Run. Hide. Fight.
These are the primary survival tactics encouraged during an active shooting scenario, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
ASU Police aims to help build on these tactics by further educating ASU students, faculty and staff in order to increase their chances of survival in such events. The department is offering free active shooter training courses to help members of the community develop skills necessary to increase their chances of surviving an active shooter.
ASU Police spokesperson Katy Harris said the training is offered to benefit all members of the community.
"ASU Police wants our students, faculty, and staff to be psychologically prepared if an act of violence occurs on campus," Harris wrote in an email. "We want students, faculty, and staff to think in a survivor mindset of feeling confident in making it through any dangerous situation."
Active shooter training videos can be found online, and in-person active shooter training can be conducted on request, she said in the email.
"Now we are branching out and conducting active shooter training on a regular basis," Harris wrote. "Students, faculty, and staff can attend in person and also watch the training through a live stream."
Grace Ramsey, a criminology and criminal justice sophomore, said the free courses are a step in the right direction but are also an indicator of a harsh reality.
"I think it's really awesome that ASU provides these resources just to be prepared for every situation because you never know what's going to happen," Ramsey said. "But at the same time, it's just kind of sad that that's a thing we need today."
Four training sessions will be held in November. For students, training sessions will be held on the West campus in the Verde Dining Pavilion. Separately, faculty and staff will have its training on the Tempe campus in the Computing Commons.
For further details, members of the ASU community who wish to attend the informational sessions can register online with their ASURITE ID.
The sessions will have students watch and analyze active shooter scenario videos and an instructor-led discussion about tactics to reinforce survival concepts.
Additional classes and personal safety tips from ASU Police can be found online.
While leading an active shooter training course on Wednesday, ASU Police Officer Earl Rosencrantz said there are other prevention and safety resources available to students beyond those immediately offered at the session.
"The safety escort service and the LiveSafe app, an app that can track your location until you get home safe, are also encouraged to be used," Rosencrantz said.
Head of crime prevention and ASU Police Officer Rebecca Garcia said the courses are meant to empower members of the community.
"When it all comes down to it, we've got to help each other out," Garcia said. "(The police) can't be everywhere."
She said the more information the community receives, the better.
"When people have options and knowledge, they're less likely to freeze," Garcia said. "With this information, they're going to get home at night."
Reach the reporter at Kimberly.Rapanut@asu or follow @kimrapanut on Twitter.
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