Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in.
If every breaking news alert about a mass shooting ratchets up your anxiety, youre not alone.
The reality is that your chances of being a mass shooting victim are extremely, reassuringly low.
Frank van Groen / LOOK-foto
Precise data onmass shootingcasualties is hard to come by.
The loose definition of mass shooting is another issue.
Lets take a look at the CDCs most recently available mortality statistics.
In 2015,197.2 out of every 100,000people died from heart disease, the number-one cause of death in America.
Cancer, the second highest cause of death, killed185.4 out of every 100,000people that year.
Total car crash and firearm deaths were neck and neck; each killed11.3 per 100,000people.
However, most of those firearm deaths were from suicides.
There were 36,252 gun-related deaths in 2015,22,018of which involved a person dying by suicide.
Nearly13,000of those gun deaths were homicides.
Mass shootings accounted for a minute amount of those murders.
Forty-three additional people were injured.
Every single one of those deaths and injuries is obviously a tragedy.
Still, if you find comfort in numbers, these figures may help.
Unfortunately, statistics arent always enough to calm fears.
In that case, learning exactly what to do if the worst does happen may help.
The Run, Hide, Fight mantra comes courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitysactive shooter response guidelines.
The problem is that violence isnt predictable, so you may need to do things out of order.
It happens so quickly and with such fluidity, Hamilton says.
you should probably make the choice based on what youre seeing and where you are.
Read on for details on how to gauge what to do based on the situation.
Always taking stock of your surroundings is one of the best ways you’re free to protect yourself.
Shaffer offers a movie theater as an example.
Im not saying hes up to no good, but you should take another look, Shaffer says.
What can really help people to not freeze is going through mental rehearsal, Hamilton says.
If I hear gunfire or what I believe to be gunfire, where is my nearest exist?
Plan it out in your mind.
The one resource you will not have any of [in a mass shooting] is time.
You have to not waste it.
Being situationally aware isnt enoughyou need to listen when your gut instinct bubbles up.
But that gut instinct exists for a reason.
We dont do that as much as we should.
Many mass shooting survivors say they first thought the gunfire was firecrackers or construction.
But accepting the sounds as gunshots immediately is crucial.
Just a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death during an active shooter situation.
Dont rationalize away your fears, Shaffer says.
If you hearboom, boom, boom, think gunshots, not firecrackers.
This is where that situational awareness comes in.
At this point, if youve already identified your exits, its easier to figure out where to go.
The first thing you want to do is move, Shaffer says.
Of course, in this situation you might feel its safer not to move at all.
It can be hard to act with so many unknowns.
What if theres more than one shooter?
How can you know which way to go?
Dont play the what if game, Hamilton says.
Go with what you know.
If you know the gunfire is coming from the left, go to the right.
Best case scenario: You escape from danger without encountering the shooter.
But even if he does spot you as you run away, youre increasing your chances of survival.
Its far easier to hit a stationary one.
You may have heard that its harder to shoot someone whos moving in a zigzag pattern.
Thats actually true, Shaffer says, but it shouldnt be your primary concern.
Running in a straight line is fine, as long as youre moving away from the shooter.
I dont like the wordhide, Shaffer says.
It makes you an easy stationary target.
Lock the door if you might.
If you cant, take everything in that room and stack it against the door, Shaffer says.
I carry rubber door wedges with me wherever I go, Hamilton says.
If the gunman fires through door, hes much less likely to hit you.
You probably find the thought of harming another human being unfathomable.
Sometimes its the only option when your life is on the line.
Youre not going to talk your way out of an active shooter [situation], Shaffer says.
There is nothing thats going to stop this individual except to eliminate the threat.
Survival is not a skill set, he says.
You dont need to have years of training under your belt.
Youll need to use everything to your advantage, including improvised weapons.
Someone else can toss something at his face to startle and confuse him.
By attacking him, youre shifting his focus to avoiding harm instead of immediately hurting you.
Hes not going to think about anything else but survival, Shaffer says.
As soon as news breaks about the shooting, your loved ones will likely start trying to contact you.
Hamilton recommends silencing your phone so theres no chance of the noise giving away your location.
(If youre in the dark, also be aware of the screens brightness.)
After that, hang up.
Then you gotta try tostop the bleeding.
I think people would all do themselves a great service by getting basic medical training, Hamilton says.
Be encouraging, Hamilton says.
Not knowing what to do is what generates the fear.
Having the knowledge can give you a sense of calm, Shaffer says.
It may never happen.
However if it does, you now know what to do.
