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Homeland Security, Health Agencies Pair For Active Shooter Training

Zach Bernard/WBOI News

Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security is working with several health providers in Northeast Indiana to develop effective active shooter training and strategies, and how to best present them to the public.

The active shooter training consisted of two segments: run, hide, fight and stop the bleed.

A representative from Indiana’s Homeland Security walked spectators through an active shooter event. He noted that looking for exits, effective hiding places and objects that may potentially counter a shooter are ways to be proactive should an event take place.

Officials from Lutheran Health Network were also on hand to instruct attendees on the proper ways to slow bleeding and apply a tourniquet.

While the training event has been planned for the last week, Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deb McMahan used Thursday’s shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis as an example of why this information is necessary to public health.

“I think everybody needs to be prepared, just like we’ve been using seatbelts, we call 9-11, we know CPR, we know all of these things,” McMahan said. “We need to be equipped for the 21st Century so we can respond effectively.”

The Allen County Health Department also recommends texting information to “9-11” in a situation where it’s unsafe to make a call. More of these training events are being planned in Allen County; the Poe Fire Station will hold a “stop the bleed” event on Sunday, July 15 at 3 pm. You can register here.

Zach joined 89.1 WBOI as a reporter and local host for All Things Considered, and hosted Morning Edition for the past few years. In 2022, he was promoted to Content Director.