ABUSE Magazine
...If you hear gunshots and are in a bathroom,
your best bet is to remain in the bathroom...
expensive but cost does not matter when
someone is coming after you with a gun.
Don’t take personal belongings or put yourself at risk to collect these items. Personal
property can be replaced—your life can’t.
Photo Source: fox44.com
Stay quiet whether trying to hide or take
out the threat Warnings Don’t let the fear
of a shooting change your life. It is out of
your control. Just live life to its fullest
knowing what to do if a shooting ever did
happen. If you have a gun, do not try to
act like a hero unless the attacker is in full
sight and there are no obstacles nearby.
stationary target. Spreading out and getting
down low makes everyone a more difficult
target.
If you hear gunshots and are in a bathroom, your best bet is to remain in the
bathroom. Lock the bathroom door if you
are able to. Another thing you can do is go
into a stall, lock it, and crouch on the toilet
seat to hide. Call the emergency services
(911/999/112) if you have a cell phone on
you, but stay as quiet as possible. Call the
emergency services as soon as it is safe to
do so. If you hear gunshots and are outside,
go in the opposite direction from where you
heard the gunshots. Call the emergency
services (911/999/112) as soon as you are
far enough away.
Assist other people that are fleeing the
building after you call. Wait for help to
arrive. Before you open the door to someone
that says “police” or “paramedics” be
aware that it could be the shooter trying
to get you to open the door. Ask them questions and make sure that they are actually
police or someone trying to help you.
When the police arrive, they will treat
everyone as a potential assailant. Do not
run to them or request help, as this may
cause them to think you are a threat.
Instead, quickly go face down on the ground
with your arms spread away from your
body, palms towards the police, and fingers
spread apart. Be quiet and listen for orders.
Do exactly what the officers tell you to do,
do it quickly, and do it without argument or
protest. Expect the police to treat you as
though you might be the armed criminal,
and even to handcuff you and everyone else
in the room. They are not being mean; they
are getting the situation under control the
only way possible.
Remind yourself that they are doing what
they are doing in order to neutralize every
possible threat, and save your life. Be as
helpful as possible to the authorities. Tell
them everything you know. Emergency personnel are trained to survey a scene before
entering it. Don’t be shocked if the cavalry
stays parked outside and doesn’t come running in before the threat is established.
They’re taught that they can’t help anyone
if they’re dead. It’s true but an unpleasant
reality if you’re the one inside with a
threatening person. Tips Remain calm. Try
To Smile Remember to help those around
you if you can. If someone is shot, tend
to them as quickly as you can. See How to
Treat a Bullet Wound. Seek therapy afterward, if the event was deeply troubling for
you. When necessary and escaping through
an upper-floor window, find a drain pipe or
a ledge that can slow your descent or let
you slide down part of the way.
You’ll likely hurt your ankles when you
land, so be prepared to break the fall with a
quick roll. Protect your body by rolling over
one shoulder, diagonally across the back
and onto the opposite hip. It is better to
escape with a couple broken bones than to
be shot and killed. Use this as a last resort
though. For example, if you are on the 3rd
floor with windows that do not open, and
it is safe to jump, you may throw a computer through the window. Yes, they are
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abusemagazine.org | Illinois Spring/Summer 2013 |
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