A man opens fire in the lobby of an office building. A woman starts stabbing people at a bus stop. Police officers and first responders are trained for how to respond to “active deadly threats” and a new video released Wednesday by Vancouver Police Department is aimed at making people think about what they can do if faced with an unthinkable situation.
“Active deadly threats are rare in Canada, but they do happen,” said Chief Adam Palmer. “The threat could be a gun, a knife, or a vehicle. It takes time for first responders to arrive, and your safety may be in your hands.”
A lot can happen in the minutes it takes for first responders to arrive.
“With attacks increasing in frequency around the world, it’s something we must prepare for as a community,” Palmer said.
In April 10 people died in Toronto after a man drove a rented van into a crowd on a sidewalk. And just this week 10 people died in a school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas.
“We all deserve to feel safe in our city, and one of the best ways to increase your sense of safety is to ensure that you are prepared with information and knowledge on how to best protect yourself.”
The reality-based video, which runs around eight minutes, walks viewers through a series of likely scenarios involving an active shooter in an office building. Palmer said in cases of an active deadly threat, people tend to panic and the goal of the video is to give members of the public three simple tips to remember — run and escape if you can, hide if you can’t get out, and be prepared to fight if you must.
The chief said that awareness is vital — know where all the exits are and how to lock or secure an office, meeting room or building floor. Have a realistic safety plan in place and practice it. As well, the department recommends that employers create an off-site crisis response package for first responders that includes building maps and floor plans, an up-to-date employee roster, keys and pass cards, and contact numbers.
“It’s like preparing for earthquakes, or anything else,” Palmer said.
The video, which cost $20,000 to produce, was funded by the Vancouver Police Foundation and created in partnership with E-Comm, B.C. Ambulance and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.
jkerr@vancourier.com
