Active shooters, something we all hope we will never have to deal with, have been circulating in headlines for the last week after the Vegas attacks. On the night of October 1, Stephen Paddock fired bullets into a crowd in Las Vegas attending a concert at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. He killed 58 people and wounded 489. According to the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there have been 160 identified active shooter incidents between 2000-2013 in the US with 1,043 casualties. This breaks down to 11.4 incidents per year. And, 60% of these attacks ended before police were able to arrive on the scene. In the wake of all of the tragedy, it's important to take a moment to learn how to protect yourself and others if you were ever to be in this kind of situation.
When presented with an active shooter situation, you have three options: run, hide or fight. After reading this article, think about these for awhile. In any situation, you're going to have to stay calm and move quickly in order to save yourself and others you are with.
1. Run.
Running is the first option. If you are able to escape safely, do so. Move quickly and quietly to another location where you can call for help. Be sure to be safe and to remain hidden once you have escaped. The main thing to remember with this option is you need to know your exits in any building or room. Know where they go, know if there's a way to be intercepted as you escape. When you go somewhere new, just think in the back of your mind to remember all of the possible ways you could get out. Knowing your exits is important for any other hazard too, such as fires.
2. Hide.
If there isn't a safe way out of the room, building, or area that you are in, hide. Lock and barricade the door, hide in a closet with the door shut, turn off all of the lights and your phone's sound. Make sure you can not be seen or heard. You have to be silent and remain calm. Other hiding places could be under your desk or behind other large bulky items in your office, building, or area. The most important part of this is to be quiet and make it seem like nobody is there. If you're crying and shaking in the corner, you might be heard and found.
3. Fight.
Fight ties in with hide in a few ways. If you're hiding, you may want to provide yourself a way to be prepared to fight your way out if need be. Options can include chairs, staplers, scissors, really anything heavy or sharp that could be used to harm the gunman or knock the weapon out of his/her hands. If you have more than one person with you, coordinate with them on possible strategies. Maybe hide behind the door, and rush the shooter when they enter. Maybe charge at him/her in a group and try to knock the weapon out of their hand or jam it. In using this tactic, remember to stay silent, and stay hidden. Sneak attacks will be more successful than one where the gunman can see you coming. It's also important not to hesitate, this will only give the gunman more time to inflict harm on you and others.
Using these strategies can help you stay safe in an active shooter situation. It's important to know this and share it with family and friends. There is rarely any warning as to when these situations may arise, so being able to think as quickly as possible in active shooter situations is critical to your safety. Take a few moments after reading this to think about how you personally will respond to this kind of situation. Think about your daily routine and where your exits are in rooms and buildings. And, think about how you might give direction to others in the future if you are ever faced with this kind of situation. You first priority is you, you next priority is to help save the other people around you.
