Active Shooter Situation
Posted by Christopher Wood on
This goes over what I think you should do if you find yourself in an active shooting event, how to recognize signs of potential violence around you, and what to expect after an active shooting takes place. Remember during an active shooting to RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.
Be Informed
Sign up for an active shooter training.(I recommend active shooter from Tactical Response )
If you see something, say something to an authority right away.
Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.
Make a plan with your family, and ensure everyone knows what they would do, if confronted with an active shooter.
Look for the two nearest exits anywhere you go, and have an escape path in mind & identify places you could hide.
During
RUN and escape, if possible.
Getting away from the shooter or shooters is the top priority.
Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
Call 911 when you are safe, and describe shooter, location, and weapons.
HIDE, if escape is not possible.
Get out of the shooter’s view and stay very quiet.Your hiding place should be out of the shooter's view and provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.
Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off lights.
Don’t hide in groups- spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the shooter.
Try to communicate with police silently. Use text message or social media to tag your location, or put a sign in a window.
Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
FIGHT as an absolute last resort.
Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible against the shooter.
Try to recruit others to ambush the shooter with weapons or makeshift weapons.
Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the shooter.
If you are not armed improvise weapons to distract and disarm the shooter.
After
Keep hands visible and empty.
Know that law enforcement’s first task is to end the incident.
Officers will shout commands and may push individuals to the ground for their safety.
Follow law enforcement instructions and evacuate in the direction they come from, unless otherwise instructed.
Take care of yourself first, and then you may be able to help the wounded before first responders arrive.
If the injured are in immediate danger, help get them to safety.
While you wait for first responders to arrive, provide first aid. Apply direct pressure to wounded areas and use tourniquets if you have been trained to do so.