Preparedness Education:
Intruder on Campus
Basic guidelines for responding
to a violent intruder on campus
Session Objectives
• Participants understand the 3 Out approach in
response to violent intruders.
• Participants apply the 3 Out approach to their
own work areas.
• Participants are prepared to participate in a
drill or exercise.
Preparedness
Prevention efforts, such as threat assessment and
physical security, are a vital part of any intruder
response plan.
However, prevention efforts can fail and it is
imperative that facilities have a plan to respond to
active shooter and violent intruder scenarios.
The more a school discusses what to do, the more
effective the response will be under stress.
Studies of Active Shooter
Incidents Indicate:
• An active shooter incident is over within 2½ to
3 minutes
• Average response time for Law Enforcement
to arrive on scene is estimated between 5 to 7
minutes.
• Active Shooters occur in schools/campuses
due to these areas being soft targets (multiple
victims, confined/open areas, easy to access).
• Need to pre-plan and train for your response.
3 Outs
Replace the basic lockdown concept with a
simple 3 Out system:
• If the intruder is in your immediate area or if your area
cannot be secured by a Lock Out and you can safely do so,
implement a running evacuation:
• Get Out using exits or even ground floor windows.
• Run in a zig zag manner .
• Evacuate to an area that can be secured (Lock Out) or far
enough away from the building to be safe.
• Provide an update to 911 when you can do so safely.
Get Out
• Begin to develop awareness of your exit
options now.
• Start to pre-plan when in your classroom,
office or general area/location.
• Thinking about a plan ahead of time will help
you if faced with an actual situation.
If the intruder is in your immediate area and you
cannot Get Out, secure your room with a Lock
Out.
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Lock the door if you can.
Call 911 immediately, if you can do so safely.
Remain quiet & try to remain out of intruder’s view (hide).
Silence cell phones; don’t turn them off; text updates.
Look for areas that provide protection if shots are fired.
Be prepared to Get Out or Take Out if intruder gains entry.
Lock Out
While a locked door is good, there are other
ways to create a lock out: Barricade the door
with whatever you can find.
Do not use your body to support barricade
Lock Out: Barricading Doors
Use desks, chairs, shelves, piles of books, etc.
Barricades are most effective if the door opens
towards the barricade.
Even if the door opens away
from the barricade (usually into
the hallway), creating an
obstacle such as stacked
objects can delay an attacker.
Barricading Doors…. (video)
Doors that Open into the Hallway
Tying off doors limits the attackers ability to
open doors, even if they are unlocked.
This technique can be used to reinforce doors that
open out (toward the hallway) where barricades have
limited value.
Using barricades and
tying off doors are
diversionary techniques
that will slow an
attacker down.
Tying Off Doors… (video)
Jamming Door Handles… (video)
For handicap accessible handles
(levers pushed downward to open), wedge a chair or small table between the
handle and door, preventing the handle from unlatching the door.
Common door found on campus
Add metal clasp/carabineer; push on tight; prohibits
door from being opened; also barricade door
Tightly wrap book bag strap around door hardware;
close to door and frame itself; also barricade door.
Lockdown Deficiencies
• A lockdown works only under the most ideal of
circumstances.
• A lockdown plan offers little or no value if faculty,
staff, and students are in an area that cannot be
locked or in direct contact with the attacker.
• Survival may depend on not being a passive and
stationary target.
Limit the Lockdown.
• A lockdown creates a static and passive
environment for the attacker, giving the
shooter a greater tactical advantage:
– Shooter is looking for a target-rich environment
– Targets are passive and accessible
– Shooter will not negotiate
– Shooter does not have an exit strategy
– Seconds can make a difference
Lockdown
The Take Out option is to be used as a last resort:
If the intruder poses serious danger to your safety or the safety of
others, and you cannot Get Out or Lock Out, fighting back against the
attacker may be your only last option – Take Out.
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You MUST commit to your actions.
Attempt to incapacitate the violent intruder; act with aggression.
Work together with other people.
Provide clear and confident instructions.
Use improvised weapons such as fire extinguishers, chairs, books.
Use distractions – throw things to divert attention to enable an
escape.
Take Out… (video)
If you are in direct contact with the attacker and the attacker is blocking your
path, then there is no way you can Lock Out or Get Out. You may have to fight
back and Take Out the attacker.
Decision Making During an
Emergency
Recurring Circle:
 Observe: You become aware of a potentially dangerous
event.
 Orient: Orient yourself to your options.
 Decide: Based on what you know, decide the best response.
 Act: Carry out the plan to the best of your abilities.
 As the situation changes- repeat the circle as often as
needed.
Response: Immediate Action Steps
Immediate Actions
 Apply the 3 Outs: Get Out, Lock Out or Take Out.
 Call 911 (as you can safely do so). Provide situation & location. If
multiple persons together, have one call 911; other call Campus Safety,
ext. 3110 (only for on campus phones). If using cell, must dial 484664-3110 to report to campus safety.
 Alert others (as you can safely do so).
