As active shootings and mass killings continue to increase, it is critical to understand the difference between law enforcement Notification Time and Response Time, and how we can decrease both in order to save the lives of our coworkers, peers, children, family members, and community.
So what’s the difference between notification time and response time, and what can YOU do to speed these up in an active shooter emergency?
Faster Notification Time + Reduced Response Time = Lives Saved
Notification time is made up of several factors: tactical time of 5–7 minutes, which is the time it takes a victim or witness to realize what is happening and call 911, plus the time it takes a 911 call to be processed and first responders dispatched – another 4–11 minutes. When you add these together, notification time can take 10 minutes or more. Most active shooters are finished killing in 5 minutes or less.
Response time is how long it takes for police officers and first responders to respond to the call and arrive at the scene after being notified. According to the FBI, the average response time has improved to around 3 minutes for active shooter emergencies, but when added to total notification time, it can be 10–20 minutes for help to arrive, depending on their location. Two-thirds of active shooter incidents are over by the time law enforcement arrives.
The FBI reports, “In 64 incidents where the duration of the [shooting] incident could be ascertained, 44 (69.0%) of 64 incidents ended in 5 minutes or less, with 23 ending in 2 minutes or less.”1
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agrees. “A targeted shooting incident typically evolves so rapidly that by the time emergency responders arrive, it is either too late or too dangerous to intervene. It is a painful, but nonetheless true fact, that once an attacker has entered a targeted school building [or business] with the intention of shooting someone, there is practically nothing, or very little, that can be done to avert the attack.”1
So, what can you do? Implement a system for faster notification, such as a Guard911 active shooter emergency alert app, also known as a mobile safety alert system app. It is the easiest and fastest way to reduce law enforcement notification and subsequent response times for When Seconds Save Lives®.
After the Sandy Hook school massacre, Steven Ausdemore2, defines in the article Eliminating the Lost Time Interval of Law Enforcement to Active Shooter Events in Schools, the in-between period from when a shooter begins an attack to when law enforcement arrives ‘the lost time interval.’ In this article, he shows a direct correlation between rapid response and the reduction of loss of life.
Active Shooter Alarm App with Hero911 Officer Network Speeds Up Notification & Response Times
Now that the FBI, Homeland Security, and countless private organizations and individuals have studied active-shooters and mass killings, the resounding conclusion is the same: the ONLY way to stop these killers and save innocent lives is to speed up law enforcement notification time. Dialing 911 does not accomplish this goal alone.
The good news is there is a one-of-a-kind solution that’s proven to reduce both notification and response times – a Guard911® active shooter mobile app, with the one and only Hero911® network of 68,000+ officers.
The Guard911®, SchoolGuard®, and CampusGuard911™ apps have an icon on the home screen that when touched, dial 911 AND simultaneously alert the nearest Hero911 officers.
Any officer with the federally approved Hero911 app who is in the vicinity of a Guard911 protected property is instantly notified and can usually arrive faster than those dispatched through 911. Guard911 apps are the ONLY active shooter mobile safety alert apps in the country with the Hero911 Network of thousands of local, state, and federal officers ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
Our law enforcement agencies have adopted somewhat of a universal active shooter response plan where they rush to the scene, search for the killer, and neutralize the threat. However, without Guard911, the issue still remains – how to expedite notification time so that our children and loved ones can be saved when the unthinkable happens again. And it will. – Ron Borsch, PACT Consultant Group
Is Your Business, Organization, or School Ready for an Active Shooter?
According to the FBI, in 2019, there were 28 active shooter incidents, 12 of which were mass killings with 247 overall casualties: 97 children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were killed and 150 were wounded. From 2000-2018, there were 277 active shooter incidents in which 282 shooters killed 884 innocent civilians and officers and wounded 1546. The youngest shooter was 12 years old.
Whether we like it or not, active shootings and mass killings are not going away. It is our responsibility to understand this viable threat and protect our loved ones in schools, daycares and preschools, workplaces, houses of worship, hospitals, public gathering places, and communities.
The best way to accomplish this is to have the capability to notify the police immediately, with the simple touch of a mobile phone screen. This is the best way to manage these situations and minimize the loss of life.
Is your business, organization, or school ready to reduce notification and response times in the event of an active shooter? Contact Guard911 today and let’s talk. Our helpful team is here to answer your questions and help you When Seconds Save Lives®.
Resources:
2.Eliminating the Lost Time Interval of Law Enforcement to Active Shooter Events in Schools
