There were over 300 mass shootings in America last year. They occurred at workplaces, churches, movie theaters, and schools. Hundreds of people suffered injuries; many were killed.
We all think it could never happen to us.
But, ask any survivor of those 300 shootings and they’ll say differently. It can happen to anyone, anywhere. That’s why it is so important to know what to do.
Do you know how to survive an active shooter? Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself and save others.
1. Locate the Exits
The moment you realize you’re in an active shooter situation, locate your exits. What is the nearest escape?
Avoid elevators and use the stairs if you’re not on the ground floor. Elevators can get opened with the press of a button from the outside.
Be aware of your vulnerability as you run to an exit. If the shooter has already started shooting, you might not be able to run straight to the door. If you believe you can make it, stay crouched down and run in a zig-zag pattern.
Windows can also be an option for exiting. In the 2007 Sandy Hook shooting, some students survived by jumping out the windows. They survived the second-floor drop to the ground.
It’s important to stay calm and positive. Avoid freezing out of fear; if you have an option for escape, use it.
2. Use Strategic Hiding
It’s not always possible to run to an exit when there’s an active shooter. In this case, you need to choose a hiding place.
Look for tools for cover and concealment. Concealment keeps you out of the shooter’s eyesight. It could be behind a door, in a closet, or under a desk.
Then, find something to use for cover. These are things that add an extra barrier between you and a bullet. Anything from a door, bookshelf, or another type of barricade.
If you hide in a nearby room, close and lock the door. Push objects against the door to barricade it, like desks and chairs.
3. Protect Your Abdomen
When running for cover or leaving the scene with permission from the shooter, protect your abdomen. This is where your vital organs are.
If you’re walking past the shooter with your sides exposed, use your arms to cover them. If you’re front is exposed, cross your arms to cover your chest.
It’s better to take a bullet to the arms than to a vital organ.
If you’re walking a child out of a shooting situation, protect their body. Cover the shooter’s line of sight with your body. Try to always stay between the shooter and the child.
4. Look for Opportunities for Offense
In some situations, you may have the opportunity to take the shooter down. This can be a very tense and stressful situation. If possible, make a plan with a couple of other people.
Most people don’t have the communication skills to handle an active shooter. If they do talk to you, follow their instructions. Try to stay calm.
Inexperienced shooters won’t be as quick to reload their gun. It’s during this time that you can ambush them.
A few people should focus on tackling the shooter and holding them down. Another person should focus only on attaining the weapon and emptying its bullets.
You can also plan a distraction. Have someone throw an item to the side of the room and catch the shooter’s attention. In that crucial second of distraction, use your ambush plan.
5. Know Basic First Aid
If someone does get shot, knowing basic first aid skills can save their life. You can prepare for this awful, unlikely situation by learning first aid.
The basics include applying pressure to an open wound. If you don’t have a tourniquet, use an item of clothing or fabric. Keeping the person awake and calm is also important.
Sometimes people get shot and aren’t even aware it happened. The adrenaline takes over and they can’t feel the pain. If you see someone bleeding, and you feel safe enough, help them clot the bleeding.
6. Accommodate the Police
You can make it easier for the police to apprehend the shooter. Make it clear that you are not the shooter.
When you see a police officer, your gut reaction might be hysteria and to beg for help. Remember, the officer doesn’t know who the shooter is yet. It’s possible that the shooter would pretend to be a victim.
Before you say or do anything, lift your arms and spread your fingers. Show the officers that you aren’t armed or dangerous. Then, tell them where the shooter is or was last seen.
If you escape a hostage situation with an active shooter, follow this tip. Exit the building with your arms up and hands spread so the police can see you aren’t dangerous. Let them approach you or instruct you on where to go.
7. Be Prepared
Your workplace or school should have a plan of action for this situation. It’s become policy for schools to practice active shooter drills so all students know what to do. Teachers must take the lead and understand the plan in detail.
If your workplace doesn’t have a plan, pressure management to create one. No work setting is off limits to a shooter. Every person in your company should know how to stay safe.
Suggest your boss have an active shooter training instructor come in. They can teach a workshop on how to survive this situation. Learn more about the active shooter and terrorist response training courses.
When you’re out and about, have a personal plan of action. Whether you’re at the mall, the dentist, or a friend’s house, notice the exits. Take a moment to take in the layout of where you are.
It may sound overboard to do this everywhere you go. But, one minute of planning could save your life.
Want to Learn More About How to Survive an Active Shooter?
No one thinks they could end up in a scary situation like this. But, with more mass shootings occurring each year, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Follow the steps above on how to survive an active shooter.
If planning for worst-case-scenarios stresses you out, you’re not alone. Sometimes, the most important things can cause the most stress. To reduce your stress levels, check out these helpful articles.