Only survival matters in an active shooter situation

Remember, only survival matters in an active shooter situation. Let’s hope that none of us ever find ourselves in this nightmare scenario. You might be at a mall, a concert or enjoying a day in the park. And all of a sudden, there are gunshots reverberating. “Running or hiding are by far the best options,” said Marksman’s Nest chief ranger Geoffrey Coetzee. “This is as important as the ‘stop, drop and roll’ instructions in the event of a fire.

Run

“In a situation where seconds matter, freezing is by far the worst thing you can do. Your first thought should be to find an exit strategy. Make use of any viable exit nearby – and pronto.” Geoffrey said that once again, this is where a firearm self-defence course is invaluable. “One of the prime things we teach our learners is situational awareness. So, if someone has this self-defence training, it’ll be ingrained in their mindset to always scout out their surroundings.” Whether you’re in a movie theatre, school building, park or mall, familiarise yourself with the surroundings. Look out for all the exits, including emergency exits. If you have a feeling that something is awry, trust your instincts. And if something or someone looks suspicious, report what you see and leave immediately. When trying to escape a mall for instance, don’t faff around trying to retain your shopping, Geoffrey advised. “Turf it. However, if you can, assist people who need help escaping to the nearest exit. But don’t move anyone who’s already wounded. Importantly, when running, keep your hands visible so that law enforcement officers don’t confuse you with an active shooter. Always follow direction from police.” “If the police aren’t already on the scene, call the nearest SAPS once you’re safe and out of harm’s way.” Hide If you can’t run, the next best option is hiding. Look out for safe spots that are out of view and provide protection from bullets. If you’re in an enclosed space, turn off the lights, close and lock the door, and block the door with heavy furniture. Because it’s a dead give-away, silence your phone and stay calm. Survive Only survival matters in an active shooter situation. For this reason, you simply can’t go wrong by signing up for self-defence training to learn the necessary skills.