Hostile Threat Response for Healthcare Workers:
Active Shooters and Bomb Threats

This course prepares healthcare workers and staff across all care settings to recognize, respond to, and recover from active shooter events, terrorism, and bomb threats. Learners will explore behavioral warning signs and early reporting pathways, apply the Run, Hide, Fight framework to real-world healthcare scenarios, and navigate the unique challenges of protecting patients and residents during a hostile event. The course covers correct procedures for responding to bomb threats by phone, in writing, and as a suspicious package, as well as recovery steps including incident reporting, after-action review, and psychological support resources available to staff. Interactive scenario-based practice and reflection activities help learners connect course content to their specific work environment before an emergency occurs.

Course Objectives
1. Recognize behavioral warning signs of a potential threat and describe the appropriate reporting pathway
2. Apply the Run, Hide, Fight framework to make response decisions in a healthcare setting
3. Describe special considerations for patient and resident safety during an active shooter event
4. Demonstrate the correct procedure for responding to a bomb threat by phone, in writing, and as a suspicious package
5. Identify the steps for safe recovery after a hostile event, including psychological support resources

This course provides training to help organizations comply with the following regulatory standards related to emergency preparedness and workplace safety in healthcare settings:

• 29 U.S.C. § 654(a) — OSH Act of 1970, General Duty Clause

• CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule — 42 C.F.R. Parts 403, 416, 418, 460, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 491, and 494 (State Operations Manual, Appendix Z)

Estimated Runtime: 20 minutes

Reviewed and approved by
Margherita Labson, RN, BSN, MSHSA

NOTE: This course is not a substitute for legal advice for any individual provider or situation. Always consult your company’s legal or compliance personnel with any questions or concerns related to this subject matter.