Active threat — Lockdown
Lockdown dispatch for an active threat — secure-in-place instructions, mandatory acknowledgment, and "I'm safe" roll-call across every channel.
Trusted by frontline teams 15 years of frontline software
Overview
Active threat — Lockdown is a short emergency alert template for telling people to secure the building, shelter in place, and wait for further instructions. It is designed for situations where there is a confirmed or credible active threat in or near the building and immediate lockdown behavior is required.
Use this template when speed and clarity matter more than detail. The message should be direct enough for occupants, visitors, and staff to understand in seconds, even under stress. It works well as the core text for SMS, email, desktop notifications, paging, or mass notification systems. Because it is intentionally brief, it is also easy to adapt for schools, offices, healthcare sites, and multi-building campuses.
Do not use this template for routine security reminders, low-risk disturbances, or incidents where evacuation is the safer response. It is also not the right choice if you need a detailed incident update, a drill announcement, or a public-facing statement. The template is meant to trigger immediate protective action, not to explain the situation. If your organization has specific lockdown zones, all-clear language, or role-based instructions, add those in a controlled way without diluting the core directive.
Standards & compliance context
- Align the message with your organization’s emergency action plan and any local requirements for lockdown or shelter-in-place procedures.
- If used in a school, ensure the wording supports student safety protocols and does not conflict with district or campus emergency guidance.
- If used in a workplace or public facility, confirm that the alert supports occupational safety and emergency communication obligations.
- Avoid including unverified personal or incident details that could create privacy, security, or liability issues.
- Make sure the template is approved by the roles responsible for emergency communications before it is used in a real event.
General regulatory context for orientation only — verify current requirements with counsel or the relevant agency before relying on this template for compliance.
How to use this template
- 1. Confirm that your organization’s emergency plan calls for a lockdown response and that the alert is appropriate for the current threat.
- 2. Replace any placeholders with your site name, affected area, and approved sender details so recipients know the message is legitimate.
- 3. Send the alert through the channels your response plan requires, such as SMS, email, desktop pop-up, or overhead notification.
- 4. Keep the message short and direct, then follow up only with verified updates, zone-specific instructions, or the official all-clear.
- 5. After the incident or drill, review how quickly the alert was sent, whether recipients understood it, and what wording should be adjusted for future use.
Best practices
- Use plain, direct language that tells people exactly what to do: lock down, shelter in place, and wait for further notice.
- Keep the alert short enough to read in one glance, especially on mobile devices and desktop pop-ups.
- Match the wording to your emergency plan so the message does not conflict with classroom, office, or facility procedures.
- Include only verified details about affected areas, and avoid speculation about the threat or its source.
- Use the same template across approved channels so recipients receive a consistent instruction set.
- Prepare a separate all-clear template in advance so the lockdown can be lifted with equally clear language.
- Test the template during drills to confirm that it renders correctly in SMS, email, and notification systems.
What this template typically catches
Issues teams running this template most often surface in practice:
Common use cases
Related templates
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