No Warning Signs: The Reality of Active Shooter Incidents

⏱️ 12 min read                  

Today, I’m discussing a topic that no one wants to think about, but everyone needs to understand. Employees arrive with their coffee, settle into their desks, and prepare for another ordinary workday. But within minutes, their world transforms into something out of their worst nightmares. A gunman had entered their workplace, and then [sound of gun bang]

This isn't a story designed to frighten you. It's a story designed to prepare you. Because the uncomfortable truth is that workplace violence has become an increasingly common threat in modern America. From corporate offices to retail stores, from hospitals to educational institutions, no workplace is immune. But there's hope in preparation, power in knowledge, and a chance for survival when you understand what to do in those critical moments.

Because when seconds count, you don't have time to figure things out. You need to already know.  

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear. This podcast is about life's happenings in this world that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron your host. 

That said, here's the rest of this story 

Beyond ‘Run, Hide, Fight’: What to Do in an Active-Shooter Situation

Workplaces across the country are increasingly being asked to prepare for a situation so horrifying that most people hope they will never face it. Yet, incidents in recent years have shown that employees may be forced to make life-or-death choices with little warning.

For a long time, the standard guidance could be summed up in a simple trio of instructions: run, hide, fight. That model still exists, but many specialists in corporate and public safety now argue that the reality of these emergencies is far more complicated. 

They emphasize that survival can depend on a wider range of actions—blocking entry points with makeshift barricades, escaping through unconventional exits like windows, or creating diversions to confuse an attacker.

According to current training programs, the most effective responses in an active-shooter crisis now involve a broader, more adaptive set of strategies designed to help people react under extreme pressure.

When confronted with an active threat, the human body's stress response kicks into overdrive. Adrenaline floods the system, heart rate spikes, and the brain shifts into survival mode. In this heightened state, the most effective action is also the most intuitive: create as much distance as possible between yourself and the threat.

What does ‘run, hide, fight’ actually mean?

Training courses use a variety of names to describe the basic active-shooter protocol, but the tactics are largely the same. The priority in “run, hide, fight” is the “run,” security specialists say. “You want to escape if you can,” said Jim Hayes, a veteran of the Department of Homeland Security, who now advises companies in his role as a vice president at the security firm Guidepost Solutions.

If running away from the scene isn’t an option, try to find a hiding spot in an out-of-the-way room. Some companies also teach “ABC,” an acronym that instructs people to

1.      Avoid the threat, 

2.      Barricade themselves and, as a last resort, 

3.      Confront an assailant. 

Other training programs prefer “ALICE,” which stands for alert, lock down, inform, counter and evacuate.

The bottom line is the same: Running or getting out gives you the best chance of success. If you can’t do that, what’s the next best option? Time to barricade.

What are the most effective ways to hide or create a barricade?

During an incident, its common practice employees go to the restrooms, conference spaces and other secluded corners of the building. Some even drape blankets or jackets across interior windows to make their locations harder to detect. Others quickly pushed couches, rolling chairs and office desks against doors to slow down any attempt at entry. According to security professionals, even a brief delay can be lifesaving, giving police additional time to reach the scene.

Experts recommend using the sturdiest objects available—large tables, heavy desks, metal filing cabinets or storage units—to block doorways or restrict access. When choosing a hiding spot, they advise positioning yourself along the wall nearest the exit, but remaining out of direct view. This placement can provide a narrow opportunity either to slip away if the assailant passes by or, as a last resort, to disrupt the attacker’s approach.

Because many attackers are aware that law enforcement will arrive quickly, they often avoid rooms that appear difficult to breach. Safety instructors note that a locked or heavily barricaded space is frequently enough to persuade an assailant to move on.

As one security consultant observed: “Most attackers won’t waste valuable time trying to force their way into a space that’s clearly secured.”

Can you plan for any of this in advance? 

Yes, said Dale Buckner, chief executive of the security firm Global Guardian. Creating a “what if?” escape plan can save seconds, even minutes in an emergency.

Take the “run.” 

1.      Do you know where the various exits and access points are in your workplace? 

2.      If elevators are shut off, would you know how to get downstairs? 

3.      If a colleague is in a wheelchair or is older and might need assistance, who is ready to help them?

It’s these little things that matter.

Map out your office to determine which rooms are more secure from gunfire if you need to hide. That could be a conference room without windows or a storage closet with cinder-block walls.

Should you pull the fire alarm?

Sounds like a great idea, but Federal law enforcement officials generally advise against that. People are conditioned to immediately evacuate a building when they hear the alarm, potentially putting them in harm’s way, when they may not even know what is happening. 

A fire alarm also risks disabling elevators—which could be needed to help injured people—or unlocking certain doors, increasing a shooter’s ability to move throughout a building.

How do you know when it’s time to hide and when it’s time to fight? 

Fighting is seen as a last resort, and hopefully not one you would need to confront. But when a gunman has found your hiding place and is pointing a weapon in your direction, it is time to switch from hiding to confronting.

Fighting can mean throwing something at a gunman—a fire extinguisher, a chair, even a handful of pens—to create a distraction, improvising a weapon or creating chaos in the room by yelling and running around. Law-enforcement officials recommend that, when in fight mode, it is best to act aggressively.

If in lockdown, where should you look for updates, and how should you communicate?

Silence all electronic devices, including ringers and vibrate functions. If possible, text or send direct messages to law enforcement over social media to share your location. Try to report any active-shooter emergency via 911 first; use social media only as a backup, not as a replacement for contacting emergency services directly. 

What if an employer doesn’t provide active-shooter training? Where can workers turn?

Employees whose companies do not offer formal training still have several options. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency provides extensive public guidance on preparing for workplace violence, offering materials for both employees and organizational leaders. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also shares instructional videos and practical tips on its website to help individuals understand how to respond in a crisis. In addition, many local police departments, community colleges, school districts and government organizations host training sessions that anyone can attend, regardless of where they work.

What should comprehensive training cover?

Effective programs go beyond repeating the familiar “run, hide, fight” framework. Security professionals stress the importance of helping workers recognize behaviors or comments that may signal escalating risk—statements involving retaliation, fascination with weapons or suggestions of harming others should never be dismissed. Any troubling remarks or warnings should be passed along to managers or human resources immediately.

Brian Stephens of Teneo, a security adviser and former chief security officer for Bank of America, notes that coworkers are often the first to observe meaningful shifts in someone’s behavior: “It’s the people around them who notice when something is off,” he explains.

Many specialists also encourage organizations to incorporate “stop the bleed” instruction, a nationwide initiative that equips everyday people with the skills to stabilize victims with severe injuries until medics arrive. After-action reviews of the 2016 Pulse nightclub tragedy in Florida revealed that several victims might have survived had immediate bleeding-control measures been provided. In other incidents, particularly in schools, students’ lives have been saved because teachers knew how to pack wounds or apply tourniquets correctly.

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway? 

The lessons embedded in active threat preparedness extend far beyond specific tactical responses. They reveal uncomfortable truths about modern life while simultaneously offering empowering insights about human capacity for resilience and adaptation.

The randomness and horror of workplace violence can feel overwhelming. These incidents seem to strike without warning, offering no chance for response. But that perception isn't accurate. While you cannot predict when or where danger might appear, you absolutely prepare for how you'll respond.

If there's a single overarching message from modern active threat training, it's this: You have more control over your survival than you think.

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which can be found on Apple Podcasts, for show notes and the episode transcript.

As always, I thank you for the privilege of you listening and your interest. 

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See you soon.