Surviving a mass shooting: 9 quick decisions made by those who've lived

People are horrified and scared in the wake of Sunday night’s mass shooting of concertgoers in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time this kind of attack has happened in the U.S., which has left many people with the same question: What should I do if I’m in the same situation?

There are many potential variables when it comes to mass shootings, but the actions you can take to help ensure the safety of you and your loved ones are the same.

John Matthews, executive director of the Community Safety Institute and a former chief of police, has analyzed mass shootings dating back to 1980 and looked at decisions made by those who survived. He now trains people how to respond in the midst of a shooting, just in case. “If you’re going to an outdoor event, then you have the potential to be in one of these situations,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

1. Memorize your exits.
When you first go to an event or space, he recommends knowing where the exits are, including secondary exits like a fire escape. “So many times people default going out the way they came in, and that’s where you see huge crowds,” he says. Then, point them out to the people you’re with. “You don’t need to be paranoid, but you need to be prepared,” he says, likening it to having a fire escape plan. It’s also a good idea to establish a safe meet-up place, like a café down the street, if the worst happens and you get separated.

2. Leave the “kill zone” as quickly as possible.
If you’re in a crowd and someone starts shooting, don’t crouch and wait. Do what you can to get out of the way ASAP. “We’re trained that if you’re in an ambush to get out of the kill zone as quickly as possible,” Joe Plenzler, a retired Marine combat veteran, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Speed is safety.”

Don’t wait to see what everybody else is doing — if something bad happens, “take action immediately,” J. Pete Blair, PhD, a professor of criminal justice at Texas State University, executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center, and co-author of Active Shooter Events and Response, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

3. Get out of the shooter’s line of vision.
If you’re in a confined room, seeking cover is crucial, says Matthews. “Look for anything that’s going to stop bullets like a vending machine, curb, or concrete pillar,” he says. And if you can’t find cover, look for something that can conceal you, like a vendor’s tent if you’re in an outdoor space, or chair, if you’re indoors. “If you can stay out of the shooter’s line of sight, your chances of surviving go up instantly,” he says.

4. Stay low to the ground and zigzag.
It’s important to be constantly assessing the situation and looking for an opportunity to exit, Matthews says. When you run, stay low to the ground and zigzag between cover and concealment, if possible, to try to get as far away as possible.

5. If people are getting trampled, try to find protection.
If the crowd is moving fast and you fear you could be trampled, the experts recommend looking for a large object to stand behind. “Big speakers, big light stands, look for a structure and get behind it,” says Matthews. “Let the crowd go around you — they’re not going to try to mow down a structure.” And stay behind that structure, he notes. “It’s also going to give you some degree of concealment” from the shooter.

6. Tell your kids they need to listen to you and carry them if you can.
If you have a child with you, Matthews recommends telling them that you’re going to take care of them and that they need to listen to you. “Let them know that you’re there, you’ve got a plan, and you’re going to take care of them,” he says. Pick them up and carry them if you can.

7. Stay off your phone.
If you think of it, silence your phone (if you’re in a confined space), but otherwise stay off of it. Some people were filming during the Las Vegas attacks, but Matthews says that’s really not a good idea since it can distract you from your surroundings. “Stay off your cellphones — you could end up being the next victim,” he says.

8. Lock or barricade yourself in.
If you’re in an area where you’re trapped, like an office, try to deny access to your location by closing, locking, and barricading the door, Blair says.

9. Defend yourself — as a last resort.
And, as a last resort, defend yourself. “You have a legal right to protect yourself—this person is trying to murder you,” Blair says. But again, this is the last resort. “In about one in five of these events, somebody successfully defended themselves and they were unarmed,” he says.

Blair stresses that these kinds of attacks are infrequent. “Don’t live your life in fear, but it’s worth spending a few minutes to pay attention to your surroundings,” he says. “If something happens, you’ll be prepared.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: The basic first aid that can save lives in mass shootings

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