More than 120-plus attendees turned out for this morning’s proactive presentation “Active Shooter Training: What to do in the Healthcare Workplace” at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.

Co-hosted by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) and Fisher Phillips, the event included Captain Dan Birbeck of the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department discussing the Avoid, Deny and Defend (ADD) method to assist employees escape potential workplace tragedy.

According to Captain Birbeck, the preferred option when dealing with an active shooter is situational awareness of one’s environment prior to the occurrence of a hostile act.

“Have a plan ahead of time regarding what you would do and know your escape routes,” he said. “If avoidance isn’t possible, find ways to prevent the attacker from having access to you by locking doors and barricading doorways. As a last resort, never forget that you have a right to defend yourself if your life is in danger.”

Additional presenters included Fisher Phillips lawyers Arthur Lambert and Amy Strauss discussing “Workplace Violence.”

According to their presentation, healthcare employees suffer 50 percent of all workplace assaults, with Lambert and Straus providing a list of common risk factors and best practices to decrease violence.

DFWHC President/CEO W. Stephen Love and Fisher Phillips Regional Managing Partner Mike Abcarian provided the event introductions.

For information on the presentations, please contact Jourdan Pruit at jpruit@dfwhc.org or 972-719-4900.

Captain Dan Birbeck

W. Stephen Love

Captain Dan Birbeck and W. Stephen Love