In all likelihood you will never be involved in an active shooting situation, but there is still a chance, so you should be prepared and know the best tactics to survive this deadly encounter.
The attack in San Bernardino was the 355th mass shooting this year in the United States. A mass shooting is defined as a single shooting, which kills or injures four or more people, including the assailant. So being involved in an active shooter situation is a real and serious threat that you should prepare for.
This “Surviving an Active Shooter Event” video created by the city of Houston from 2012 has gone viral in the past few days in the wake of Wednesday’s tragic mass shooting in San Bernardino, California where 14 people died and 17 were injured.
The video focuses in on an attack at a workplace by a gunman and how you should do one of three things – run, hide or fight. If the attacker is outside the building, lock all doors and barricade them if possible. Turn off all lights.
If the assailant enters the building your first option should be to run away from the shooter if possible. Identify your exits, assess the danger and evacuate as soon as possible. When it is not possible to escape, one should hide. Preferably you should conceal yourself behind large objects like furniture and remain silent.
If those first two options are not available, you will have to fight the armed assailant. This is your absolute last resort and you should explore the first two options extensively before you engaged the gunman. Improvise weapons like a shovel or a fire extinguisher, and attempt to disarm the attacker.
Never attempt to negotiate or plea with an active shooter. The mentality of a shooter is to kill and seriously injure as many people as possible, and he will most likely mercilessly shoot you without hesitation.
Over his illustrious 20-year career, retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson was a member of SEAL Team Three, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the elite SEAL Team Six. He gives you indispensable advice on how to survive an attack in a classroom.
Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also made a Hollywood-like video on surviving an active shooter earlier this year.
The more you know.