In response to a number of active shooting situations across the country, Orange County held a free seminar on active shooter awareness training.

Around 150 people attended the event co-hosted by the Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhas and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Special operations group from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office led the free active shooter response training for local businesses.

“It is an unfortunate fact that in this day and age we have to think about what to do in an active shooter situation,” Neuhaus said in a press release. “While we hope no one will ever need to utilize this training, as County officials we want to make sure you possess the knowledge and information to help you survive should you find yourself in an active shooter situation.”

The program trained attendees on how to recognize signs of potential workplace violence, how to respond to an active shooting or other violent situations, and helped created an emergency action plan.

“The group that attended served as a reflection of the entire community,” Orange County Chamber of Commerce president Lynn Cione said. “This is a difficult, but important topic to discuss.”

“We cannot be complacent and need to realize this type of unfortunate event can happen here,” said Orange County Sheriff Carl E. DuBois.

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