These guidelines are intended to reduce your personal risk in the unlikely event of an active shooter incident on campus.

If You Are Inside a Building When an Event Occurs

When instructed to stay in place:

  • Secure yourself and the immediate area.
  • Lock and barricade doors.
  • Turn off lights.
  • Close blinds.
  • Remain quiet.
  • Silence cellphone ringers.
  • Keep yourself out of sight and find adequate cover.

When instructed to evacuate:

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind.
  • Leave promptly using the nearest exit.
  • Leave your belongings behind.
  • Keep your hands visible.

As a last resort:

  • If caught in an open area, you may need to fight back.
  • Take action, and only when your life is in imminent danger.
  • Attempt to incapacitate the active shooter.
  • Act with physical aggression, yell, and throw items at the active shooter.

When Law Enforcement Arrives

  • Remain calm and follow officers’ instructions.
  • Put down any items in your hands and immediately raise hands.
  • Keep hands visible at all times.
  • Avoid making quick movements toward officers, such as attempting to hold on to them for safety.
  • Avoid pointing, screaming, and/or yelling.
  • The first officers to arrive will not stop to help injured people — expect rescue teams comprised of additional officers and emergency medical personnel to follow the initial officers.
  • Responding emergency teams will assist in unsecuring and rescuing victims who are locked down, and will treat and remove any injured people.

What to report:

  • Your specific location — building name and room number
  • Number of shooters
  • Physical description of shooters
  • Number and type of weapons held by shooters

How to report:

  • Dial 0111 or *9-911 from any campus phone when safe to do so.
  • Dial 301-546-0111 from any other phone.
  • Campus phones may be overwhelmed in an emergency; if this happens, immediately dial *9-911.

These guidelines cannot address every possible situation. They can reduce the number of injuries or deaths if put into action as soon as a situation develops.

Violent attacks can involve any type of weapon, not only a gun. The suggestions listed here apply to any violent situation.

More information about campus safety:

 

Contact Us

College Police: 301-546-0666