Page 67 - Security Today, January/February 2022

tice to script the messages. You want to gain the attention of the pop- ulation but not cause additional panic.
Put the plan into practice
Once you have oriented your people to emergency plans and you have established communications, it is time to practice, drill or exer- cise the plans. Do not run an evacuation exercise before your people have been trained.
Fire evacuation drills are the most common exercise. These should be practiced regularly to the point where your people can participate in a routine manner, without panic. If a real incident were to happen, there will be fear naturally, but the routine will help them evacuate safely. Most local authorities will determine the frequency of the drills. Ensure there is adequate and appropriate signage along the route.
Unfortunately, we now live in an environment where a fire is not the only emergency hazard. Active shooter scenarios and threats by people are far too common. The two main active threat response pro- tocols are the “Run, Hide, Fight” plan and the ALICE (Alert, Lock- down, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) plan. Regardless of which plan
you subscribe to, ensure that your people have been trained and then exercise the plan. Again, this training should be accomplished before an incident. Train your people to be aware of their surroundings. How do they get to the nearest evacuation route? When is it best to hide, and when should they evacuate/run?
I would recommend that the active threat exercise be conducted at least once per year. There may be local compliance requirements, but another motto I use to handle an emergency is, “We want to be more than compliant; we want to be ready.” Saving lives is more than worth the time invested.
As Senior Project Manager for Telgian Engineering & Consulting and a nationally recognized security expert, Lauris Freidenfelds focuses on safety, security and emergency management for a variety of clients. His 40+ years of experience include operational security, technology and emergency management programs. His extensive knowledge of emergen- cy management personnel and operations encompasses planning, orga- nizing, and directing security programs and activities, as well as develop- ment and coordination of disaster preparedness plans, the mitigation of, preparation for, and recovery from hazards and disasters. Reach Lauris at lfreidenfelds@telgian.com.
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