Tour Safety

Reporting an Active Shooter

Remain calm and answer the dispatcher's questions. The dispatcher is trained to obtain the necessary information for an appropriate emergency response.
If it is safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the shooter. Note their height, weight, sex, race, approximate age, clothing, method and direction of travel, and his/her name, if known. If the suspect is entering a vehicle, note the license plate number, make and model, color, and outstanding characteristics. All of this takes only a few seconds and is of the utmost help to the responding officers.

NOTE: An individual must use his/her own discretion during an active shooter event as to whether he/she chooses to run to safety or remain in place. However, best practices for an active shooter event are listed below.

If You Are Outside When A Shooting Occurs
Drop to the ground immediately, face down as flat as possible. If within 15-20 feet of a safe place or cover, duck and run to it.
Move or crawl away from gunfire, trying to utilize any obstructions between you and the gunfire.
When you reach a place of relative safety, stay down and do not move.
Wait and listen for directions from Police Services and/or emergency personnel.

If Suspect Is Outside Your Classroom or Office
Stay inside the classroom/office.
If possible, close and lock the outside door to the room.
Close the blinds, turn off the lights, remain quiet and move behind available cover. Stay on the floor, away from doors or windows, and do not peek out to see what may be happening.
If possible and safe to do so, report the location of the assailant.

If Suspect Is In Close Proximity
Lie motionless and pretend to be unconscious.
Do not attempt to apprehend or interfere with the suspect except for self-protection. An individual must use his/her own discretion about when he or she must engage a shooter for survival.

In Case of Emergency

If someone becomes injured on your tour and it is clear that they need medical attention, hit the blue light if you are near one. If you aren’t, call 802-656-3473, which is UVM’s emergency dispatcher. Afterwards, call Muffy or Carolyn at the Visitor Center to make them aware of what is going on (Muffy: 802-656-3373 and Carolyn: 802-656-8593)
If someone becomes injured but does not need immediate medical attention, call Muffy or Carolyn for further instruction.
If the visitor wants to return to the Visitor Center, work to have your tour group merge with another nearby tour group - another Advo can take your group! After that, bring the visitors who want to return to the Visitor Center back there.
Make sure that you know the name of the student who this person is with. Please make sure that Kayla, Jay, Carolyn, and Muffy are made aware of the situation that arose and who was involved.