Emergency Preparedness

Online Module

Dickinson College, in an effort to enhance the preparedness of its students, faculty, and staff for this type of event has created an online training module.  The module covers aspects of "Run, Hide, Fight", ALICE training, how to set up a barricade and more.  Please note: All faculty, students, and staff are required to complete the Active Intruder Awareness online module via Totara.  To access this course, look for it on your Totara Dashboard, or for a direct link, click here.  

RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.® Surviving an Active Shooter Event - https://youtu.be/5VcSwejU2D0 (Video Copyright City of Houston, 2012)

If the shooter is outside your building:

• Decide if you should try to evacuate the building and run; or if you should barricade-in-place.
• Go to a room that can be locked. Turn off all the lights.
•  Secure and barricade the doors and windows.  Close blinds, shutters, etc.
  • Use anything you can to block the entrance – chairs, tables, desks, bookcases, lamps, furniture, etc.
• Get everyone on the ground, move away from the door, make sure no one can be seen from outside the room and remain very quiet
• Call the Department of Public Safety at 717-245-1111, explain the situation, give your location and the number of people with you
• Remain in the secure area until the room is entered by police

If the shooter is inside your building:

• Remember > Run. Hide. Fight.
• Decide if you should try to evacuate the building and run; or if you should barricade-in-place.
• If the room you are in can be locked, secure and barricade the doors and windows
  • Use anything you can to block the entrance – chairs, tables, desks, bookcases, lamps, furniture, etc.
• Turn off all the lights and close blinds
• Silence your cell phone
• Get everyone on the ground, move away from the door, make sure no one can be seen from outside the room and remain very quiet
• Call 911, explain the situation, give your location and the number of people with you
• Remain in the secure area until the room is entered by police
• If the room you are in cannot be locked you must determine if it safe to move  to another room nearby
• If it is safe to escape do so whenever possible

What is a Lockdown? 

Building lockdowns are intended to protect students, faculty and staff from danger or threats located outside a building, and as a result, Dickinson College may go into a lockdown or secure-perimeter scenario if there are violent crimes on, or in close proximity to campus. By requiring students, faculty and staff to stay inside the building and to create a secure perimeter, lockdowns can help law enforcement as they seek suspects.

If you are outside when a lockdown occurs, you should:

• Anticipate that the exterior doors of all of the buildings in the immediate area have been locked, so continue to move away from the danger and
• find a place to hide out;
• or get as far away from the potentially dangerous area as possible. Leave campus if it is safe to do so.

If you are in your car you should:

• Leave campus.
• Follow the directions of Emergency Personnel.

If you are inside, please remember the following:

• Hallways should be cleared, and students, faculty and staff should move into the nearest available office or classroom.
• Doors to rooms should be closed, locked and barricaded.
• Close and cover windows.
• Turn out all lights and audio equipment.
• Occupants should move to the safest part of the room, away from windows and doors, to the interior walls.
• Stay low and stay quiet.
• Turn cellphones to silent.

In a lockdown, you may need to protect yourself by barricading in place. 

How do I set up a barricade?

• Try to go to room with a door that can be locked and that has window coverings so that people cannot see inside the room. Turn off the lights and any noise producing machinery.
• Remain quiet, silence your cell phone or turn it off (or allow one person to keep their phone on silent if you are with others, to conserve battery power)
• Use ANYTHING you can to barricade the door, such as:
  • Bookcases
  • Desks
  • Chairs
  • Furniture
  • A belt, cord, anything tied around the handle and secured
  • How To Use a Folding Chair To Barricade The Door During a School Shooting - https://youtu.be/15EuyCQnFWk?t=43s 
    • "...Students at UCLA used whatever they could to barricade themselves inside classrooms as a gunman stalked the campus. But working against them here was a flaw that could have proven tragic: The doors open outward and do not have locks. Anything can be used to barricade yourself inside a room. Safety expert Bill Stanton showed Inside Edition how to do it. A simple screwdriver can be wedged in the door handle and a folding chair could also be used to block a door as well."

If the shooter enters your room:

• Remain CALM so that you can make a decision about your course of action.
• Consider the following options:
  • Attempt to distract the shooter by throwing objects, making loud noises, and creating obstructions. Any type of distraction will reduce the shooter’s ability to concentrate and aim
  • Attempt to use whatever tools or objects you may have available to incapacitate the shooter or separate the shooter from their weapon

What to expect from police when they arrive:

• They will be very focused so remain calm
• They will point their guns at you. You are not in danger if you follow their instructions.
• Do not carry anything
• Keep your hands over your head with your fingers spread
• Do exactly what the police ask and do not speak unless you are asked questions
• They may go past you looking for the shooter and bypass wounded people.
• Do not attempt to follow them. Moving in the direction that they came from will be your best avenue of escape.

Active Shooter – plan ahead and consider the following:

• Do you know what rooms lock in your work or living area? Where might you hide?
• A shelter in place location identified for weather may not be an appropriate shelter spot for an active shooter event.
• What are some alternate escape routes to get out of your building that you don’t commonly use?
• What objects could you use to barricade yourself in a space?
• What might you have on your person or office/classroom/room to use as a weapon to throw at an active shooter? (Hint: You can use almost anything! – Stapler, pens, mugs, tennis ball, anything that will distract the shooter and cause them to lose their focus.