Again and Again

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Sadly, there has been another active shooter situation, this time on the campus of Michigan State University. Three young lives lost and 5 in critical condition in a local hospital. The shooter, who left the campus shortly after the rampage, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, dead. Apparently, the shooter had no connection to the university which makes this situation even more troubling. 

With the political climate today, I will avoid the gun control conversation as it really serves no purpose to this post. What does matter is how these families will carry on with the senseless loss of a loved one who was simply sitting in a classroom getting an education. If you think about the active shooter situations over the past few years, many of them were in classroom settings. Maybe because a classroom full of students are basically captives, they are locked in a room with limited means to escape.  

Aren’t our centers like this? Think about the dining room in your center where multiple residents congregate to dine, attend activities; where there are likely multiple mobility aides (i.e., wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) that could block exits. Would your staff be prepared to protect themselves and their residents? Not sure? Please consider reviewing your current disaster plan for active shooter. If it is perfect, great, re-educate your staff on the protocol. If you need assistance with developing a plan to respond to an active shooter, we are here for you at www.HealthCapUSA.com  Trust me, if you haven’t reviewed your current plan within the past 12 months, now is the time! Stay informed and stay safe! 

Please visit our Active Shooter Resources:

Active Shooter Preparedness Program 

Active Shooter Event Policy and Procedure 

Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar (archived)