On 12/14/2012, a man forced his way into the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and killed 20 children and six adults before turning the gun on himself.  This horrific event reminds us that active shooters can strike anywhere and at any time. An active shooter is defined as a person who is engaged in killing or attempting to kill individuals in a confined, populated venue. Often, an active shooter’s intended targets are randomly selected. The incidents are unpredictable, evolve quickly and are frequently over within 10 to 15 minutes.

This event also reminds us that increased awareness and effective training can make us better prepared if we find ourselves in a situation involving an active shooter.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides information regarding how to respond to active shooters for distribution to law enforcement, emergency responders and civilian personnel.

The full document is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/active_shooter_booklet.pdf.  For additional information regarding active shooters, DHS offers online resources, including independent study training, print materials, and a virtual roundtable at: http://www.lpinformation.com/active-shooter.  Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers an independent study course specifically designed for managers and employees.  The course can be found at: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is907.asp.