In case of force majeure, the main thing is to save life and health, not to record a video and post it on the network. How to behave if shooting suddenly started near you.
Another open-air shooting happened a few days ago near a public transport stop on Tytova Street in Dnipro. The video from the scene clearly shows how passers-by, who unwittingly became participants in the events, not only do not lie on the ground, hide or run away from the scene of the incident, but also actively film the altercation on their smartphones. Passers-by do not resort to any self-defense, viewing the armed confrontation as if it were a theatrical action. The motives for such carefree behavior on the part of the witnesses of the event can be considered a lack of knowledge to identify the threat and a lack of general preparation in case of an unusual situation. Therefore, the Federation of Bodyguards of the Dnipropetrovsk region once again reminds us of basic tips that will help survive a shootout that suddenly happened in a public place.
1. Lie down on the ground. When you hear the first sounds of gunfire, immediately lie down on the ground. Immediately! After all, the sound appears later than the bullet. Drop your bag and anything that gets in the way of your escape. Lie flat. Don’t be afraid to tear your clothes, break your phone, get bruised or dirty. It is better to get rid of insignificant material values than to get injured or lose your life. If possible, protect vital organs and arteries. Cover your head with your hands, press your arms and legs to the body.
2. Keep calm and analyze. Determine from which points fire is fired: the number of shooters and their location. Remember that a firefight in the city is complicated by the difficulty of determining the source of the sound that bounces off the buildings. Consider also that the source of shots are not only criminals, but also policemen. The most dangerous location for you is between criminals and policemen. Avoid him. Find cover within 2-3 seconds of running. The arrow only needs a few seconds to aim, so running to cover for more than 3 seconds will be deadly. Remember the difference between cover and camouflage. The latter will only hide you from the shooter’s eyes, and shelter can save you from a bullet. Shelter is: capital building or its ledge, stone steps or porch, concrete urn, monument, curb, underpass, strong lamp post, strong car parts, deepening in the ground or ditch.
3. Flee or crawl away from the arrow’s location. Runaways are often shot in the back. To avoid this scenario, never run in the direction of the arrow and away from it. You need to run only from the arrow to the left or right. This makes it harder to aim and gives you more chances to save. If the shooting does not stop and there is no way to run, then try to crawl to the side, pressing tightly to the ground, looking around, but without raising your head.
4. Call the police as soon as you have the chance. Report the coordinates of the shootout, the number of attackers, the type of weapon used and listen to the advice of experts. Never run towards the police or special services as soon as they arrive at the scene of the accident. The law enforcement officers may mistake you for criminals and use their weapons against you, while the real criminals may slip away.
5. If it was not possible to avoid a meeting with an armed criminal – demonstrate your safety for him. Don’t smile, don’t ask, don’t cry, don’t scream, don’t look in the eyes, don’t run away. Try not to provoke the shooter and do not behave defiantly. Comply with all the demands of the gunman, endure the humiliation and keep calm. Ask permission for any action. Don’t show your desire to resist or cause trouble. However, remember that if the attacker is far away and calls to you, then it will not always be right to go in his direction so that he will deal with you. At certain moments, you need to escape or act. Try not to be heroic, but sometimes there is no other way out.
We emphasize once again: there are many interesting materials on the topic of self-defense on the Internet. Please show interest. After all, knowledge and understanding of safety rules will help save life for you and your loved ones.