Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events - All You Need To Know
Nowadays, people are getting much more aware of active shooter situations because of the rising incidents. The possibility that you'll be in one of such situations is very low but you must not leave a single chance to make sure that you'll be safe at that time.
The basic things that anyone can do would be staying alert to the surroundings and being well-informed. But, an active shooter situation is not that easy and it can create havoc in your mind due to which you won't be able to take even the slightest decisions.
An "active shooter" is a person or a group of people that are intended to kill people present at a location. It can be a school, office, church, mall, or any other public venue.
As these situations are dynamic in nature, people expect quick actions from law enforcement but things take time and they have to find out a way themselves.
There are various training centers that provide a specialized civilian response to active shooter training but some people aren't aware of them and some don't consider them. However, if you find yourself in an active shooter situation, these tips can help you.
If the active shooter is outside the building:
Reach to the area that can be locked or barricaded as quickly as possible
Lock all doors and windows
Turn off all of the lights to stay hidden properly
Call the emergency helpline and don't hang up if giving any relevant information is possible
Stay calm and let the officials take the action and wait for the "all clear" call from them
If the active shooter is inside the building:
If you're in a room, lock it and if possible, barricade the doors and windows even if they're properly locked.
If you're not in a room, find a place where you can stay hidden like behind a desk, beneath the table, and other safe areas.
If you're sure about the location of the shooter and he or she is far away, plan to exit the place but first run in the opposite direction from where the sound is coming from.
How to flee an active shooting situation?
Try not to panic and plan an escape route
As you decide to run and escape, don't worry about your items, just carry your phone with you
If the area is surrounded by the police, make sure your hands are visible because they'll detain you (because the shooter's description is not clear) as soon as they see you escaping the area.
"Defender School" is a training center that provides a civilian response to active shooter training at an affordable price. They will prepare you, your staff, and your family to deal with active shooter situations.
They've specialized programs for the house of worship, schools, and businesses to prepare the individuals via online courses or in-person training. To know more about their courses, you can visit their official website https://www.defenderschool.com.