According to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), the total number of mass shootings in 2019 so far is at 248 in the United States. The GVA provides public access to accurate information about gun-related violence in the U.S. and collects data from 6,500 sources daily. 

With gun-related violence on the rise this year, we should all be informed on how to appropriately take precautions to save not only our own lives but also the lives of others. How can we do this? Participate in an Active Shooter Training session.

Unfortunately, another shooting took place in Southaven, Mississippi. Read below for more details on the incident and how active shooter training can make a positive impact. 

Will you know what to do if an active shooter steps foot in your office or educational building? Your body will react before you have the time to process the situation sufficiently. There are two survival-induced reactions for all mammals, humans and animals, in response to high-stress and threatening situations - fight or flight. According to the New York Times, there have been 163 shootings in the past 50 years with 25 public mass shootings where four or more victims were killed. Many of the deadliest shootings have occurred within the past few years, as active shooting events are increasing. 

Are you ready to take action? Continue reading to understand your body’s response to stressful situations and how you can stay safe during life-threatening events.

Think of what you can accomplish in less than 15 minutes. You could reduce the clutter on your desk, go for a brisk walk, prepare food and the list goes on. The time frame can go by quickly, depending on what fills your schedule on a daily basis. However, unforeseen life-threatening situations happen in the blink of an eye. When faced with a lethal situation, the vital choices you make can determine your fate. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security states that active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes. Participating in active shooter training provides the necessary knowledge that distinguishes your options of either living another day or becoming a victim. 

Continue reading to learn about the Virginia Beach shooting and how active shooter training can help save lives.

It’s a normal day at the office. The sun is shining and you’re sipping on your first cup of coffee, ready to be productive. Unexpectedly, you hear a loud gunshot firing off in the not-so-far distance. You can feel rattled nerves spiralizing down your body. 

Do you want the knowledge, skills and attitudes it takes to save your own life? How about the lives of others? Here at Active Threat Solutions, we provide personable training to audiences of all ages. Our training is applicable to anyone and everyone involved in a wide variety of industries, such as businesses, schools, churches, healthcare and conferences. 

“This training made me think about what I would do should I find myself in a bad situation. I’ve listened to a lot of trainings from the tacti-cool guys in camo trying to be impressive, but this was different. I would recommend this presentation to anyone,” said Michael Howell, Allegheny Design Services, PE, SE, MBA, Senior Structural Engineer, Director Sports & Recreation. 

Read on to learn what to expect during our Active Shooter Training class. 

According to a study released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there have been 160 active shooter events between 2000 and 2013. During those events, 1,043 casualties occurred; 489 individuals killed and 557 were wounded.

Some of the most notable and horrific active shooter events outlined in this study that have the highest number of casualties include:

• Sandy Hook Elementary School, 2012
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2007
• Cinemark Center 16 Theater, 2012

This study also noted that these events occurred primarily in businesses, educational facilities, government buildings and open spaces.

During National Safety Awareness Month, we feel that it is important to highlight what you can do to maintain a safe and secure environment, regardless if you are home, at work, school or in an open space.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there have been 251 active shooter events in the United States between 2000 and April 27, 2018. The bulk of these events have taken place in open areas, educational spaces and the commerce industry. Even as the number of active shooter events continues to rise, many businesses have failed to take immediate action in educating their employees on what to do in this type of event.

At Active Threat Solutions by Defense in Depth, we believe that it is not enough to increase security. It is not enough to provide run of the mill active shooter training from an individual who is not an expert in the security space. Business owners and decision makers within the business have a duty to provide more than adequate training so that their employees can take a stand and know what to do in the event of an active threat situation.

If you are interested in how you can protect your employees, continue reading to learn more about active shooter training provided by an expert, as well as the benefits of receiving this training.

Did you know that there were 261 “deadly force incidents” in 2018 at houses of worship including churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious facilities like faith-based schools? As the number of active shooter related incidents rise, many houses of worship still haven’t made security or training a priority in their faith community.

At Active Threat Solutions by Defense in Depth, we believe that it’s not just enough to increase security. It’s not enough to just provide run of the mill active shooter training in a check the box fashion. Leaders in the faith community need to take a stand and empower their worship community to know what to do in the event of an active threat situation.

Learn more about active shooter training, including the benefits of receiving this training, our instructions and how training can be funding for your faith community.

Active Threat Solutions by Defense in Depth will be partnering with The Thrasher Group, Inc to provide architectural solutions during site assessments to clients of ATS. Read on to learn more about why a site assessment and the partnership between The Thrasher Group and ATS could benefit your company, organization or school.

C’Anna Brown, former FBI employee and current business manager at West Virginia Radio Corporation, discussed her experience with Active Threat Solutions by Defense in Depth (ATS) and the services that West Virginia Radio Corporation received: a site assessment and active threat training.

At a site assessment, an employee from ATS will walk through the facility to look at physical weaknesses and any threats that may come up. This walk through will include looking at door locks, passwords, key cards, pathways of escape and current security staff. After the walk through, our team will offer verbal recommendations or a written report documenting weak spots and options for improvement.

During active threat training, a trainer from our team will educate and empower all individuals to know what to do when faced with security threats such as an active shooter event. During this training, our expert will talk you through site-specific options your employees can take to protect themselves.

Read on to learn more about the experience Brown and her team had.

If an active shooter incident occurred, and your company did not have an emergency action plan (EAP), would your company be held responsible for loss of life, injury, or emotional trauma caused by an event? Do you have emergency evacuation plans and / or sheltering protocols? And, what happens after the event? Will you release a statement to the media? If so, who is the designated point of contact for your company and what should the point of contact say?

Pre and post-incident preparedness are important for your employees safety and because of the legal ramifications attached to active threat situations. If you can’t answer the above questions, your company may need help.