* EC: Caught in the Crosshairs: How health care organizations can prepare for an active shooter incident[®] [REF: LDR, SFT] EC News, December 2014, Vol 17, #12, Pg 8 JCe1412_B7

EC.02.01.01 requires that hospitals manage safety and security risks. Although not as common as in other institutions, shootings in hospital settings (i.e., 59% inside or 41% outside/on grounds) do occur at a significant rate (i.e., 26.6 events per 1,000 hospitals between 2000 and 2011).  For this reason, the authors encourage greater awareness of this risk and recommend that every facility develop an active shooting response plan (Code Silver) as part of its EOP.  In support of this, the article describes:
• 6 Best practices for preparation (e.g., timely communication, evacuation, training)
• 3 Basic Plan strategies (e.g., staff avoidance of the active shooting area, denying the shooter access to other areas and defense/fighting back)
• 5 Tips for actually dealing with an active shooter on site (e.g., escaping, hiding).
Tip1: Review the active shooter response aspects of your EOP and evaluate its adequacy. If this issue is not currently being addressed, make it a topic for discussion at your next executive committee meeting.
Tip2: Consider conducting an active shooter drill
Tip3: Go to the comments section of this article for more references/resources to include an Active Shooter Planning Checklist and Drill Materials.