In wake of campus shootings around the country, it is important our campus community knows how to react in the unlikely event that you encounter a situation on campus like an active shooter. The following demonstrates the FBI’s recommended strategies for protection, evacuation, and defense: Avoid, Deny, Defend.
AVOID. DENY. DEFEND.
Should you ever find yourself in an active shooter situation, your survival may depend on how you respond.
There are three things you could do that make a difference: AVOID. DENY. DEFEND.
AVOID
Starts with your state of mind:
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Have an exit plan.
- Move away from the source of the threat as quickly as possible.
- The more distance and barriers between you and the threat, the better.
- Call NSCC Police at 781-477-2100 when you are safe.
DENY
When getting away is difficult or maybe impossible:
- Keep distance between you and the threat.
- Create barriers to prevent or slow down a threat from getting to you.
- Lock doors.
- Turn the lights off.
- Remain out of sight and quiet by hiding behind large objects and silence your phone.
Your hiding place should:
- Be out of the shooter's view.
- Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.
- Not restrict your options for movement.
DEFEND
As a last resort, and only if your life is in danger:
- If you cannot Avoid or Deny, be prepared to defend yourself.
- Be aggressive and committed to your actions.
- If you can, separate the attacker from their weapon.
- Do not fight fairly, consider items that you can use as an improvised weapon. THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL.
Arriving law enforcement's first priority is to stop and engage the shooter as soon as possible. Once the shooter has been stopped, first responders can tend to any wounded.
When law enforcement arrives:
- Remain calm and follow instructions.
- Keep your hands visible and empty at all times.
- Avoid pointing or yelling.
- Know that help for the injured is on its way.
When safe, call NSCC Police at 781-477-2100 and provide the following:
- Location of the shooter (campus/building/floor/room).
- Direction of travel.
- Number of shooters, if more than one.
- Physical description of shooter/s.
- Type of weapons held by the shooter/s.
- Location and injuries of potential victims (campus/building/floor/room).
The purpose of sharing this information is intended to ensure that NSCC college employees, students, and visitors are well educated and prepared for any kind of active attacker situation. Protection against an active attacker requires coordinated efforts to escape and reduce the potential for injuries or fatalities in these tragic situations.
Research has shown that there is a significant advantage for people who have prepared to react in an emergency as opposed to those who are unprepared. Preparation helps develop a survivalist mind set.
We encourage everyone engage in the "what if's" exercise. What this means is to visualize a situation, apply our guidelines, formulate an action plan and practice the plan. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Make this a group exercise. Involve your coworkers and students in the discussion; there is nothing like having everyone on the same page when trouble strikes.
To ensure that you receive vital emergency information, sign up and register for the colleges RAVE Alert by going to mynorthshore and typing in the search bar Rave Alert, click on the icon provided and follow the prompts to register.
For questions or additional information please contact the NSCC Police at 781-593-7032, or dial x 6222
Remember: safety is a shared responsibility.