What to do if you find yourself in a shooting incident

With yet another mass shooting taking the lives of innocent bystanders in the United States, apprehension about being caught up in a similar event is inevitable. Ultimately though, while the chance of a mass shooting taking place in Canada is much rarer, it’s important to keep some basic tips in mind should a shooting ever happen here.

“My advice to people, in general, is that the first option be to clear the area as quickly as possible,” says Mark Pugash, Director of Corporate Communications at the Toronto Police Service. “In the overwhelming number of scenarios, you run or hide.”

While the risk of a similar event playing out in a city like Toronto are quite low, Pugash says that the city still monitors any such threats through close coordination and communication with local, provincial, federal and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

His comments were echoed by Randy Spivey, founder of the Virginia-based Center for Personal Protection and Safety. “The best option is to Get Away as fast as you can (without panicking and running over people) to a safe location. Getting away from the open venue and away from area of gunshots would be best,” he says. “If you can’t get out, then you would want to seek shelter and place something between you and the gunman. In a building you would want to hide out in a room that can be locked, blocked and barricaded.”

The last option, which is also the riskiest and not recommended unless it’s a life or death situation, is to confront the shooter. “Many times in these situations the victims are in the immediate vicinity and have, on many occasions, brought the violence to an end by their immediate actions,” says Spivey.

He noted that before first responders arrive on the scene, the people already there are best situated to help stop the carnage and are referred to as immediate responders. And they must all work together to get as many people out as possible.

“One option is to try and go where others are not, which is why it is important to know where exits are before you need them,” he says. “Then leading can help by stating out loud ‘It’s going to be OK, everyone move quickly but carefully.'”

Also putting objects between you and the direction the bullets are coming from helps conceal anyone caught up in the shooting. “Anytime you can have some level of concealment while moving is a good idea,” says Spivey. “Staying low but moving quickly can be a good combination.”

Spivey even released a video showing people how to stay safe in such situations. Among the key takeaways: having situational awareness, trusting your instinct, responding quickly when something like a mass shooting starts and having a plan should you come face to face with the shooter.

While it’s unlikely that most people will have to confront such a situation, it never hurts to be prepared.