AST Digital Magazine October 2017 Digital-Oct | Page 63

Volume 17
• Know what nearby rooms contain doors that
lock from the inside
• Familiarize yourself with items that can used
to barricade doors
• Especially rooms with doors that do not
have locks – such as tables, chairs, so-
fas, copy machines, vending machines
etc
• Find out if you can fit under office desks and
conference tables
• Determine what office furniture can be
overturned and used as a source of
shielding
October 2017 Edition
The combination of surprise and aggressive
force are needed when using this option.
The shooter must be countered with an incapaci-
tating assault to stop his or her advance.
Preparation for this option involves locating
common items that can be used as weapons
in a hand to hand combative situation these
may include:
If you find yourself in the middle of an
active shooting incident and have to
conceal yourself:
• First turn your phone to vibrate
• Locate the direction where the gunfire is com-
ing from, and seek cover in a room if possible
• Turn off lights, lock/barricade the door, draw
the blinds, remain still and if possible quietly
call the authorities for help and instructions
• Visually scan the room for any impromptu
weaponry to engage the shooter if he or
she attempts to breach the door
Note: if you find yourself in an open space or outside with
little to no cover and the shooter is moving amongst his fallen
victims you may have to lay prone on the ground and pretend
to be dead
• A fire extinguisher which can be used as a
blunt force weapon to attack the head, face,
arms, knees and lower back region
• A glass vase, coffee cup or coffee pot can be
used as a blunt force weapon to impact the
head and face
• Once broken the sharp glass can be
used to attack the eyes and throat of the
shooter
Hot coffee or water to the face can also be used to temporar-
ily blind/distract the shooter
(RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.® Surviving an Active Shooter Event
Courtesy of Ready Houston and YouTube)
ENGAGE
Engage refers to physically confronting the
shooter with lethal force.
• Any type of furniture on wheels or that can be
slide across the floor can be used to ram the
attacker’s legs and knock him or her to the
floor
• A desk paperweight, letter opener, stapler, ink
pen, sharpened pencil, wall mounted picture
in glass frame, packaged ream of copy paper
and other typical office equipment or supplies
can be turned into a weapon
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