How to respond in an active shooter situation
(WJBK) - In the event of an active shooter situation, experts have released resources on how to respond in the safest way.
As news surrounding the Las Vegas shooting that left 50 people dead and over 400 injured continues to unfold, FOX 2 is taking a look at active shooter preparedness.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in these situations, there are three options: run, hide or fight.
If you choose to run, they say to leave your belongings behind, help others escape if possible, and keep your hands visible. Do not attempt to move anyone injured.
Those who choose to hide are advised to hide in an area out of the shooter's view, block entry or lock the door to the place you are hiding, and keep quiet, including silencing phones.
The choice to fight should be a last resort and only if your life is in imminent danger. By acting with as much physical aggression as possible, attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Improvise weapons or throw items at the shooter, and commit to your actions - your life depends on it.
As officers arrive on scene, the first group will likely not stop to help the injured. Instead the rescue teams will arrive to treat and transport them to hospitals. Police will move you to a safe location until the situation is under control and witnesses have been identified and questioned.
For further recommendations, FOX 2 spoke with security weapons expert Dale Brown from the Threat and Management Center in Detroit.
"The most important thing is to take cover, to get down immediately, to not draw attention to yourself and to cover your head," he said.
Brown says if you are struck by a bullet while you are on the ground, you are in a better situation to preserve your life. If you a struck while standing, you are likely to fall and hit the ground, causing trauma.
"In the event that you're being trampled, that's why you cover your head with both of your hands," he said.
The gunman is more likely to look for moving targets, Brown says, so by laying down they would assume you were dead.
"Whenever you go somewhere, always look at the way of entry and exit under all conditions. Even in a house, a venue - know the best escape routes should there be any kind of situation or scenario where any negative occurrence could take place," he said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also provides information on potential warning signs that an individual may become violent.
They say signs include erratic behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, changes in work performance, hostile feelings of injustice or perceived wrongdoing, financial difficulties, dramatic changes in home life or personality, pending civil or criminal litigation, distancing from friends or coworkers, and observable grievances with threats and plans of retribution.
Appropriative intervention on your part includes taking note of any escalations in behavior and providing any information that may help facilitate intervention and mitigate potential risks. You are encouraged to contact authorities to alert them of any changing behavior.
If you are having trouble locating a missing loved one in the Las Vegas shooting, call the hotline at: 1-866-535-5654.
Consult the following videos for more information: