Active Shooter

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.

Provided courtesy of Victor Valley Global Medical Center, this document outlines an emergency response plan to alert hospital staff that an active shooter appears to be actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in the hospital or on the campus. 

Violence against hospital employees is a significant issue with the potential for devastating consequences. Active shooter situations can be premeditated or spontaneous, and hospital employees should always maintain situational awareness and vigilance.

All employees can help prevent and prepare for potential active shooter situations. This course provides guidance to individuals, including managers and employees, so that they can prepare to respond to an active shooter situation.

In the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, CHA released the Hospital Code Silver Activation Active Shooter Planning Checklist to help hospitals review and develop active shooter response plans. The tool was developed with key advisement from agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety.