Imagine sitting at your desk on a Friday afternoon thinking about the weekend, and suddenly you hear gun shots and screaming. What is your first reaction? Or perhaps you’re in a crowded restaurant and someone brandishes a gun and starts firing at the crowd. Do you run? Do you hide? Do you fight back? What would your child do if faced with a school shooting? Have you talked to them?
These are scenarios that most people never think about, and fortunately most will never have to deal with in their lifetime. But as workplace violence and public shootings increase, everyone should take a moment to think about what would be their best option for survival if faced with this scenario.
As hard as it may be, parents need to have a talk with their children about what to do if there was ever a shooter at their school. Here are some simple safety tips you can modify according to your child’s age:
- First and foremost, stress that if they ever hear rumors that someone is threatening to do something bad, like shooting, they MUST tell an administrator, their parents, call in anonymously to a tip line, etc. The key is…If they know or hear something, say something. The life they save may well be their own.
- Next, they should understand that everyone is going to be scared, including their teacher. But they have to be quiet (no screaming), so they can hear instructions from their teacher or administrators. Parents should also inquire if the school practices lock-down procedures during the year.
- If they are older kids, tell them if they can safely leave the building, without being detected, they should always take that option. And please leave their valuables behind. No one’s life is worth a back pack, purse or cellphone. Run as fast and far as they can.
- If they are unable to flee, lock the classroom door and turn off the lights. If the door has a door butler (metal hinge at the top of the door), loop a belt around it and tighten. This will hinder a shooter from being able to open the door. Everyone inside the room should get as horizontal as possible, stay calm and hide.
- During the initial moments, someone should be designated to call 9-1-1. Most shootings continue for 5 minutes or more before someone calls the police. If you cannot reach a phone, see if anyone has a lighter that can be held under a sprinkler to activate the sprinkler system thus alerting the fire department.
- And I cannot stress how important it is for everyone to be quiet and stay as calm as possible. Crying, screams and the like will only draw the shooter’s attention towards them.
- Even if the shooting appears to have stopped, everyone should stay hidden until law enforcement comes in to escort them out.
The safety tips for parents faced with workplace or public setting violence is similar:
- Whenever you walk into a building or public venue, make a mental note of where the nearest exits are and any alternate exits.
- Once a shooting starts, the first option should always be to flee the area if possible. If you are unable to safely get out the danger zone, look for a good hiding place as low to the ground as possible. Women should take off high heel shoes or shoes that make noise. Leave all valuables behind. No purse, wallet or cellphone is worth dying for.
- As you are looking for a hiding place, keep your eyes open for any items that can possibly be used as weapons.
- Once concealed, turn the ringer off on your cell phone or any other electronics that may make noise and draw attention in your direction. Do not simply slide your ringer to vibrate because even that could give your location away. If you are able, send a text to the local police line or text a family member and ask them to call the police for you. You have to concentrate on staying as quiet as possible.
- If you are in a room with a door butler, secure it with a belt. Lock the door and turn off the lights in a confined room. If you can successfully barricade the door, without making too much noise, then use this option. Please understand you will also be blocking your potential escape route.
- Use a cigarette lighter or matches to set off the fire alarm. This will alert the fire department and also cause emergency personnel to be dispatched to your location.
- If you are trapped in an office, try to conceal yourself by hiding under your desk or behind a file cabinet. Be prepared with scissors, an ink pen or a sharp object to defend yourself if necessary. In this scenario, the best option would be to try and attack as a group to overpower the gunman. You are fighting for your life, so fight dirty. Aim for the gunman’s eyes, throat or any other vulnerable area you can reach to stop the attack. Remember, you are fighting to stay alive, so don’t worry about what damage you may cause your attacker. Strike hard, often and don’t let up!
- Playing dead or pleading with the gunman should be a last resort. In recent shootings, gunmen have shot “dead” bodies multiple times to insure no one is pretending to be dead. Also, trying to engage a gunman by pleading is usually unsuccessful because of their state of mind.
- Once the shooting has stopped, or if you get an opportunity to flee, leave the premises with your hands up in the air so the police can see that your hands are empty and do not mistake you for the gunman trying to flee the scene. Listen carefully to all of their instructions.
School, public and workplace violence is very scary. *Approximately one third of all mass shootings in the world have occurred in the U.S. Pretending it doesn’t exist or thinking it will never happen to you or your family is no longer an option. Your best chance of staying safe is to be alert to any potential dangers and be aware of escapes routes or hiding places when in public venues.
Remember, “If you fail to plan, Plan to fail!”
