School Critical Incident Planning: An Internet Resource Directory

School Safety Resources: Glossary

Active Shooter:
One or more subjects who participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating intent to continuously harm others. Their overriding goal appears to be that of mass murder, rather than other criminal conduct such as robbery or hostage taking.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED):
The proper design and effective use of the building environment, leading to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement of the quality of life.

Critical Incident:
For the purpose of this resource, a critical incident will be defined as "any intentional violent act or behavior that may constitute an immediate threat to the safety of the school community."

Interoperability:
The ability to share information (voice and data) in real time between various public safety personnel.

Rapid Deployment:
The swift and immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to ongoing life-threatening situations where delayed deployment could otherwise result in death or great bodily injury to innocent persons. Also known as quick action deployment (QUAD), immediate action or rapid response.

SARA Model:
A commonly used four-step problem-solving model involving scanning, analysis, response and assessment.

Site Survey:
A detailed inventory and evaluation of the characteristics of a location and its occupants that would be important to public safety personnel responding to an emergency, including, but not limited to, maps, floor plans, diagrams, photographs, personnel lists, student rosters, utility information and construction information.

Tactical Emergency Medicine:
Emergency medical care in close proximity to critical incidents where hazardous conditions may prohibit the availability of traditional emergency medical services.

Threat Assessment:
An evaluation of ways in which particular people and property may be harmed, the identification of those individuals and groups who may pose a threat, and the evaluation of the seriousness of such threats and the potential means.

Last updated: Aug. 21, 2009