9. Staging

This video explains why integrated staging is critical in an active shooter or other rapidly evolving critical incident. The instructor shows how, after the first officers move directly to stop the threat, a unified staging area for law enforcement, fire, and EMS becomes the hub for everything else: forming contact teams and rescue task forces, coordinating deployments, and maintaining strict personnel accountability through a staging manager. It emphasizes that staging is not a rest area but a preparation and organization point, and that sending all follow‑on units to staging (instead of straight to the scene) keeps the operation coordinated, faster, and ultimately more effective at saving lives.