Moving Safely in a Hostile Environment

During an active shooter situation or other hostile event, moving the wrong way can put you in greater danger. Security guards must know how to move carefully and strategically to protect themselves and others while avoiding detection.

Key Principles for Safe Movement

1. Move Only If Necessary

• Do not move unless you have a clear and safe destination (cover, exit, or hiding spot).
• If staying still is safer, stay low and silent instead of risking movement.

2. Stay Low and Use Cover

• Move in a crouched or low position to make yourself a smaller target.
• Always move from one cover to another—never run in the open unless absolutely necessary.
• Use solid barriers like concrete walls, thick furniture, or vehicles for protection.

3. Avoid Open Areas

• Do not run across wide hallways, parking lots, or open fields unless you have no other choice.
• If you must cross an open space, move quickly in a zig-zag pattern to make yourself harder to hit.

4. Use Shadows and Low-Light Areas

• If the area is dimly lit, stay in the shadows to avoid being seen.
• Avoid standing in doorways, windows, or other exposed areas where you are easily spotted.

5. Control Your Breathing and Noise

• Stay quiet—no unnecessary talking, heavy breathing, or noise.
• Turn off or silence phones, radios, and other devices before moving.
• Step carefully to avoid making sounds (no heavy footsteps, dragging feet, or bumping objects).

6. Move in Short, Quick Bursts

• Do not run continuously—move from one point of cover to another, then stop and scan.
• If you see a safer route, adjust your movement accordingly.

7. If Caught in Gunfire, Move Fast and Stay Low

• If gunfire starts, drop to the ground immediately and crawl toward cover.
• Do not freeze in place—a moving target is harder to hit than a standing one.
• If escape is the only option, run in a zig-zag pattern to make yourself harder to hit.

What NOT to Do

• Do not run blindly without knowing where you are going.
• Do not assume every object is cover—some things may not stop bullets.
• Do not expose yourself in open areas for long periods.
• Do not yell or make noise while moving—stay as silent as possible.

Moving safely in a hostile environment requires strategy and awareness. Stay low, move quickly, use cover, and remain silent. Every decision must be made with your safety and the safety of others in mind.