When preparing for a possible active shooter situation, think ALICE, says Mike Petrone, CUNA Mutual Group risk consultant.
ALICE stands for:
“There’s no special order to these; they’re just designed to help you survive an active shooter incident,” Petrone says. “These events are happening every day, and you need to have preventive measures in place.”
Procedures for robberies and hostage situations are much different than for active shooter incidents, he says. For the latter, employees should remain calm and polite, follow the perpetrator’s instructions, and not attempt to escape.
“For active shooters, all bets are off,” Petrone says. “You need to do anything you can to survive.”
Generally, that means taking one of three options:
Some credit unions want staff to carry weapons in the event of an active shooter. Petrone advises against this.
“It’s not a good idea,” he says. “Your success rate of hitting a target with all of the adrenaline and fear is very small. And if police see you with a gun, they’ll shoot you.”
Ninety-six percent of the time these events involve only one shooter. “So you’re probably better off running the opposite direction of gunfire.”
Other advice Petrone offers:
“Know the steps to protect yourself,” he says.
Petrone addressed the 2019 America’s Credit Union Conference.