Page 34 - College Planning & Management, June 2017

TRAINING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE
Does your options-based active shooter training approach meet standards of care? By Michael S. Dorn
While I have heard many horror stories of active shooter trainings gone awry, one call was particularly alarming. A former school employee called to seek assistance in locating an attorney to file a lawsuit against a popular options-based active shooter training program. He related that his arm had been crushed by a police officer who taught the program.
He told me that he still cannot use his arm after five surgical procedures, and that while his organization’s workers’ compensation program had covered his medical expenses, he is now permanently disabled.
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The caller told me that the training also involved the instruc- tor shooting participants with an Airsoft pistol that had been modified by a police department armorer to fire pellets at much higher velocity. He related that participants were not provided with any protective padding or even protective eye goggles. He further advised that three of the 22 participants in the class had been hospitalized due to injuries received during the training session.
People and organizations that provide or coordinate such reckless training approaches are subject to be named in a civil action they cannot win.
ERM Insurance Company has confirmed payment of more than $1,000,000 in medical bills for Iowa school employees who have been injured in the same training program during a 22-month time frame. They have also confirmed active litigation against Iowa po- lice officials due to these injuries.
As workers’ compensation claims, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations and litigation relating to active shooter training programs proceed around the country,
I anticipate that we will see a much clearer picture of what safety procedures courts will be looking for in these types of programs. For now, I thought it might be helpful to describe at least bare- minimum safety requirements to reduce the risk of injuries, death and successful litigation that may help meet the standard of care for options-based active shooter programs.
34 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JUNE 2017
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