Q&A for How to Survive a School or Workplace Shooting

In this situation, the shooter would not likely be aware of your presence, so you should remain concealed. The only time you should attack is if you are in immediate physical danger.

Generally, you should follow the same directions mentioned in the article. If they have a heavy weapon, it is not wise to attack the shooter unless you are in immediate danger, and if you do have to engage in combat, you should do it as a group.

If you hurt the shooter, it's almost certainly going to be considered self-defense, so you would not be charged.

Depending on the situation, you are likely safest to stay hidden. Police will search the building when it is secured and will find you then.

This would be a good idea, but make sure that it doesn't put you in more danger, because it may draw more attention to you.

Yes, both of these are good ideas. But also be aware that bullets can travel along the wall.

Generally, no, since it would be considered self-defense. However, there is no single answer to this question because it would depend on many factors about the situation.

These steps still apply. Your best bet is to get out of the building if possible. Otherwise barricade yourself, hide, and heed any lock-down commands.

Whether you have cell service or not, you can always still call 911.

Your best bet is to run, preferably to a location that offers safety and/or cover: behind buildings, behind cars in a parking lot, to nearby businesses.

"Playing dead" might work, but be aware that some shooters will deliberately fire at fallen bodies just to make sure they are in fact dead and not just pretending.

No. If the person has gone so far as to commit a shooting, then they're not in their right mind, and you would only be putting yourself in danger by trying to reason with them. Do your best to escape or hide.

Kicking a woman hard enough in the crotch will still hurt tremendously. Kicking them in the stomach would be very painful as well, but it puts you off guard.

You should try to aid them while staying hidden. If his injuries are minor, leave him until police arrive. If he is seriously injured, you can try to move him to your hiding place, but only do so if you are sure it is safe. A shooter most likely won't shoot someone who is already hit if they are aiming for a high kill rate and are moving between several rooms.

If you had access to one, it might be helpful if you could get anywhere near the shooter without them shooting you. Realistically, the gun trumps most weapons unless you're fast and close. It is better to seek safety than to try (and most likely fail) to be a weapon-wielding hero.

You should follow the directions of your teacher. It would be a good idea to inquire about the school's procedures for these types of situations.

Report this immediately to school authorities: teachers, guidance counselor, principal, and the like. He or she will follow up.

The police will arrive quickly, and the shooters will have limited time, as they'll have to escape or something. Or they will die in a shootout with police, at which point you will be safe.

It can be possible if the shooter isn't near you or can't see you. If you think or know that the shooter is after you and close behind, avoid large, open areas with little or no heavy cover (heavy cover is stuff like brick walls or cars, stuff that can stop a bullet from going through it) as much as possible, as this will make you an easy target. If you have to expose yourself in an open area, run as fast as possible, and DO NOT run in a straight line. Also, throwing things that are bright colours to your sides will help distract the shooter temporarily.

Very unlikely. However, it's better to be safe than sorry by knowing your school or workplace's lockdown procedures and knowing their escape routes so that you know where to escape easily.

Hide behind the door. This is the only chance you would either attack the shooter or run away as soon as he enters the room. Obviously, it's the least chance that you will survive if you hesitate to do so. You can also try to break any windows to get out if you are on a low floor.

Speak to your principal, teachers and superintendent about instituting a lockdown policy at your school.

They may be on drugs, or they may be targeting someone within a facility. If they are on drugs, then they could be a threat to everybody. If they're trying to target you, you're in danger and you need to get as far away from them as you can. If they're trying to target someone else, then they're in danger and you need to get away from the shooter. After, if you're unharmed, try to help other injured people up.

Just wait wherever you can. If you know how to use a firearm and there are several offenders, you could try and shoot at them; but in doing so, you reveal your position as well as the position of anyone hiding with you.

Usually someone threatens you or your loved ones for the sake of keeping quiet, they're just trying to scare you. If the person is serious, people will be hurt during the shooting. It is much better to go to the police about it so they can arrest the potential shooter because it will protect you and your family and save everyone the trauma of a shooting.

Hide somewhere away from the windows or behind large objects like bookshelves, photocopiers, desks, etc. If possible, get out of the room and go to a secure room or better yet, get out of the building.

Luckily, most doors open inwards. However, if the door does open outwards, you can: Lock the door, tie something to a knob or block the entrance with furniture (such as a chairback lodged under the door handle and a cabinet across the entrance way).

Try to answer the questions if you are in immediate danger, and if not, have a weapon hidden in your sleeve and injure them in the gut, allowing you to run.

This will depend on the context -- it's impossible to answer all the possible permutations of any such event. But since you're curious (it is always good to be prepared for anything), think about the possibilities while acknowledging that they are context dependent and that in this instance, the chances of survival are very low. You could: Run away, hide, barricade yourself, distract the shooter and if you're a good talker, try to humanize yourself so that the shooter feels it is wrong to harm you (in the heat of the moment, this is going to be next to impossible). Distractions could include throwing something to make a noise elsewhere, calling out to an imaginary person behind the shooter, breaking a light over the shooter's head, etc.).

The best thing to do in this situation is to follow your teacher's orders. They have been trained to deal with these kinds of situations and they always have your safety in mind.