Active Shooter Preparation
Tragedy after tragedy continues to unfold here in the U.S. Active shooters decided to infringe upon our unalienable rights to pursue Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness when they opened fire during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. Sometimes I feel like we’ve forgotten our humanity. Other times it feels like we are protecting the wrong industry (see the PLCCA wiki for more info). But I digress. This post is to share the Homeland Security Office’s recommendations for civilians during an active shooter situation.
Funny enough, most of these “good practices” are what my friends in the military have always done, even when active shooters were few and far between here at home.
Be aware of your environment
Mark the two nearest exits to you in any facility, event, etc. that you are in
If you happen to be in a room with a lock, stay there and secure the door (move furniture to block the door, etc.)
Don’t be in a hallway or out in the open - get to a room to secure the door
If you are in close range and cannot flee, attempt to take the active shooter down. Your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.
Since most of us have not served in the military, the idea of being involved in an active shooter drill is terrifying. But we can take back control by being prepared. As a kid it was bad enough to go through nuclear and tornado drills here in Texas. But now our children are adding active shooter drills to the list. The HSO’s brochure about active shooter’s goes on to outline the basics to staying alive in that situation:
Evacute
Hide
Take action against the active shooter, only as a last result
If you are forced to hide because an evacuation is not possible, be as quiet as possible and silence any kind of device (TV, radio, phone, watch, etc.). Remain hidden behind large pieces of furniture — keep your head down. And if you can, dial emergency services (911). If you can’t speak, leave the line open and let the dispatcher listen.
When law enforcement arrives, it will be important to control yourself. You’ll need to remain calm, follow their instructions without hesitation, drop anything in your hands and immediately demonstrate you are not a threat by raising your hands and spreading your fingers. The initial wave of law enforcement will not stop to help the injured; there will be emergency medical personnel that will attend to them. Remember, you will also need to stay until you are questioned by law enforcement for details about the attack, the shooter, etc.
I pray that I will personally never have to go through an active shooter event, but knowing what to do does help.
