Run. Hide. Fight.

FBI statistics:

61 Active Shooter Incidents in the U.S. in 2021,

103 killed, 140 wounded.

Are you prepared?

Picture this:

You're enjoying yourself at a nightclub, party, or maybe window shopping in a shopping mall. You’re stopped in your tracks by what sounds like gunshots coming from somewhere within the building. Do you drop, freeze, run for cover, or hide somewhere? What do you do?

You look around, a bit confused. Were they really gunshots or was it something else? You look around at what others are doing. Some people are just standing in place; some are going about their business, and others are moving away. Maybe, you should just hide somewhere.

This situation is terrifying and can happen anywhere, as evidenced by the mass shootings that occurred over Easter weekend, 2022. There were four significant mass shooting events —

1. A party in Pittsburgh, PA, with two teenagers shot dead and eight others injured;
2. A gathering in Portland, OR, leaving one person dead, and three minors injured;
3. A nightclub in Hampton County, SC, resulting in nine people shot and injured;
4. A shopping mall in Columbia, SC, where nine people were wounded.

All this mayhem from active shooters in just two days.

Knowing we live in this environment of danger, it would be wise to consider how you might respond to being caught in an active shooter situation. Think about it; would you know what to do?

Our federal government has created some resources for you to research. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) created a website for preparedness information, Ready.gov.

This website contains a wealth of information about emergency preparedness for surviving every type of emergency you can think of, including surviving an active shooter. FBI.gov has statistics and other useful information too. The problem is, these websites are massive.

Here's the scoop: The key skill to surviving an active shooter situation is to know your best three options:

1. Run
2. Hide
3. Fight

Knowing when and how to apply these three options can be challenging, particularly when under the stress of saving your own life. So, it is very important to practice and rehearse whenever possible.

Run.

Getting away from the active shooter situation and finding a safe place is the best thing you can do. However, there are some hard realities that you must face to help you make the decision to run. Is it safe to run? Where will you run to? Which path should you take? Are there multiple shooters lurking around?

The first step is to assume that all loud bangs or pops are likely gunshots and then move quickly out of the open. If you are in a shopping mall, for example, and hear gunshots, step aside to a doorway or behind a post and determine what is actually happening.

Let’s say you determine shots may have been fired. Let’s also say that you are on the ground-level of the mall. What are your options?

Consider ducking into the nearest store away from the noise, alerting whomever you encounter (but keep moving), to find the backdoor, and flee.

Getting away from the attacker is the top priority. Leave your belongings behind and get away. Call 911 when you are safe, and describe the attacker, location, and weapons, if you can.

Removing yourself from the scene, if possible, is the best outcome.

Practice exercise: When a mall or similar building make mental notes of where the streets and alleys are located in relation to the store fronts.  You don't want to duck into a store to find it has nor rear door.

But "Running" is not always possible. It may be best to hide until it’s safe to get away.

Hide.

If you cannot safely run away, hiding is the next best option. Look for a store, hallway, or office where you can barricade yourself behind a locked door or heavy object. Turn off the lights, close the blinds, and stay quiet. If you cannot find a room with a door, find a way to create a solid barrier between yourself and the threat. Get behind a post, around a corner, or behind a kiosk. Keep your cell phone on, but turn off the ringer.

Practice exercise: Make a point to be aware of safe places to hide. Where are the nooks and crannies of the location. Where can you duck and hide yourself, even as a temporary measure.

So, run away if it is safe, or hide until you can get clear. Neither of these options is guaranteed. What if you encounter the shooter?

Fight.

Now assume that you cannot run safely away and are hiding with a few other people in an office. The shooter is in the process of checking rooms and checking doors.

Fighting may be your only option. First, barricade the door if possible, and avoid being an easy target by spreading out. Do not huddle together. One huddled mass is an easy target. Spread out.

Grab any available objects to defend yourself. Use books, trophies, brooms, desk stuff (letter opener, screw driver, etc.), or even a chair. Should the shooter enter your room you have no choice but to attack and take the shooter down. You must attack him before he attacks you.

If you’re alone, attack his head, eyes, and neck with improvised weapons (sharp pencil, heavy object, your fingernails). If others are present, agree in advance that one will attack the weapon and the other attack his legs to take him down.

DO NOT pick up the gun! The police will assume that YOU are the shooter. Kick it away.

With all the force and fortitude that you can muster, attack the gun, knock him down, hurt him if necessary, and do everything within your deep down gut tells you to incapacitate him/her, knowing that otherwise, you may die.

We apologize if this article frightens you. This is hard stuff to think about, but it could save your life and/or the lives of others. I hope that now you can understand the need to discuss, practice and think through this subject with your coworkers, family, and friends; to prepare yourselves in the event of a similar situation.

Would you know what to do now?

In summary, surviving an active shooter situation requires preparation, practice, and repetition. Remember the three options:

1. Run
2. Hide
3. Fight

and be ready to apply them.