Know what to do in an emergency

Whether you're in class, studying in the library or spending time on campus, emergencies can happen without warning. 

Taking a few minutes to learn what to do can help you make informed decisions under pressure.

“Emergencies generate stress in all of us,” says Kevyn Bourgeois, Assistant Director (Ops Support, Training & Compliance) in Security Services. Knowing how to respond before an emergency happens can help build confidence in what to do when it matters. 

Know what to do

Being prepared for an emergency is a shared responsibility. Everyone benefits when individuals know how to respond.

Here are three things individuals can do in the event of an armed intruder on campus: run, hide and fight.
 

Run: Evacuate if possible

If there is considerable distance between you and the gunfire or armed person, quickly move away from the sound of the gunfire or armed person, says Bourgeois. If it is safe to do so, run out of the building and move far away until you are in a secure place to shelter. 

Hide: Shelter in place

This means hide silently in as safe a place as possible, says Bourgeois. Here are some things to think about:

• If you cannot leave a building safely, hide in an area out of the armed person’s view.
• Choose a hiding place with thicker walls and fewer windows, if possible.
• Lock doors and barricade with furniture, if possible.
• Silence phones and turn off other electronics.
• Turn off the lights.
• Close windows, shades and blinds, and avoid being seen from outside the room, if possible.
• If you are outdoors and cannot RUN safely, find a place to hide that will protect you from gunfire such as a brick wall, large trees or buildings.

Fight: Take action to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter

• As a last resort, fight. If you can’t leave or hide safely, and when your life is in imminent danger, take action.
• Attempt to incapacitate or disrupt the actions of the shooter. Act with physical aggression and force.
• Use any items close at hand – such as fire extinguishers or chairs – to strike or throw at the armed person. 

Call 911 when it is safe to do so

Wait for law enforcement or emergency officials to assist you with leaving the building, if you are inside.

When law enforcement or emergency officials arrive and clearly identify themselves, you must display empty hands with open palms.