Downstate Designated as AVIRT Training Center

By Office of the President | Feb 17, 2026

University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) has been designated an Active Violence Immediate Response Training (AVIRT) center, positioning the institution as a model for comprehensive hospital safety training that goes beyond traditional active shooter preparedness.

AVIRT focuses on the realities of violence in healthcare settings and equips staff with practical, immediately actionable skills. In addition to strategies for escape, evasion, and last-resort defense during the critical seconds of a violent event, the training emphasizes early warning signs of potential aggression, rapid decision-making under stress, and emergency bleeding control techniques that can save lives before first responders arrive. The goal is readiness and building staff confidence to act decisively when it matters most.

As an AVIRT training center, UHD hosts certified instructors drawn from across the institution, including Emergency Management, University Police, the HAZMAT team, and the Emergency Department. This interdisciplinary approach reflects Downstate’s understanding that hospital safety is a shared responsibility that requires coordination among clinical, security, and operational teams.

The designation reinforces Downstate’s role as a leader in safety preparedness within academic medical centers and urban hospitals. By making this training standard practice, Downstate strengthens protections for patients, staff, and visitors. It advances a practical approach to violence prevention and response that other hospitals can adopt.

As healthcare workers face rising risks, AVIRT supports Downstate’s commitment to preparedness and safety. It ensures that those who care for the community have the skills and training to respond in challenging situations.

We encourage you to register for an upcoming UHD AVIRT training session by registering here. Location details will be sent after registration. For more information, contact Jennifer Guzman at Jennifer.Guzman@downstate.edu.

Tags: University Police