In recent years, active shooter episodes have increased in frequency and unpredictability. Any busy area, including markets, malls, offices, schools, or universities, can experience them. For instance, on May 24, 2022, the bloodiest school shooting in Texas history occurred at an elementary school. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared for active shooter situations and be familiar with how to handle them. With the right training, you can protect others and yourself in a crisis and improve your chances of surviving.
The main ideas are summarised as follows:
Be Aware of Your Environment: Being aware and familiar with the layout of the areas you frequent will help you react swiftly in the event of an active shooter situation.
Take the "Run, Hide, or Fight" Approach: This tactic offers a methodical way to react to the predicament: try to flee, seek cover, and, as a final resort, engage in combat. Running and hiding are typically safer options, but in some circumstances, knowing how to fight and feeling confident enough to do so might be vital.
Act Wisely and Remain Calm: Panic can prevent you from making sane choices. For the best chance of surviving, it's critical to remain calm and think rationally.
Try to come up with a plan: If you find yourself in a situation where you can't escape or hide from a shooting, you might need to fight back. Do not rush this process. Try to adhere to the emergency procedures in place at work or school. Try to take advantage of numbers if you are in a crowded area. Be a good communicator with your workplace or classmates. Make an effort to use nearby things as weapons. Use your collective might to surprise the shooter, bring him to the ground, and then disarm him.
Carry a bleeding control kit: Accessing a bleeding control kit might be essential for treating injuries since first responders may be more concerned with neutralising the threat than they are with treating the patient. It may save lives to have this extra preparation.
It's also important to note that while individual readiness is important, organisations and institutions should also have active shooter response plans in place and hold drills to make sure that everyone is aware of what to do in such an emergency. The level of overall safety can be significantly increased by cooperation between individuals and institutions.
Although it is sad when active shooter attacks occur, it is crucial to be prepared because of the rise in their frequency. Mock active shooter scenarios are used in active shooter training programmes to give participants practical training in dealing with such circumstances. It's critical to remain vigilant and ready for both self-defense and, if necessary, aiding in an escape. It's critical to shift attitudes from those of passive victims to those of active survivors.
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