Response, Safety & Preparedness Definitions

The FBI uses active shooter for one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. An active-shooter plan should be integrated with emergency communication, evacuation, law-enforcement response, and medical preparedness.

Active violence is an ongoing or imminent violent attack that may involve a firearm, edged weapon, vehicle, or another method. The broader term recognizes that serious attacks are not limited to shootings.

Active Violence Immediate Response Training, or AVIRT, is scenario-based training that combines active-violence response concepts with emergency bleeding-control skills. Arrow offers AVIRT training for organizations and groups.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and can deliver a shock when appropriate. Voice or visual prompts guide trained or willing responders through its use.

Bleeding control is emergency care intended to slow or stop life-threatening blood loss until professional medical help arrives. Depending on the injury and the responder’s training, techniques may include direct pressure, wound packing, or a tourniquet.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency technique used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Training typically covers chest compressions, rescue-breathing options, emergency activation, and use of an AED.

De-escalation uses communication, distance, time, calm behavior, active listening, and other appropriate tactics to reduce tension and lower the likelihood that a situation becomes violent. It is a core professional skill, not a guarantee that every person or incident can be calmed.

An emergency action plan, or EAP, is a written workplace document that organizes how employees will respond to foreseeable emergencies. OSHA identifies elements such as reporting procedures, evacuation routes, accountability after evacuation, rescue or medical duties, and designated contacts.

Emergency response is the immediate action taken after a serious incident is recognized. It may include calling 911, communicating an alert, helping direct people to safety, providing trained first aid, protecting a scene, and following the site’s emergency plan.

Evacuation is the organized movement of people away from a dangerous area to a safer location. A plan should identify routes, assembly areas, assistance needs, accountability, and who has authority to direct the action.

First aid is immediate, temporary care provided for an illness or injury until professional medical treatment is available or no longer needed. The responder should act within current training and workplace procedures.

Shelter-in-place means remaining inside and moving to a safer interior location when leaving the building may create greater danger. The correct action depends on the threat, building, official instructions, and emergency plan.

Threat management is a coordinated process for receiving, assessing, monitoring, and responding to concerning behavior or threats. It should involve qualified decision-makers and should not be reduced to a guard making an unsupported prediction.

A tourniquet is a device placed around an injured arm or leg to control life-threatening bleeding when appropriate. It should be applied according to recognized training and emergency-medical guidance.

Use of force means physical action used to control or protect against a threat. For private security, any force must be legally justified, reasonable under the circumstances, consistent with training and employer policy, and limited by the guard’s authority as a private citizen.

Workplace violence includes threats, intimidation, harassment, physical aggression, or other violent conduct connected to a workplace. Prevention and response can involve reporting channels, management procedures, environmental controls, training, security, and law enforcement.