Experiencing an active shooting event is a terrifying possibility, but being prepared can save your life.
Contrary to what you might think and what the media shows, most active shooter incidents are over in 10-15 minutes.
In fact, 60% are over before law enforcement arrives. That’s why knowing what to do in these critical moments is crucial. Active shooter response training can help you adapt to the emergency situation quickly.
While “Run, Hide, Fight” is a well-known active shooter training approach, you must consider it as the basic framework rather than a rigid sequence.
After all, running blindly can lead you right into danger if you don’t know the shooter’s location. Similarly, hiding under open spaces like desks and cubicles isn’t always the safest option. You need to be able to think quickly and adapt your response according to the situation.
You can learn all about how to respond to an active shooter in my recent podcast interview.
Let’s quickly go over some aspects of my active shooter response training that can help you to be prepared:
The Mindset of an Active Shooter
Understanding the potential motivations of an active shooter can help you assess the situation and react accordingly. While there’s no single profile, some common threads are:
- A history of perceived or actual trauma: Active shooters may have experienced significant emotional distress, including bullying, abuse, or mental health issues. Being dissatisfied at work and laid off from their job is one common trigger. Interestingly, in 22 out of 23 active shooting incidents in closed businesses the shooter was a current or former employee, and 4 incidents happened on the day that the employee was fired.
- A desire for revenge or notoriety: Some seek to lash out at perceived injustices or gain infamy through their actions.
- Social isolation and hopelessness: Feelings of isolation and despair can lead to a distorted sense of self and a desire to inflict harm.
It’s important to remember that these are just potential factors. Not all active shooters fit this mold, and predicting their behavior is difficult. However, being aware of these motivations can help you react more effectively in the moment.
Beyond “Run, Hide, Fight”: Adapting to Survive
First, you need to overcome your normalcy bias – the belief that something bad won’t happen because it hasn’t happened before. Develop situational awareness by being present in your surroundings.
Safety Response agencies offer various frameworks, such as “Lock Out, Get Out, Take Out”, and “Run, Hide, Fight”, to name a few. Any approach should be rooted in situational awareness, with the idea of taking the most appropriate action based on the circumstances.
- Lock Out: If you can safely secure a room and lock the shooter out, do so.
- Get Out: Escape is the priority if you can’t lock out the shooter.
- Take Out: Fighting back is an option – a personal decision if you’re mentally and physically prepared to take this step.
What Not to Do During an Incident
- Giving Up Power: Don’t surrender easily. You might have an opportunity to fight back.
- Begging for Life: This can embolden the shooter and further cement the idea that they have control over the situation.
- Doing Nothing: You must take action to protect yourself instead of not doing anything.
Remember, adaptability is key. Assess the situation, prioritize your safety, and take the most effective course of action available.
Equipping Yourself for the Unexpected: Active Shooter Response Training in Texas
If you want to take proactive steps to be prepared for an active shooting incident, consider taking our active shooter response training. We teach valuable skills to help you navigate this overwhelming and traumatic event.