First responders participate in active shooter training on WKU campus

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Local first responders trained on Western Kentucky University’s campus Wednesday morning in preparation for an active shooter in the event that they may need to respond to a scene like that.

The Bowling Green Police, WKU police, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Bowling Green Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services and more participated in the training.

In the training, there was one person inside of Hugh Poland Residence Hall deemed the shooter who fired several blanks from inside of the building.

Law enforcement personnel then responded and engaged the shooter.

After the threat was eliminated, fire and EMS were called into the building by officers to get the people acting as victims triaged and out of the building.

WKU Police Chief Mitch Walker says a collaborative training like this one is really beneficial for each individual cog on the first responder wheel, making the whole team work together more smoothly and efficiently.

“A lot of times we respond to calls and agencies are trained differently, and so what this training does is it allows us to train together. No matter what shift or what officers are showing up to the call, we all are doing the same thing and we know what to expect from one another so that’s why it’s important that we train together,” said Walker.

When it comes to active shooters, there is plenty of advice out there on how to best handle the situation as a civilian as well.

According to Jim Williams with Medical Center Emergency Medical Services, you never know when you may need to help someone in a medical emergency or injury.

He says taking a “Stop the Bleed” class as well as a “First Aid” class could save a life.

“In the situation like this most of what we’re going to see is trauma so that’ll make you better prepared also teach you some ways to maybe use articles in the environment to help provide first aid if you don’t have a first aid kit handy and that’s another point is to make sure that you have adequate first aid supplies accessible,” said Williams.

The training will continue over the next two days to ensure all shifts get a chance to train.