Staff outside the area of the incident will remain in their areas. They will
secure their areas if possible. Curtains may be closed, reassuring patients
and visitors who may seem distressed.
5. Clinical leaders and department managers should take a count of all
individuals in their respective units or departments and be ready to report
the following to the Incident Commander:
a. Number of staff members
b. Number of patients
c. Number of other individuals such as visitors, vendors, etc.
d. Number of individuals who may be hurt or wounded.
F. ADMINISTRATION/COMMAND CENTER
1. Follow guidelines above for establishing a unified command center
during a hostage situation.
2. Staff will not permit any family, loved ones, or relatives to negotiate with
the hostage taker as they may exacerbate the problem, unintentionally or
intentionally with their conversation. Police will screen friends and
relatives to determine if they can be of assistance in the negotiating
process.
ADDITIONAL
PROCEDURES
ACTIVE
SHOOTER
AND
HOSTAGE
A. Patients and visitors will be given limited information of the event/incident by
the department directors assuring them of the safety measures being taken on
their behalf.
B. All media/photographers inquiries will be directed to the Public Information
Officer (PIO).
1. The PIO and/or local Police Department will designate an area away
from the scene where information can be disseminated. It will serve to
provide the release of information to the media. Remember, the hostage
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taker may have access to a radio and/or television and incorrect
information can make the situation much worse.
2. All inquiries from media will be given to the PIO. Phone operators will
neither confirm nor deny any information concerning the incident.
3. Information provided to the media will be at the Incident Commander’s
discretion.
C. Staff Responsibilities:
1. Call 9-911 as soon as it is safe to do so giving as much information as
possible including: location, direction of travel of shooter/hostage taker,
number of shooters/hostage takers, descriptions.
2. Remain calm, and assist patients and visitors with evacuation away from
the hostage incident, or hiding as the situation allows without
endangering your own life.
3. Under no circumstances should a staff member try to take action against
the shooter or hostage taker unless their life is immediately threatened
(see FIGHT above).
4. Wear hospital ID; keep hands in view at all times when police authority
arrives.
5. Cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies.
a) Follow their instructions regarding evacuation
b) Provide as much information as you are able to obtain during the
situation
6. When a Security Alert Active Shooter/Hostage is called “All Clear”,
follow directions from your supervisor on how to proceed.
7. Do not speak to the media or photographers. Direct all media inquiries to,
the Senior Leaders or appointee in charge.
RECOVERY:
D. The Incident Commander will determine the situation is All-Clear and the
switchboard operator will announce SECURITY ALERT – ACTIVE
SHOOTER/HOSTAGE ALL-CLEAR” when asked to do so by the Incident
Commander.
E. Partial lockdown of the facility may remain intact during recovery.
F. Department managers and supervisors will account for all staff members,
patients, visitors, vendors and provide a status report to Incident Command.
G. Managers will resume normal department activities and report any problems to
the command center.
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SOURCE:
Department of Homeland Security Active Shooter Booklet, October 2008
Active Shooter/Hostage HCA Template 12/01/2012
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