Would you know what to do if you heard gunshots in your building? Close your door and hide? Or run?

Or maybe you’re hoping that you never have to react to such a situation. But unfortunately violent events are occurring in schools with catastrophic results.

Because many students, faculty and staff are interested in preparing themselves or thinking through their own reactions to an armed intruder on campus, UNL is presenting the Center for Personal Protection and Safety’s instructional video designed to empower the campus community with knowledge and strategies for preventing and surviving an “active shooter” situation. “Shots Fired On Campus” provides critical guidance on how to recognize and survive an active shooter situation. Available online at http://emergency.unl.edu, site visitors can watch the 20-minute video or the individual segments and learn more about what to do if shots are fired on campus.

UNL joins hundreds of other universities nationwide who have offered the Center for Personal Protection and Safety video, said UNL Police Chief Owen Yardley, and the video has become the standard.

“We see this video as another way of getting information and education to people about awareness to their environment,” Yardley said.

It outlines options for people met with an armed intruder: Evade or hide, lock entryways and shelter themselves.

“Fighting back is a last measure,” Yardley said. “But we want people to be aware that they have that option to save themselves or others. This video goes over and demonstrates those responses in detail.”

Questions about the video or the responses outlined in it can be directed to University Police, 472-2222.

The Center for Personal Protection and Safety is composed of former U.S. Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of Investigations officials, responsible for much of the federal government’s current teaching and training on crisis negotiations, workplace violence, abduction prevention, and hostage survival situations. It is the parent organization of the Safe Travel Institute. The goal of “Shots Fired” is to equip individuals with a survival mindset to quickly evaluate options and make life-saving decisions during an active-shooter or hostage incident.

– By Kelly Bartling, University Communications