Dealing with an active shooter is a worst case scenario that should not even be on our radar. In today’s world, it is unfortunately and one you should carefully consider while traveling. Imagine you are on a trip to Paris late in the fall. The leaves have turned color and the excitement of being in La Villa Lumiere (City of Light) is almost overwhelming. You are having an after-dinner Espresso with your loved one at the Café Bonne Biere, when all of a sudden you hear what appears to be firecrackers. Looking up you see gunmen dressed in black firing their guns in your direction. In that moment screams are heard, tables flipped upside down, and you are wondering what could possibly be happening. This was the experience of many that night on November 13th, 2015, when terrorists attacked around Paris killing 130 people and wounding 494. The attackers were armed with assault rifles and explosives leaving a trail of dead and terrified people in their wake. Again, an active shooter scenario is one you must prepare for mentally before traveling.
This subject of dealing with an active shooter is a difficult one to discuss but one that is needed. It is important that when we travel not to let fear control our decisions. Instead, I challenge you to be proactive and empower yourself with the knowledge of the art to preparation and situational awareness. Here are my basic 3 actions you can do in case of an active shooter or terrorist attack situation.
1. Get off the “X”
Have you ever been to a fair or carnival and played the shooter games to win the giant stuffed animal? I’m sure you’ve seen it in movies at least. The guy shoots the ducks or the target and wins the prize for his girl or his kids. The Duck Shoot is a popular one where the ducks move from right to left with targets on them. You have to aim just so in order to score by hitting the duck with your small air gun. If the ducks could just stop moving, you could hit that target! This concept is true for an active shooter. Staying in one spot makes it easy for you to get hit. You need to get low and move. In the security world we call it moving off the “X”. Freezing in place can only increase your chances of getting shot.
2. Plan of Action
Once you’ve moved off the “X” and found cover it is time to make a plan of action. Analyze what just happened and replay in your mind how you will get to your exits and get farther away from the “X”. Stay calm, focused, and accept that you are in a fear state. Just don’t panic and freeze! The key is to keep moving and keep your mind focused on a plan.
I found in my years of teaching martial arts that using no more than 3 steps is easier for memorizing – especially under stressful conditions. Under this scenario, my example plan of action would be:
- Crawl to the exit (If trapped, find a place to hide)
- Call 911 or 119 depending on the country emergency code for help
- Create distance from the “X” and seek shelter
Another example of steps you can take might be:
- Crawl to the exit and escape
- Call the embassy
- Assess my options to leave the country
3. Commit
Time to put your plan of action to work! Execute your 3-step plan of action but be prepared to encounter more active shooters or problems. You must keep moving and create your tactical planning in threes. Once you’ve gotten away from the shooter or attack, reassess the situation to figure out if you are still in danger. If escape fails, you might be able to gather the others in the area to ambush or attack, but this can be very dangerous. The point is not to give up. You have to tell yourself failure is not an option! Survive at all cost.
Never let fear dictate your choices nor let it keep you from travel. An active shooter is an extreme situation. It’s like a home fire. You don’t expect it but if it happens do you have the alarm system set to notify you and fire extinguishers placed around the house to help you fight it? It’s just about being prepared and empowering yourself. Plan today to avoid the failures of tomorrow.
