Staying safe: Responding to an active shooting event

During an active shooter event, survival depends on taking immediate action, whether that is running, hiding or confronting the shooter. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Once again, tragedy has struck in the form of an active shooter situation. Following a mass shooting in Pittsburgh where 11 people were killed and seven were injured two weeks ago; 13 people were killed in a shooting yesterday at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California. These events bring the number of mass shootings for the year to 307. Several hundred patrons were in the bar for their “college country night,” so the fatality numbers could have been much higher.

Discussions about gun control aside, the question arises, “What can we do mentally or physically to survive these types of events?” Schools are already holding active shooter drills and increasing police presence on campuses. Businesses are implementing security protocols such as badging systems and passkey access; however, these steps will do little to protect employees or students if the threat comes from inside the building.