Most people are familiar with fire safety and earthquake preparedness in schools – but what about active threat training?
Teaching students and staff what to do in case of a mass shooting on campus is the goal of a video produced by B.C.’s Simon Fraser University.
The film begins like a typical day on campus: students playing basketball in the gym, a professor marking papers in class, a TA teaching in a classroom – when suddenly gunfire erupts.
As the students and staff act out various dramatized scenarios, campus safety director Julie Glazier gives best practice tips on what to do.
"Work with people around you. Do what you need to stay alive, including using force to protect yourself," Glazier said in the video. "You could be literally fighting for your life."
SFU and Burnaby RCMP partnered to create the dramatized video, which was released online. Active threat workshops are also being offered to students.
The RCMP defines active threat as “one or more persons who seek out a target rich environment and participate in a random or systematic infliction of death or grievous bodily harm.”
Steven MacLean, senior director of campus safety and security services, says the video was a good opportunity to advise the campus community on what do in an emergency.
“Active threats are a really difficult subject to broach with people – they’re scary - and you have to do it in a responsible, really educational way,” he said. “The time was right and the opportunity was there so we just went for it.”
Campus security told CTV News it hasn’t received any threats, and that the video was made because people were asking how to survive an attack.
“The reaction has been very positive. I think we hit the mark,” MacLean said, noting that some students even acted in the video. “People are telling us they’re very happy with what they’re seeing.”
And what do the university’s students think of the video?
“I think it’s a good thing that they are putting it on, but you should also take into account that when a situation like this happens you’re mainly running on impulse and adrenaline,” said one man. “Not on planning you have done before.”
“I think it’s quite educative,” said another man. “What’s been happening around the world with shootings…I think this is a good idea.”
“You never know what happens,” said a female student, noting the video was “pretty scary”. “I think it’s better to be safe…it’s better than being clueless, like if there was a shooting and students wouldn’t know what to do.”
Ever wondered what to do in an active shooter situation? The top three tips from officials are:
• Run: Evacuate the area if it is safe to do so
• Hide: Shelter in place and hide yourself if you cannot evacuate safely
• Take action: As a last resort, commit yourself to delay, block or overcome the threat
For more information on what to do in a mass shooting and to watch the video visit the SFU Safety and Security website here.
