Emergency Response

A survival mindset requires:

• Awareness: be aware of what is happening around you, use all of your senses;
• Preparation: ask yourself “what if” questions. Prepare yourself to do whatever it takes to survive; and
• Response: be confident and react quickly.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Firearms are prohibited on all campus property, if you observe an individual with a weapon on campus or if you observe somebody shooting on campus, call 911 immediately. Answer the Muskingum County dispatcher’s questions to the best of your ability while maintaining your own safety.

Don’t go to your vehicle – traffic congestion prevents law enforcement from gaining the access they need and increases risk of danger to you and others.

FIGURE OUT.

• What action gives you the best chance to survive - running, hiding, calling for help, or some other response?
• Quickly evaluate and act.  

ALERT.

• When you are safe enough to do so, immediately call 911 - don’t assume someone else already has called.
• Tell the Muskingum County dispatcher all the information you know.  

LOCKDOWN.

• If you can’t get out safely, find a place to hide.
• Look for a place that offers some protection, is well hidden, and offers options for movement.
• If you must Lockdown, do what you can to stay unnoticed and keep the shooter out.
• Lock the door and/or barricade the door with heavy objects if possible.
• Turn off the lights.
• Keep quiet.
• Put cell phones on silent – in the silence, even a vibration may be audible – likewise the light from a cell phone screen may be visible.

INFORM.

• If you can, communicate the shooter’s whereabouts.
• Make sure to use real time information.
• Remember who, what, when, and where when you communicate the information.
• Who- the persons clothing, skin color, hair color, are they wearing a mask
• What- what are they using: a long gun, handgun, knife
• When- is it happening now
• Where- exact location and what direction they are moving in
• Any information that can be passed on to responding officers is critical.

COUNTER.

• If there are other people with you, try to plan together what you will do if the shooter enters your area.
• If a shooter enters your space, assume their intentions are lethal.
• Use anything you have with you and in the room as weapons.
• As soon as the shooter enters, yell loudly and throw things at them, aiming for the face.
• Rush at the shooter and act as a team to overcome them.
• Total commitment is critical; don’t give up until you have won!
• If you disarm the shooter, do not pick up the gun. Put it in a trash can and leave the room with that trash can. Responding Law Enforcement will know what to do when they get to you.
• Stick to your plan to take out the shooter; others will follow when you act.
• Everyone in the space must get into a survival mindset and commit to working together to survive.
• Remaining calm in the face of fear will help keep you and others focused on the best chance for survival.

EVACUATE.

• Can you safely get to a safer location?
• If yes, do so immediately and without waiting for others to validate your decision.
• Leave your belongings behind.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

• The Muskingum County dispatcher will notify all first responders in the area.
• The University will issue an alert via META. Please follow all directions provided in the META alert.
• The first responding officers will respond to locate the suspect and stop the shooting as quickly as possible.
• Police officers may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms or may be wearing tactical uniforms consisting of external bulletproof vests, helmets, boots, and dark clothing.
• Police officers may be carrying a shield and be armed with rifles, shotguns, and/or handguns. They may also use tear gas or pepper spray. Regardless of how they appear, remain calm, do not be afraid of them, and follow their instructions carefully.
• The first police officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured persons.
• If you encounter a first responder, put down anything you are carrying and keep your hands visible to the police at all times.
• Rescue teams will follow the first officers into secured areas to provide aid to those who are injured.
• The University will provide updates via META as more information becomes available.