Active shooters or mass shooters are becoming more of an occurrence than most are comfortable with. To go along with the more frequent events, many times workplaces, schools, and even houses of worship are becoming more dependent on training to help protect people that frequent those locations. Known generically as “active shooter training,” many options and various courses are available. But what makes an active shooter training course any good?
First, there must be an understanding of what an active shooter course is and is not. A course of this type is going to prepare the attendees for violence that may occur around them. Specifically, gun violence. Typically, this course may be a portion of a larger workplace violence program and may include key risk indicators of violent behavior. Because of this, it is important to note that just because a workplace violence program has a dedicated portion that lays out action for active shooters, it does not make it an active shooter course. Generally speaking, active shooter courses can be used as workplace violence prevention training but workplace violence training does not always cover the in-depth concerns with active shooters.
Considering this notion of what an active shooter course is not, a few other things should not be included in a dedicated course. Unfortunately, shock and awe tactics have been an ongoing trend in this type of training. If there is a consideration for a course that has content such as the use of surprise scenarios or cap guns, do not purchase this course. Especially, if the course is in person. The risk to human safety is too high and many attendees will not respond well. Typical civilians cannot understand the stress of that type of training like law enforcement or military personnel can. This will also disengage the audience from learning and they will not be able to retain the life-saving skills and knowledge that they are there to receive. There should also not be a lack of sympathy in the situation. It’s hard to imagine but violence like this is a process and there are many reasons active shooters finally commit the heinous act. Violence is not just an event. A lack of sympathy may indicate a lack of preventative tactics and techniques that should be employed. It is not enough if a course only focuses on the physical encounter of an active shooter or violent situation.
So, what should an active shooter survival course include? The first thing is perspective. To go along with the last point, active shooters are human. They likely telegraphed their struggles and have certainly indicated that they are at risk for a violent event. We learn how to identify these struggles and key risk indicators through case studies, another must-have in a course of this nature. By looking at the past, professionals can identify trends and pass those trends to the audience. Instructors should also be well versed in the latest situations and events, but more on instructorship later. An example of this is the book that complements the training that Household HQ provides. The training is called ALIVE Active Shooter Survival Training and the book is called 10 Minutes to Live. Both were created by security expert Michael Julian. Packed with great case studies, proper action, and more, this book is a must have when considering what works well in an active shooter course.
With case studies and the development of the key risks, the course should have a proper balance of prevention and action. Almost every active shooter, except a handful, could have been prevented. There have been many close calls where action was absent due to a lack of procedure. An active shooter course should provide foundations for leaders and professionals in the workspace to understand the threat environment and how to stop the risk before it becomes an active situation. Even then, course material will typically provide effective direct responses in case an event could not, or was failed to be prevented. This is where the skill development requirement comes in. A good course provides attendees with skills that they continue to practice and develop even after the course has ended. This will allow for a true culture of violence prevention, not just a brief training.
The next thing to consider is the instructor providing the course. Other than having the right approach and technique, an instructor should be certified in the courses that they teach. Some insurances may require them to be certified for the course to count. By obtaining correct credentials and certifications, the instructor will provide a set of course materials that have been tried and vetted. This ensures that the recipients of the training will get consistent and thorough training. It will also mean that the instructor is not just providing a course that was created the night before. When a good instructor does a good job, testimonials and achievements will be more than valid and available. Do not be afraid to ask for references and past training locations. A solid instructor will be more than capable and willing to show off their skills and accolades because they know it will give you, the consumer, confidence in using them for the training.
Besides the credentials and testimonials, instructors should have a bit of general experience in the working space. Most instructors will have a law enforcement and/or security background. Please note that just because one has experience, does not mean that proper credentialling can be absent. Both need to occur. Background experiences that should cause concerns are those that have nothing to do with law enforcement, security, workplace violence prevention, or even psychology. Examples may be OSHA trainers, random online learning, etc. There may be overlap, however. If you find an OSHA trainer with law enforcement experience that would be great. Some legitimate programs will also offer online training, but not as a primary option.
Lastly, the instructor should be well-educated. Not just educated in a degree sense, but also on the topic at hand. You do not want someone to provide a course and not be able to answer questions on the latest events. One must have a passion and a need for more information. The whole role of an instructor is to provide a distilled and accurate course with content rich in examples and case studies so that the attendees and students can walk away feeling well-versed. Instructors cannot accomplish this goal without putting in the work. Similarly, a well-educated individual with many degrees may have a proper background but has to keep on top of studying to be effective.
Now that you have found the correct course, proper content, and a certified and experienced instructor, the type of delivery is something to consider. Most courses will provide an in-person option for training and development. This is best because it allows for questions and answer sessions, additional training in the physical space, walk-through demonstrations, etc. However, it is unrealistic to expect that this is the most plausible way to deliver the training, especially with a large workforce or multiple campuses. In these instances, it may be best to find courses that offer virtual options. This will allow for the same direct feedback and conversational opportunities, all while reaching everyone simultaneously. For those who may want only a handful trained at a time, online learning may be best. While this does limit the direct feedback option, it provides the crucial information to get the individual trained quickly and efficiently. A proper support program may offer a variety of all three. For example, an in-person training session can be held at the headquarters while a virtual stream reaches the rest of the company. The course can then be offered via online learning for new hires or for those who could not attend. Course delivery options ensure full coverage and training.
Additional considerations may be made when looking at the right organization to provide training. Legitimate training organizations may offer additional resources and training to go along with active shooter training. For example, medical courses often go well with active shooter training. This pairing allows the audience to be prepared before, during, and during recovery from the active shooter situation. An example of this is the First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) course from the American Red Cross that was specifically developed to combat bleeding during an active shooter situation. Most CPR courses will also have first-aid considerations built in. A good instructor and training organization will be able to walk you through what the courses have to offer and pricing to match your needs. Of course, training does not do very much without proper equipment. An organization that is well-versed in active shooter training will often provide medical gear to go along with medical training. This is not necessary but can be an indicator that the instructor and organization take a full response methodology. Additional Emergency response software, resources, procedure assistance, consultation, etc. may also be a strong indicator that you have a true professional prepared to keep you safe.
Household HQ provides everything that is mentioned in this blog. The program that Household HQ uses is called ALIVE Active Shooter Survival Training. The course content has been proven to work and has saved lives during the worst shooting in US history: the Route 91 Country Music Festival in Las Vegas. Although the case studies provide real-world videos, there is no shock and awe. The course provides in-seat exercises that prepare the audience and promote self-development after the course. Our Founder and Owner, David Kohl, is a Certified ALIVE Instructor with 20 years of experience in risk management, including private security, government experience from the Department of Homeland Security, and financial crime investigations from a “Big 4” bank.
David and Household HQ professionals also provide medical training from the American Red Cross that includes CPR, First Aid, AED training; First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST); Basic Life Support (BLS); and will soon provide instructor training. To supplement training, Household HQ provides medical equipment from My Medic, emergency response planning software from nSide, and consultation services as needed to make your home, work, school, or house of worship safe and secure.
Overall, there is only so much an organization can offer and only so much an individual can do to prepare. By getting proper training from an effective program by an experienced and credentialed instructor, you can be more prepared for the unthinkable.
Comments