Surviving an Active Shooter Incident in the Intensive Care Unit

Staff members in the intensive care unit expect to deal with medical emergencies and are typically well-educated and trained to manage these. However, when faced with unusual threats such as an active shooter in the environment, they may be less well-prepared to take prompt and definitive actions. This brief article outlines the active shooter scenario and suggests strategies to ensure the safety of patients, staff members, and visitors who are in the unit. Hospital shootings are rarely anticipated on the basis of a known threat, and there is limited time to prepare for this terrorizing event. This article describes mass shooting scenarios in hospitals and offers some definitive ways to ensure survival of those involved.