How to Survive a Mass Shooting

4 min read

Mass shootings happen more often than you think. According to the Gun Violence Archive, between 2014 and 2020 nearly 2,700 mass shootings occurred in the United States. Sadly, many of these happened in schools and took the lives of hundreds of students, teachers and officers. In this video, we respectfully share some advice from authorities and survivors of these terrible events so you will know what to do if it happens to you.

There are many definitions of a mass shooting, but the Congressional Research Service and the FBI agree that it is an event of gun violence that results in four or more victims. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 lockdown, there were over 600 mass shootings in the United States. We hope that you will never be in a situation like that. But if you are, here are some tips that may help you survive.

How can you identify the sound of gunfire? Where is the best place to hide? How can you fight the shooter?

Step 1: Listen for Construction Noise

Every second counts. That’s why you need to identify the threat as soon as possible. Many survivors of mass shootings remember that they first mistook the gunshot for construction noise. Recognizing that sound can save you valuable time. According to experts, gunshots release a large amount of energy quickly.

They produce a loud, high-pitched sound and you can hear it decaying. Fireworks and construction noises can sound very similar. But as they release less energy, they may not be as loud and high-pitched as gunfire. This difference isn’t always easy to tell if you’re not an expert. So if you hear something that sounds like a gunshot, you’ll need to stay alert and follow the tips in the following steps.

Step 2: Run

If those were gunshots, you might be in an active shooter situation. Always remember the motto RUN. HIDE, FIGHT. We’re going to help you expand on it. So run. But where to? The Department of Homeland Security says you should always be aware of possible exits from your location. If you know the location of an evacuation route, try to identify how close you are to the shooter or shooters. If you are not close to them, leave your belongings behind and get out of there. That saved Austin Eubanks during the infamous Columbine shooting in 1999.

He and some classmates were in the library and ducked under the table when the shooters entered the room. Unfortunately, Austin and some other kids were injured. But after the shooting stopped, they ran away. Although he’d been shot in a leg and a hand, Austin kept running until he was safe.

Step 3: Hide

You’ll need to find shelter. But avoid spaces that you could get locked into. You might need to leave and keep moving. A shelter should have windows or a second door so you can break out if necessary. Block the entrances with heavy furniture or whatever you have on hand. Protect yourself by hiding behind heavy objects or find a corner that puts you out of sight of the shooters. Turn off any possible sources of noise, such as your phone, radio or computer.

Step 4: Make the Call

Once you find shelter, call 911. If you can, give the dispatcher a description of the shooter, their location and yours. If the shooter is nearby and you cannot speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen to the situation and take action.

Step 5: Fight

If the shooters get too close to your location and you have no escape route, your best survival option may be to fight them. If you are in a group, make a plan to distract the shooters and disarm them. Once they drop their guns, secure them and, as a group, hold off the shooters until law enforcement arrives.

Unfortunately, these events are becoming more common in the United States. So it’s important that society as a whole works together to prevent them. Speaking of increasing violence, have you had a traffic incident recently? Oh boy, you should be careful. Every year, 30 people get killed in road rage incidents in the U.S. So if you want to survive road rage, keep watching here on How To Survive.