What is an Active Shooter?
In an Active Shooter situation, an individual is using a weapon to harm or kill people in a public space. You need to know what to do if there is an Active Shooter near you. An Active Shooter is unpredictable and very dangerous. These situations are chaotic and scary. Things can quickly escalate to a deadly level. Below are 3 ways to survive an Active Shooter event.
- Get Out and Stay Out
Escape the area as quickly as possible when there is an Active Shooter, but do not put yourself in the path or sight of the individual. If you have bags and other belongings, leave them behind. Other people may not want to leave with you. Leave them behind as well. In an Active Shooter event, you must commit to your decisions and trust that you will survive. Once you have left the situation, do not go back inside to rescue others. Contact law enforcement and let trained professionals handle the situation.
- Hide Low and Stay Under Cover
Stay low and find a place to hide if escaping would put you in sight of the Active Shooter. Close the doors and blinds if you are in an office or school building. Get behind large objects to provide cover and protection. Lock any doors that the Active Shooter might use. Be quiet and do not do anything to provoke the Active Shooter. They are unpredictable and you should not try to negotiate with them. An Active Shooter is not using logic or reason.
- Take an Active Shooter Down with Supreme Aggression
Escaping or hiding may not be an option for you if there is an Active Shooter in a public space. You should only use aggression on the Active Shooter if you have no other choice for survival. When you do so, act with swift aggression. Harm the shooter as severely as you can and without any reservations. Throw or use any object you can find as an improvised weapon. If another person will help you, make a plan for how to take the Active Shooter down as quickly as possible and then commit to it.
Survive an Active Shooter Event
Busy public spaces and office buildings are targets for an Active Shooter who wants to harm as many people as possible in a short amount of time. Know exactly what you will do when you are in a potentially dangerous situation.
Category: Mental Preparedness
