What to Do in an Active Shooter Situation
Yesterday in New York, a man drove a pickup truck into a bike lane on the West Side , killing eight people, and then jumping out of his truck, brandishing a chipper and paint gun. Pedestrians, cyclists and passers-by, many of whom were children in Halloween costumes, turned and ran, shouting “gun, gunner” and “run away.” This happened a month after the Las Vegas country concert massacre, which killed 58 people and injured nearly 600. On October 17, a Maryland man shot five of his colleagues, killing three, and then went to Delaware to shoot. sixth person.
At this point, it seems likely that most Americans have, at least for a moment or two, thought about what they will do in the event of an “active shooter” situation.
And thinking that most of us would probably like them to be unnecessary, there are official instructions: The Department of Homeland Security has published The Active Shooter: How To React , for civilians. Their instructions follow the generally accepted run, hide, fight protocol for shooting situations, with some additional details:
Evacuate
As we know by now, most mass shootings end before law enforcement arrives, so civilians must be prepared to make decisions without any formal direction. The first thing you should do if you are at work, on public transport, or in a public place is to try to leave. I’ve started to notice emergency exits in pretty much every public place, and in the absence of actual mass shooting training I’m at least trying to imagine where I would run in case of an emergency. Official instructions: “If there is an accessible escape route, try to leave the premises. Necessarily:
- Keep in mind the route and escape plan
- Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow him
- Leave your things behind
- Help others escape if possible
- Prevent people from entering an area where an active shooter might be.
- Keep your hands in sight
- Follow the instructions of any police officers
- Do not try to move the injured.
- Call 911 when you’re safe. “
Hide
If you can’t run, hide. This means finding a place where the shooter cannot see you and where you have at least some protection, such as a locked and locked office door. Ideally, this hideout isn’t a dead end like a one-door classroom, but I suppose you only have so many options at this point. You should also turn off the phone ringer and remain silent.
To push back
If you cannot run and cannot hide, you can dial 911 (and if you cannot speak, at least the operator can listen to what is happening). As a last resort, you can take action: throw objects and improvise weapons. DHS does not discuss what to do if you yourself are armed, but people who were armed during the Las Vegas shooting commented that their own weapons were useless – not only could they not see where the shooter was, they feared that the police will arrive here. the scene would mistake them for an arrow.
For more information on what to expect from law enforcement after an active shooter situation, check out the full booklet. And mark the emergency exits closest to you.