McGill University in Montréal is using this video to train faculty, staff and students in the event that an active shooter should ever be on campus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSnNZttgjk0
The video is being used by several Canadian universities and has generated both praise and criticism from the community. Faculty have been asked to show the video in selected classes with warnings beforehand. Students are not required to watch.
In the past 30 years there have been shooting incidents at three Montreal post secondary schools resulting in 19 deaths and 31 injuries. The incidents occurred at Concordia University, Dawson College and Ecole Polytechnique/Université de Montréal. This is surprising because Montréal has an extremely low crime rate for a large city.
I am not sure if similar training/awareness programs exist at US universities.
name of video to google: Crisis on Campus: Shots fired
It was published in August 2013.
As I said on the earlier thread:
The best thing in any emergency situation is having thought (or better yet, practiced) ahead of time what to do/how to respond.
This is a scary topic, but giving students proven ideas/options should they ever find themselves in a similar situation could be the difference between life and death. Its unfortunate that such a topic needs to be considered, but I think they’ve done a good job given the seriousness of events across our country.
Good video. Canadian elementary and high schools have training drills for active shooters every year. Most Canadian university students will have already practiced these skills, except for the fighting.
My uncle attended the Université de Montréal in the 80’s when the Ecole massacre happened, and it really rocked the entire city/province. I’m not surprised that they are still reeling from it and determined to be prepared if it happens again (God forbid).
Really, these situations could happen to anyone, anywhere. It’s good to at least try to think about what kinds of actions you could take in advance of an actual situation.
My university does multiple training sessions a semester using the ALICE Training program and local law enforcement, and I know that organization works with various universities across the country to do the same.
I started this thread because I am not aware of any colleges in the Boston area that are using a video like this so widely promulgated to students. I have heard that first responders have done training exercises at certain campuses on weekends or break periods though.
It is a sad commentary on our times that such awareness is necessary. Fifty years ago we did the "duck and cover’ drills as if our wooden desks would save us from a nuclear attack!
I attended an active-shooter training at my workplace. It was somewhat helpful, at least as a reminder to be aware of one’s surroundings (e.g., where are the exits, which rooms have doors that lock (none!), which rooms have interior windows) and to always keep your eyes and ears open.