Hospital Disaster Preparedness

Active Shooter Planning and Response in a Health Care Setting

Active shooter events in a health care setting present unique challenges: a potentially large vulnerable patient population, hazardous materials (including infectious disease), locked units, special challenges (such as weapons and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines (these machines contain large magnets which can cause issues with firearms, or remove it from the hands of law enforcement), as well as caregivers who can respond to treat victims.

There is no single method to respond to an incident, but prior planning will allow you and your staff to choose the best option during an active shooter situation, with the goal of maximizing lives saved. For hospitals and health care systems, the HSCC has provided the updated guidance document “Active Shooter Planning and Response in a Health Care Setting.”