‘Run. Hide. Fight.’ Prepare for an active shooter.

By Julie Jordan
Published March 2, 2018; Updated March 15, 2019

From Columbine to Parkland to New Zealand, mass shooting events in the U.S. and around the world have become more and more common. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from 2000 to 2016, there were 220 active shooter incidents in the U.S., resulting in 661 fatalities and 825 wounded.

Yet there are emergency preparedness tools for handling such acts of violence that may increase your chances of survival.

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“Remember ‘run, hide, fight,’” said Georgia Department of Public Health Deputy Inspector General Rick Keheley, a former law enforcement officer who conducts active shooter trainings. “Always be aware of your surroundings, and be alert.”   

Ron Hernandez, emergency preparedness officer and training coordinator for the Fulton County Board of Health, says his experience responding to active shooter events, like the 1977 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in New Rochelle, NY, informs his teaching on how to respond to active shooter events.

“Be aware of exits,” said Hernandez. “Always have a plan of how you might escape from whatever public building you’re in. If you hear a fire alarm, think of every possibility. Exit, but know that it might be a trap, like a sniper or car running people down.”

Keheley and Hernandez both advise “run, hide, fight,” as the best way to respond to an active shooter. Knowing these tips may save your life.

1. Run

  • Have an escape route and a plan in mind
  • Evacuate whether others agree or not
  • Leave belongings behind
  • Help others escape if possible
  • Prevent others from entering the danger area
  • Keep hands visible
  • Call 911 when you are safe

2. Hide

  • Lock or barricade the door and turn off lights
  • If your office door is normally open, keep the handle locked at all times
  • Take cover behind something
  • Silence cell phones, radios, TVs, etc.
  • Call 911. If you cannot speak, leave the line open so that 911 can hear what is going on.
  • Consider trying to escape if you know where the shooter is.
  • Be aware that the shooter may bang on the door, beg for help, or otherwise try to get you to open the door. Develop a code word or phrase with your co-workers.
  • Do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify that it is the police.

3. Fight

When your life is in danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter by:

  • Throwing and hitting with improvised weapons; look for weapons in your office
  • Act as aggressively as possible

To learn more about run, hide fight, Hernandez and Keheley recommend this video published by Ready Houston.  

Print this pocket card developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to remember “run, hide, fight.”