Lesson 1: What an active threat is
An active threat is a person who is actively trying to kill or seriously hurt people, usually in a crowded or confined place. It is often, but not always, someone with a firearm. These events happen fast and can change in seconds.
Your role as a guard
Security guards are not police. You are not expected to find or stop the attacker. Your job is to:
- Raise the alarm using your site's method, such as a public address announcement or code.
- Help people escape or get into safe rooms.
- Call 911 and keep police updated.
- Keep people from entering the danger area.
- Give police keys, floor plans and information when they arrive.
Early warning signs
You may hear bangs that sound like gunshots, see people running or hiding, or hear screaming. Do not go toward the sound to check it out. Treat it as real, warn people near you and start the escape or hide decision right away. Seconds matter, and a false alarm is far better than a late one.
You can only help others if you stay alive. Never put yourself in a position where you are the next target.
Lesson 2: Escape, hide, defend
Police in Canada teach three options. Different services use slightly different words, such as "run, hide, defend" or "escape, hide, fight". The order is what matters.
| Option | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Escape (run) | There is a safe way out | Leave right away. Leave your belongings. Help others come, but do not wait for people who will not move. Call 911 once you are safe and keep others from going in. |
| Hide | You cannot get out safely | Get out of sight and stay quiet. Lock or barricade the door. Turn off lights, silence your phone and stay away from doors and windows. Hide behind something solid. |
| Defend | Only as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger | Canadian law allows reasonable force to protect yourself or others. This is the very last option, not a plan. |
Under section 34 of the Criminal Code, an act of self-defence must be done to protect yourself or another person, based on a reasonable belief that force is being used against you, and it must be reasonable in the circumstances.
Lesson 3: Lockdown, hold and secure, shelter in place
Many sites use three different "stay put" responses. Mixing them up can put people in danger, so learn the terms your site uses.
| Response | When it is used | Main actions |
|---|---|---|
| Hold and secure | A serious crime is happening nearby, but not on or right next to your property | Bring people inside, lock outside doors, stay away from windows. Normal activity can usually continue inside. |
| Lockdown | A threat is in or near the building | Move to a safe room, lock or barricade doors, lights off, stay silent and out of sight, stay until police or security say it is over. |
| Shelter in place | An outside hazard such as an airborne chemical or extreme weather | Stay inside, close windows and doors, shut off fans and air systems, move to an inside room. |
During a lockdown
- Do not open the door for anyone unless you have a plan for it. Police or security will announce themselves.
- Lie on the floor if you hear gunshots.
- Call 911 only if it is safe and you have useful information, such as where the attacker is.
- Stay in lockdown until police or security tell you it is over.
Lesson 4: Calling 911 and meeting police
What 911 needs
- Your exact location, including the address, building and floor.
- How many attackers there are and what they look like.
- Any weapons you saw or heard.
- Any injuries you know about.
Stay on the line if you can do so safely. If you are hiding and cannot talk, leave the line open so the call-taker can hear.
When police arrive
- Stay calm and do exactly what officers say.
- Drop anything in your hands, including phones and bags.
- Raise your hands slowly and keep them visible, fingers spread.
- Do not yell, run toward officers, grab them or point.
- Answer questions briefly.
The first officers will go straight to the threat. They may walk past injured people. This is normal: stopping the threat saves the most lives. Medical help follows as soon as it is safe.
Lesson 5: Getting ready before it happens
Good preparation turns panic into action.
- Learn every exit and stairwell on your site.
- Know how to lock offices, meeting rooms and floors, and which rooms can be locked from inside.
- Know how to make the alert on your site, such as the public address code.
- Keep a crisis package ready for police: building maps, keys or access cards, staff lists and key phone numbers.
- Take part in drills and review the plan with your supervisor.
Helping people with different needs
Think ahead about people who may need help to escape or hide, such as people who use wheelchairs, older adults, children or people who do not hear alarms. Know the plan for them, such as areas of refuge or a buddy, and include them in drills.
After an incident
Police will want statements from witnesses, including you. Write your notes as soon as you are allowed, and do not talk to the media unless your employer asks you to. Events like this can affect anyone. Reach out to your supervisor or an employee assistance program if you need support.