Don't Wing It: 5 Ways to Prepare for an Active Shooter Situation

Greeting,

We have plans for fires, tornados, earthquakes, lighting and even coffee spill cleanup plans but many of us are missing an active shooter plan. I know that discussing Active Shooters is not a fun topic, but ignoring it doesn't make the risk go away. Planning ahead actually reduces fear and gives people confidence. So let's talk through five simple steps that can make a life or death difference.

1. Start With a Written Plan

I once reviewed a workplace where their "plan" was basically, "Well, we'll just see what happens." Yikes.

Tip: Write down your active shooter procedures just like you do for fire safety. Include evacuation routes, communication steps, and rally points.

Why it matters: A plan keeps people from panicking and guessing. When everyone's on the same page, they act faster and safer.

2. Practice, Don't Just Print

The first time I ran a drill in a church, half the group tried to leave through the wrong door. The second drill? Much smoother.

Tip: Schedule regular drills, at least twice a year. Try different scenarios: lockdown, evacuation, or shelter-in-place.

Why it matters: Panic makes us freeze. Practice builds muscle memory so your body knows what to do when your brain forgets.

3. Learn ALICE (No, Not in Wonderland)

One of the best frameworks out there is ALICE: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. It gives people options, instead of just "hide and hope."

Tip: Invest in an ALICE workshop for your team or volunteers. Even a short intro can change the way people respond under pressure.

Why it matters: ALICE empowers you with choices. Knowing when to lock down versus when to evacuate could save lives.

4. First Aid = First Priority

In every emergency drill I run, I ask: "What if someone gets hurt before EMS arrives?" Cue the nervous silence. That's why I always push for first aid and bleeding control training.

Tip: Stock a trauma kit with tourniquets, bandages, and gloves. Better yet, train multiple people to use them.

Why it matters: In active shooter incidents, immediate care can mean the difference between life and death while waiting for first responders.

5. Communicate Clearly, Not Chaotically

I once saw a drill where ten people grabbed radios at once. It turned into safety karaoke, loud but useless.

Tip: Decide ahead of time who calls 911, who notifies internal leaders, and how updates are shared. Keep it simple.

Why it matters: In a crisis, clear communication saves minutes — and those minutes save lives.

Bottom Line: Prepared Beats Panicked

Look, none of us like thinking about active shooters. But preparation isn't fear, it's freedom.

If you take one step today, let it be this: ask about your organization's plan. No plan? You've got your starting point.

If you want a system that reminds you of inspections, tracks your safety progress, and keeps all your documentation in one place, join the Wooli waitlist today. We built it to make safety simple, so you can focus on your mission, not your paperwork.

Lara