Watching the news, you see all the time that people are losing their lives in public venues from gunmen who decided to take their personal or mental problems out on innocent by-standers. There are steps that we can take before we react when put in a situation like this.
1
Stay alert, even before the first shot is fired. If you hear rumors that anyone brought a gun to school, report it immediately to an authority figure. Ideally a shooter will be stopped before anyone has to get hurt.
Get out of the building, if possible. John Nicoletti, a security consultant interviewed by ABC News, reports that those who discreetly get away from the situation when possible have the highest rates of survival. Evaluate the situation and decide whether slipping out a door or window could be accomplished without attracting the shooter’s attention.
3
Run in zig-zags if the shooter spots you. He might try to shoot at you, but you won’t be an easy target.
4
Hide in a room if no escape plan is reasonable. The ideal room will have a door that opens inwards; you can lock it and push heavy furniture in front of it.
5
Cover or block any windows in the room. The less the shooter knows about your whereabouts and situation, the safer you will be.
6
Keep yourself far away from the door. The Virginia Tech shooter chose to shoot through locked doors rather than break in. Gunmen might also try this with windows. Choose your spot carefully.
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