 Act rapidly and decisively.
 Assist others; render first aid if needed.
 If the intruder is on/near campus, but not in a building, secure
entrances, move to securable rooms and implement a Lock Out.
Items to Consider:
 DO NOT evacuate immediately, or at all, if the fire alarm
sounds.
 Stay in your secured area until you are certain the threat has
been minimized OR you are approached by Law Enforcement.
 Be prepared to care for those who may be injured or
emotionally unstable who may be “locked in” with you.
THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!!!
Law Enforcement Response
When law enforcement arrives on the scene, remember:
 Their response to an intruder situation is focused on locating and
neutralizing the threat; they will NOT stop to render aid to the
wounded.
 DO NOT leave a secure area to approach responders.
 All persons may be treated as suspects until determined otherwise.
 Follow law enforcement commands; hands above your head, fingers
spread, no screaming/yelling, and keep moving.
 While response to a shooter is rapid, searching and safe guarding a
school may take several hours.
Remember:
The goal of the 3 Out system is to
delay the attacker’s access in order to
prevent and minimize casualties
before law enforcement arrives.
To Summarize: 3 Outs
Violent Intruder is in your
immediate area, but there is
a path to escape.
 Use exits or ground floor
windows to leave the
area immediately.
Violent Intruder is in your
building, but not in your
immediate area.
 Quickly gather students
from unsecured areas.
 Lock, barricade, tie off
 Evacuate to an area that
door.
can be secured or far
 Turn off lights.
enough away from the
 Remain quiet & hide
building to provide safety.
from view.
 Look for areas that
 Silence cell phones.
provide protection if
 Looks for path of
shots are fired.
escape.
 Prepare next steps.
Violent Intruder is
attacking, and there is no
path to escape.
As a last resort:
Attempt to incapacitate
the intruder.
Use improvised weapons .
Work together; throw
objects in unison.
Act with aggression.
Commit to your actions.
Thinking Ahead:
• Think about your own 3 Out strategies now.
• Challenge yourself to develop as many ways to
leave your work space as possible.
• Each person should consider his/her own
space. What can you lock? Use for
barricades? Use to tie a door?
Communication to Campus:
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The Crisis Team will alert the campus community in relation to crime-related and
other potentially threatening situations in an accurate and timely fashion by
means of a “Campus Timely Warning Notice or an Emergency Notification.”
The notices may be disseminated via a variety of mechanisms or mediums; for
example:
– Text Messaging to cell phone of those enrolled in the service (E2Campus)
– Campus E-mail Messages (E2Campus)
– Muhlenberg College Website (E2Campus)
– Public Announcements
– Postings and Signage
– Other methods deemed necessary
How to Report:
• When reporting, ALWAYS call 911 first if a life
threatening situation.
• Call Campus Safety (Dispatch) immediately
afterward; ext. 3110 (on campus phone only)
• Utilize the on-campus Emergency Phones
• If using cell, call 484-664-3110 for Campus Safety
- DO NOT report something that is suspicious by
way of an email to an individual officer; by
way of a phone message left on an
officer’s phone mail, etc.
- Dispatch staffed 24/7; always get a live voice
Reporting General Concerns
• Call x3110 (on campus phone only); if using
cell, call 484-664-3110 to reach Campus
Safety.
• If something feels odd to you, it’s OK to ask
Campus Safety to check it out.
• Better to report something that turns out to
be nothing.
Awareness
Always take particular note if there is a change in
a person’s behavior patterns when the frequency
and intensity of the behaviors are disruptive to
the work environment.
The person may be exhibiting many of the
behaviors listed next:
• Crying, sulking or
temper tantrums
• Excessive absenteeism
or lateness
• Disrespect for authority
• Increased mistakes or
• Refusal to acknowledge
errors, or unsatisfactory
job performance
work quality
problems
• Faulty decision making
• Swearing or emotional
language
• Making inappropriate
statements
• Blaming others for
mistakes
• Talking about the same
problems repeatedly
without resolving them
• Social isolation
• Complaints of unusual
and/or non-specific
illnesses
• Overreacting to
criticism
• Forgetfulness,
confusion and/or
distraction
• Complaints of unfair
treatment
• Misinterpretation of
communications from
supervisors or coworkers
• Disregard for the health
and safety of others
• Testing the limits to see
what they can get away
with
• Inability to focus
• Insistence that he or
she is always right
• Personal hygiene is
poor or ignored
• Sudden and/or
unpredictable change in
energy level
Reporting a Specific Concern
• Call Department of Safety; x3110 (on campus);
call 484-664-3110 if using cell phone
• Call the Dean of Student Affairs
• Call Human Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------• Remember, what you do now to prepare for an
emergency just may save your life or others
around you. Take a few minutes to pre-plan.
Acknowledgements:
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Homeland Security
Pennsylvania State Police
Stay Safe
South Central Criminal Justice Task Force
Safe Schools
Upper Allen Police Department
Messiah College Department of Campus
Safety
DISCUSSION…
QUESTIONS???
HANDOUTS…