Avoiding All Too Common Workplace Violence

Help Protect Yourself and Your Team with AVERT Training Offered by AAGLA

It’s an unfortunate fact these days.  Gun violence continues to climb in the major metropolitan areas of the U.S., and apartment or leased buildings have been the scene for many of violent occurrences.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, in 2021 the U.S. had 693 incidents of mass shootings. The incidence of workplace violence increased over 66% from pre-pandemic levels when 417 mass shootings happened in 2019.

In 2022, we have seen an enormous increase and are on track for yet another year of record-high incidents of gun violence on a mass level.  In addition to mass shootings, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that more than 2 million people are affected by workplace violence each year.  As a rental housing providers and business owners working with the public, it’s important for you to consider the safety of your residents and employees as well as your own family members.

The Apartment Association Now Offers Members a Solution

What can you do to protect yourself and your employees against potential violence?  The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles has begun offering a new membership benefit that is now available to you.  As a member, you’ll get a discount on Active Violence Emergency Response Training (AVERT), an important training program that gives you and your team the confidence and preparation on how to react if you find yourself in an active violence situation.

Loss of blood is one of the leading causes of preventable fatalities in active violence settings. By taking the AVERT program, you’ll get training in both active shooter response, plus emergency bleeding control techniques.  AVERT teaches participants situational awareness, what steps to take if active violence occurs, and how to control life-threatening bleeding on yourself and others as you wait for help to arrive.  AVERT is training you’ll be thankful to have if an unthinkable situation occurs.

What is the AVERT Program?

AVERT stands for Active Violence Emergency Response Training. The AVERT training program goes beyond the programs you’ll find anywhere else. You’ll learn not only how to protect yourself, but how to help save those around you during a violent confrontation. You’ll experience realistic training situations that teach quick decision-making methods and how to escape, evade, or attack.

The training was developed by professionals with expertise in law enforcement, private security, and the medical field, who saw the need for both active shooter training and stop the bleed training. Historically, training in these topics has been separate. AVERT brings both trainings together in one dynamic, hands-on class that ensures anyone who takes the training can practice and remember the skills they learned.

What Will I Learn?

The content in AVERT was specifically adapted for the general public by medical and law enforcement experts. AVERT uses a dynamic method to teach:

• Proactive awareness skills
• How to react and protect yourself and others in a violent situation
• How to respond to severe bleeding injuries that are often a result of violent occurrences 

With AVERT training, you’ll become an immediate responder with the potential to help save your life as well as others as you wait for emergency responders to arrive on the scene.  Both individuals and groups can sign up for AVERT training but, sign up soon because class space is limited.

What to Expect During an AVERT Class?

AVERT empowers participants with knowledge that could save their life or the lives of those around them. Before you attend class, you’ll first receive online training introducing you to the subject and preparing you for the in-person, instructor-led class.  The in-person portion lasts approximately three hours and is taught by expert authorized AVERT instructors, who will provide you with a dynamic session that includes hands-on training, realistic drills, and encouraging tips and feedback.

According to Apartment Association Executive Director, Daniel Yukelson: “AVERT is a unique program in how it teaches people to react quickly in any life-threatening situation. The skills our team learned can be applied to many situations both in and outside of the workplace, and not only violent or gun related, but also accidents that result in severe bleeding. It’s truly a ‘must take’ course in today’s environment to avoid potentially violent situations, react quickly when they occur, and provide aid while waiting for the emergency responders to arrive.  I have made AVERT required training for each of our employees once per year.”

Members of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles receive an exclusive discount on the AVERT program.  The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles has scheduled two AVERT training sessions and also two CPR training sessions during the month of August as follows:

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, be sure to look the next AVERT training course or CPR training class offered through the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles by checking out the online calendar (www.AAGLA.org) or simply contact Diana Alcaraz at Diana@aagla.org for more information.  We hope to see you at one of these important training sessions – attending could save your life or the life of someone you know.