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Knowledge is power; training helps prevent crises

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Broken glass. A woman's scream can be heard from the floor below. Glancing around the office, everyone is frozen in fear and confusion.

Then it happens; gunshots echo through the halls of the building.

Can this be real? This only happens in movies, right? Real life doesn't work this way.

Dozens of thoughts and questions run through each person's mind as they gather together. Panicked tears fall from each pair of eyes.

What next? Information from response training is foremost in people's thoughts.

"The three things I want everyone to remember from me are: run, hide, and if need be, fight," said Defense Department Police Lt. John Russo, 87th Security Forces Squadron training supervisor.

More shots ring out from the other side of the building.

In this situation, where it is clear the shooter is some distance away, Russo encourages running for safety. Distance between the shooter and building occupants allows for safer access to exit points.

When the shooter is close by, Russo expressed the importance of staying hidden and silent. People often get lock-down and shelter-in-place procedures confused. Russo stressed not to take the shelter-in-place tactic and gather in one area, occupants should instead disperse themselves to have the highest chance of staying safe and gaining access to an escape route.

Only as a last resort should someone use the fight method. Anyone who thinks about this option needs to be committed to the action, they might save lives, but risk their own.

"You should call the police only if it's safe to do so," Russo said. "If it's not safe, don't call. Don't put yourself in more danger. If you do call and can't talk, leave the line open so the operator can hear the situation."

Fingers cross and silent prayers are said while minutes feel like hours as the 911 dispatcher alerts the different response units available.

As red and blue lights flicker on the walls of the dark room, those hidden from sight feel the tug of hope.

Once first responders arrive and take control of the situation, follow instruction to the letter, he said. The officers will be on high alert and will take action if people coming out of the building don't listen to their directions.

Russo also emphasized police have one purpose when they first arrive at the scene: ensuring the building is secure. Once that is accomplished, medically-trained responders can treat injured people.

While these are methods to respond during an active shooter scenario, it is always preferable to get someone help before a tragedy occurs.

Signs of a person's breaking point before an active shooter incident can have a wide range, stated Russo.

"If you notice a change in someone's attitude where they come to work and they're fed up with the president and the government and they think everyone is out to get them," Russo said. "Also, if someone has an obsession with weapons, more so than 'I'm a Solder, this is my job.' These are just two examples of things that have been seen before occurrences."

If a change is noticed in coworkers or friends, people are encouraged to let someone know, preferably the police or medical professionals.

Russo plans to host quarterly active shooter response training for DOD ID card holders, including family members, and stressed the importance of base community members attending these training opportunities at least once a year.

The shooter is apprehended and everyone is safe. The people in this building were armed with the tools to safely emerge from this crisis.

Tears of joy and hugging coworkers are seen as scattered groups of people are escorted out of the building. The accountability process begins, but no one seems to mind. There will be no uniformed service members at front doors or morose phone calls tonight.