How to Survive a Mass Shooting
The increase of mass shooting is making Arrowhead students want to know how to survive them.
Eight minutes, according to a 2012 New York Police Department analysis, is how long most shootings in the United States last.
“These eight minutes could be the difference between life and death,” says David Dauphin from the Chenequa Police Department. “This means people have very little time to decide what to do to help themselves survive.”
Dauphin has been a 911 emergency police officer for Chenequa Police Department since 2000.
Over the years, he says he has dealt with a variety of situations in which a suspect has a weapon.
Dauphin says, “I’ve dealt with people with a weapon and I think the key is knowing how to evaluate each situation and fast. You can either, evacuate, hide or take down the shooter.”
Every crisis situation is different and each situation requires different techniques to survive. Some ways to survive are to evacuate the area, find a safe hiding position, or create a plan or find a way defend yourself.
“I would get the heck out of there,” says Arrowhead senior Brianna Bartolone.
Seven out of 10 people chose the evacuation plan in the case of a shooting at the Delafield Library. This was the plan chosen most often.
Although, this cannot always be done. “Finding alternative ways to survive may be crucial,” says David Dauphin from the Chenequa Police Department.
“If I had to, I would just hide and fake my death,” says Arrowhead senior Kamy Kissinger. “If there was only one shooter and many other potential victims, if I hide well enough I will be out of the shooter’s vision and therefore I will survive.”
“I would stand right here and as soon as the shooter walked through the door, I would take these scissors and stab him before they had the chance to hurt anyone,” says Arrowhead football coach Rauch.
Dauphin says that each school or business should have a procedure for an emergency situation like this. “It’s smart to practice for these types of situations. This is a growing issue and something needs to be done,” he says.