Who should I contact in the event of an emergency?
If you are in an emergency, call 911 (in Connecticut you can also text 911). You can also call the Yale Police at 203-432-4400 or text us through the LiveSafe app.
Why does Yale have an active assailant video? Was there a specific incident that has led to this need?
The safety and well-being of our campus community is our highest priority. We are sharing a new training video with the latest best practices to help prepare you in case of the extremely rare event of an active assailant situation on campus. Unfortunately, the reality of the world we live in today requires that we prepare for these types of rare but possible situations.
How should I respond if I am ever confronted with an active assailant situation?
The video provides a framework (Run, Hide, Fight) for the actions you should take in the event of an active assailant situation.
- RUN: Run first if you can. Getting away is always the best and safest option.
- HIDE: If you can’t run, hide in a secure room behind a locked or barricaded door.
- FIGHT: If you can’t hide, fight. Team up with others to neutralize the assailant.
What else can I do to be prepared in the event of an active assailant? Does Yale offer any additional resources?
After watching the video, we recommend discussing it with a peer, colleague, administrator, or dean. You should also download the LiveSafe app and confirm that your cell phone number and emergency contact information are updated in the Yale system: students, faculty/staff, extended Yale community members. Visit our Emergency Management website for how to be prepared in any kind of emergency.
What safety steps is Yale taking in the event of an active assailant?
The Yale Police Department (YPD) is responsible for safety on campus and will respond quickly to any campus emergency including an active assailant. In order to respond quickly, YPD has uniformed officers who protect and serve the campus 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Yale’s police officers patrol the campus in SUVs, on motorcycles, bikes, and on walking patrols. Additionally, Yale Security patrols buildings and parking facilities. Yale Security also manages the university’s security systems (cameras, ID card readers, intercoms, and alarm systems). Security systems are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by highly trained professionals in the Yale University Security Central Alarm Station. Visit our Public Safety website for more information on campus safety.
What is the role of the Emergency Management team—how do they respond, and how quickly do they take action?
Public Safety’s Emergency Management team facilitates emergency preparedness and response at Yale. This includes the development, training, and exercising of Yale’s Emergency Operations Plan as well as the Yale Alert system. The team responds by coordinating the Emergency Operations Team, which includes more than 60 Yale administrators. The team meets monthly to participate and practice drills and tabletop exercises. Officials from the City of New Haven, Yale New Haven Hospital, and West Haven also participate in these meetings and exercises. The Emergency Operations Team has drilled on all types of emergencies, including an active assailant situation.
Who should I listen to or follow directions from during an active assailant situation?
In the event of an active assailant incident, Yale Public Safety will keep the campus community informed through the Yale Alert system. The Yale Police will also provide real-time, on-the-ground guidance specific to that situation.
How does Yale’s campus alert system work? How do I receive information during or immediately following an active assailant event?
Yale Alert can reach students, faculty, staff, and members of the New Haven community with time-sensitive information during unforeseen events or emergencies using voice, email, and/or text messaging through the number 203-432-5830. The university uses emergency contact numbers that have been registered with Yale to distribute these alerts. You should download the LiveSafe app and confirm that your cell phone number and emergency contact information are updated in the Yale system: students, faculty/staff, extended Yale community members.
This video is triggering for me to watch—how should I engage with the content?
The video contains fictional content for training purposes. We have also provided a transcript for those who choose not to watch the video. If you are unable to engage with the content directly, it is most important to keep in mind the video’s framework for the decisive action you will need to take in the event of an active assailant—run, hide, or fight. You should also download the LiveSafe app and confirm that your cell phone number and emergency contact information are updated in the Yale system: students, faculty/staff, extended Yale community members. Visit our Public Safety website for more information on campus safety.
What broader safety resources are available?
Visit our Public Safety website for more information on campus safety.
What mental health resources are available?
University resources are available to those needing support. These include:
The content of this video includes a fictional scenario involving suggested violence which for some may be personally disturbing or alarming.