How to Stay Safe During a Sniper or Shooting Event

Dramatic public shooting events, such as the massacre at Columbine High School, the attempted assassination of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords or the violence of a disgruntled employee, highlight the possibility that you can randomly find yourself in the middle of a deadly situation. Shooters generally do most of their damage before police arrive, so you can't rely on emergency responders to keep you safe from violence. The Department of Homeland Security issues guidelines for how to minimize the danger to yourself and others if you are involved in an "active shooter" event in a public building, a mall, a school, your workplace or any other venue.

Instructions

• 1

  Know the nearest exits, and get out at the first sign of a shooting event.

  Familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Make it a habit to know where the nearest exits are at all times and to learn the locations of potential secure hideouts, such as an office or classroom with a door that locks. Become familiar with how doors lock in your school or workplace.

• 2

  See to your own safety before calling 9-1-1 if you are in imminent danger or become aware that a shooting incident is under way.

• 3

  Evacuate as quickly as possible. If you can get out of a confined space, such as a school or office where someone is shooting, then do so. Encourage others to do the same, but don't wait around to persuade them if they don't want to leave. Abandon your belongings and save yourself.

• 4

  Know where to hide, where secondary exits are and how to lock or barricade doors in an emergency.

  Hide out if evacuation is not possible. Decide quickly on your best option. A hiding place should be out of view of the shooter and offer substantial protection with a door that locks. It would be best to have options for movement in the room, such as a window from which to escape or signal for help, or other exit doors. Lock the door, if possible, or barricade it with available furniture or other heavy objects. If you hide in a room that offers additional opportunities for concealment,such as behind a desk or in a closet, take advantage of these hiding places.

• 5

  Use your cell phone to contact 9-1-1, but don't let it ring and give away your position.

  Keep quiet. Turn off your cell phone or other possible sources of noise, such as a radio or television.

• 6

  Call 9-1-1 only after you have seen to your own safety in a shooting situation.

  Dial 9-1-1 when it is safe to do so or if evacuation or hiding are not options. Give the operator your location. Provide other details, if possible, including the number of shooters, description of the shooter, the type of weapon he is using and the number of victims. If you can't speak, leave the line open for the dispatcher to hear events as they unfold.

• 7

  Use rocks or other improvised weapons to fight an assailant.

  Take aggressive action. As a last resort, when there are no other safety options, attack the active shooter. Be as loud and aggressive as you can to help disorient the attacker. Throw things and use improvised weapons. Commit yourself fully to physical battle.

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