In an era when senseless killing seems to be far too common, the question is, “If you are the victim of an active shooter, will you know what to do?”
More than 60 apartment managers, hotel supervisors and concerned citizens turned out to hear some answers at the recent Westchase District Public Safety Alliance meeting at the Houston Marriott Westchase, where the featured topic was “Surviving an Active Shooter,” presented by Houston Police Department’s Stephen Daniel.
One of the videos shown during Stephen Daniel’s “Surviving an Active Shooter” presentation
“Most tips are merely common sense, but you must have the mental discipline to develop your survival mindset, said Daniel, a senior community liaison with HPD Public Affairs. “Unless you have visualized making common sense choices, you won’t have the situational awareness in a shooter situation.
Highlights from the presentation:
RUN
- Have an escape route and plan in mind
- Leave your belongings behind
- Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
- Help others escape, if possible
- Do not attempt to move wounded people
- Prevent others from entering an area where the active shooter may be
- Call 911 when you are safe
HIDE
- Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view
- Lock the door or block the entry to your hiding place
- Silence your cell phone (including the vibrate mode) and remain quiet
FIGHT
- Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
- Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
- Commit to your actions…your life depends on it
HPD makes this presentation available at no charge and may be arranged by contacting Daniel at 713-308-3246. The presentation runs about 90 minutes and incorporates several videos. It is appropriate for children of high school age and older.
