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Student Employee Training

The purpose of this guide is to inform student workers of their duties and responsibilities as library assistants

Active Assailant

Image of stick figure running, hiding under a table, and in a fighting position.  Text reads: "Run/escape if possible.  Hide if escape is not possible.  Fight only as a last resort."

Image of stick figure running, hiding under a table, and in a fighting position.  Text reads: "Run/escape if possible.  Hide if escape is not possible.  Fight only as a last resort."

An active assailant is a person who is actively engaging in killing or attempting to kill multiple people in a populated area.  Queens University has never experienced an active assailant situation, but far too many educational institutions have, including UNC Charlotte.

In general, how you respond to an active assailant will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind that there could be more than one assailant involved in the same situation.

If you find yourself in an active assailant situation while on duty in the library, try to remain calm and use the following guidelines to help you plan a strategy of survival.

Your survival is the top priority!

How to Respond If An Active Shooter/Attacker Event Occurs

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that students are likely to follow the lead of faculty/staff during an active shooter situation.

1. RUN

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. Be sure to:

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind
  • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
  • Leave your belongings behind
  • Help others escape, if possible
  • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
  • Keep your hands visible
  • Follow the instructions of any police officers
  • Do not attempt to move wounded people
  • Call 911 when you are safe

2. HIDE

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. Your hiding place should:

  • Be out of the active shooter's view
  • Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (i.e., an office with a closed and locked door)
  • Not trap you or restrict your options for movement
  • To prevent an active shooter from entering your hiding place lock the door and blockade the door with heavy furniture

If the active shooter is nearby:

  • Lock the door
  • Silence your cell phone and/or pager
  • Turn off any source of noise (i.e., radios, televisions)
  • Hide behind large items (i.e., cabinets, desks)
  • Remain quiet

If evacuation and hiding out are not possible:

  • Remain calm
  • Dial 911, if possible, to alert police to the active shooter's location
  • If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen

3. FIGHT

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active shooter by:

  • Acting as aggressively as possible against him/her
  • Throwing items and improvising weapons
  • Yelling
  • Committing to your actions

Some descriptions and content on Run. Hide. Fight. are taken directly from the Department of Homeland Security for how to properly respond in an active shooter or attacker situation. 

Read the full DHS text.

Vocabulary

Lockdown 

A term that describes a condition where a particular human threat exists, and a building or buildings needs to have exterior doors/entrances locked, to prevent an un-authorized person or persons from entering the building.

It is important to understand if a building is placed on lockdown, building or University staff should discourage, but not physically prevent any person from exiting the building. The building should remain on lockdown until the appropriate authorities have communicated the threat no longer exists.

Shelter-in-Place

Describes a condition where the recommended action is for all people in a building to stay in or seek a room/area that can be locked or secured. If a threat is from a person or persons during the shelter in place recommendation, the most secure room or area should be used. If the threat is from a weather condition, interior rooms or spaces are recommended, avoiding exterior windows or glass walls, if possible. If a room or space is chosen during a shelter in place, and the room cannot be locked, consider furniture or other items that can be used to discourage or prevent access to the room.

Lockdown Gathering Areas on Each Floor:

Main Floor - Instruction Lab, Director's Suite, Access Services Librarian's office/mailing room (close blinds), and Staff Bathroom

Second Floor - Special Collections, and Ultra Quiet Study Room

Basement - Archives Storage Room #106, and Rena Harrell Archives room