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