The unique needs of those at your site must be considered. All response actions must take into account mental, physical, motor, developmental, and sensory factors. For instance:

• Young children or infants are easily upset and may be difficult to keep quiet.
• Young children also often “freeze” when they are frightened.
• Individuals with limited mobility such as those in wheelchairs or with other auxiliary aids may have difficulty getting to safe locations (e.g., using an evacuation route over a gravel surface) or assuming protective positions. Identify alternative routes or locations for those who may need them and be sure to share with the first responders.
• Individuals with hearing, visual, or cognitive impairments may require alternative methods of emergency notification or assistance in carrying out security measures.
• Some individuals with disabilities react very strongly to loud noises such as a fire alarm.
• Language barriers for non-native English speakers can create challenges.

Each site will have different characteristics that can impact the response, including how quickly responders get there and who responds. For example:

• It may take longer for first responders to arrive in rural locations.
• Small facilities are more easily and quickly explored by an intruder.
• If flight becomes a viable option, hazards in the surrounding area need to be considered, such as urban traffic, treacherous terrain, or water hazards.
• Internal aspects of the site also become a factor in relation to where within the facility the event is unfolding. For example, if there are multiple buildings, options for protecting people may vary depending on their proximity to the danger. The options in a building with multiple wings will be different from those in a compact building with one main corridor, or with a centralized open space such as in a place of worship.