Active Shooter: Part 3 Fight – Toolbox Talk

If your attempts to escape or hide have failed, then you must fight or become a victim. You should only use this technique as a last resort if directly confronted by an active shooter. Your odds of survival will improve if you can get two or three others to help you swarm the active shooter while he or she is at a disadvantage.

When preparing yourself mentally for this fight, remember that statistically, active shooters are apprehended or eliminated within the first five minutes of the incident. Once a call for help has been placed, law enforcement authorities will respond to stop the active shooter. You only need to fight until they arrive.

Use improvised weapons and attack the active shooter’s weak spots. Almost anything can be turned into a weapon. Look for something that can destroy the active shooter’s ability to see, breathe, or control the weapon. Hard objects such as a stapler or fire extinguisher, heavy objects such as chairs or laptops, and sharp objects such as scissors, pens, or keys can all be used as weapons in this type of a situation.

If you have a phone available but are unable to speak, leave the phone line open and allow the 911 dispatcher to listen to the incident. It is important to position yourself and others where you can surprise the shooter. Usually this is within close proximity to the side of the door. Remember that you will have a small window of opportunity to fight.

Make a clear plan with others regarding who will be carrying out which activity. One person should grab the weapon and point it away from others. At the same time, others should attack the active shooter’s head, neck, and eyes while others attack the groin, knees, and feet. Act aggressively; your commitment to these actions could mean the difference between life and death. Do not let fear paralyze you. Turn it into anger and rage for the fight. Fight to the best of your ability. Do not stop until the attacker is stopped. This may result in injuring the active shooter. You are capable of doing more if you mentally prepare for the fight in advance.

This is the third of three strategies in an Active Shooter situation. The first two strategies of Escape and Hide can be found as Toolbox Talks as well.

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