Luckily, most of us will never be involved in a workplace shooting, yet a study from 2017 revealed that four out of every 10 Americans worry about being a victim of a mass shooting.

It’s imperative that you and your employees know what to do in the event of a workplace shooting and it’s equally as important that you know what to do and how to react if your business involves the public (such as a store in a shopping mall, a church, a school, a restaurant or a hospital).

Protection and safety must be the priority if there's an active shooter or a terrorist attack. Circumstantial and operational concerns vary in every new situation, but there are a few basic tactics that can help.

1. Training and Preparation

Every business should have a security assessment and disaster plans in place. Hire a security solutions firm to do a premises and operations security assessment. Consider active shooter training sessions for management and employees.

Other training sessions such as workplace shooter training, drug and substance abuse training, bullying training are also recommended for educational and preventative purposes. Install entrance and other recommended security measures.

2. Remember ALICE Training

ALICE training stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. It provides preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter event.

Whether it is an attack by an individual person or by an international group of professionals who are intent on conveying a political message through violence, ALICE training option-based tactics have become the accepted response, versus the traditional “lockdown only” approach.

3. Run, Hide, Fight

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s active shooter response guidelines suggest the “Run, Hide, Fight” approach so it's important that you and your employees remember this. Simply put, it means you should run, and if that is not possible then you should hide, and if your life depends on it, you should fight.

However, putting this into actual use may not always take this order. Try to determine the situation. If the shots are near or far away. Assess the room you are in.

If you hear gunshots…think gunshots! Odd are its not firecrackers. If it sounds far away, running may be your best option. Always run away from the shooter and try to run in a zigzag pattern. If you don’t have that option, then just run!

If it sounds close, you may have to hide and lock and bar the doors. Make it as difficult as possible for a shooter to enter. Use anything you may have including ties, belts, furniture, etc. Wedge something underneath the door to prevent it from opening into the room. Then, stay out of sight of the door. Stand alongside the wall by the door so you can’t be seen. Also silence your cell phone. You don’t want to give away your location if it rings or the screen is too bright and can be seen.

In the event the shooter enters the room, do whatever you can to fight. Throw anything around you, even hot coffee, scissors, fire extinguishers or chairs. If there are others in the room with you, attacking the shooter may be an option. The idea is to switch his focus from hurting you to protecting himself.

4. Get Help

Call 911 as soon as you can. Tell them about the shooter and give them your name and location. Describe the shooter. Tell them about anyone who may be wounded. Once help arrives, put down anything you may be holding, raise your hands and spread your fingers, keeping your hands visible at all times. Avoid any quick movements. Don’t point, scream, or yell. Don’t stop if you are leaving the area.

While nothing can guarantee you won’t encounter an active shooter, being prepared goes a very long way to protecting the lives of your employees and your customers.