I was inspired to write this post after reading this article and wrote this specifically with mothers of small children in mind.. All other sources are cited below.
I’ve never been involved in a shooting, nor have my children.
I’m not ex-SWAT or part of a tactical response team.
I didn’t have SEAL training, can’t kill someone with my bare hands, and don’t have a concealed carry permit.
I’m a mom with little kids who goes out in public and wants us to all come home alive.
And I think you are too.
Unfortunately, this is a topic we can’t shy away from or pretend isn’t relevant. I already worry too much, so believe me, this is not a fun exercise. It is, however, a necessary one.
This is not a fear mongering post, but it’s a fact today there are more mass shootings than ever before. Taking a few minutes to mentally prepare could be the difference between getting your family to safety or not. It is that simple.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
What's in this post...
Things that work against us in an active shooter situation
⭐ Normalcy bias | Our brains are hard-wired to think things are normal. This is why bystanders and witnesses will stand frozen instead of moving into action.
The brain can take a while to adjust to the idea something odd is going on. Instead of gunshots, a person might even think it’s fireworks or a car backfiring (even if you’re inside a building) because that’s still more likely than a shooter (source).
⭐ Help is not likely | In this FBI report, nearly 60% of shooter incidents were over before police arrived. In fact, most shootings end in 2 minutes or less. This is why you must know what you’ll do before you get into that situation. You are likely the only person who can save yourself and your children.
⭐ Indecision is a bad decision | Many people respond to dangerous situations by freezing. This isn’t because they are stupid or cowardly, but because we are in shock and not mentally prepared. (source)
⭐ We operate in a herd mentality | Research has shown that when placed in unknown situations, we’ll follow the lead of anyone who appears to know what they’re doing. In an active shooter situation, this is unhelpful because we’ve already established that the large majority will freeze. The key to survival in an active shooter situation is to act fast. (source)
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
The #1 thing that will increase your family’s chance of survival
It’s not locked doors, exit locations, or how fast you run that will determine your chance of survival although those will help.
It is knowing what you would do before you ever get into the situation.
Like many things in life, it’s about mental preparation.
The reason the military and special ops train frequently is because it’s through training and preparation they make the right choices instinctively.
If you have never considered the best way to respond in a shooter (or any other type of emergency) situation, you are not at all likely to respond in a way that will increase your survival.
General tips for being out with small children
⭐ If in doubt, leave quickly | If you walk into an establishment – say a bank or a gas station – and you immediately sense something off, get out. Don’t screw around and second guess yourself, just leave.
You can get a fountain drink somewhere else, it isn’t worth it. The more we practice using our discernment, the sharper it becomes.
⭐ Make sure your children listen to you | I cannot stress enough that your children need to obey you. If your children don’t mind you, now is the time to fix it.
⭐ Have a code word | Create a word your children recognize that signals danger. Danger or emergency are easy and clear. Without being overly scary, teach your children when you use this word they must listen to you carefully and follow your lead.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
⭐ Practice handling all your kids at once | Not too long ago I had a 4-year-old, 3-year-old, 2-year-old, and an 11-month-old. It would not be easy, but the best way for me to get everyone out of harm’s way quickly is to hold two kids and pull two kids.
By holding on to two children’s hands (or their wrists) in one of my hands then using my other arm to secure the youngest two in my arms, I can move/pull them all. It will be hard, cumbersome, and painful for myself and the youngest two, but it’s better than the alternative.
⭐ Get very familiar with your baby equipment | If you have a baby carrier, you’re good to go. If you have a child in a stroller, you’ll have to determine if it’d be quicker to take the child out of the stroller and run or to leave them in it and run with the stroller.
If there are curbs, sidewalks, roads, and doorways, out of stroller is best. If it’s a straight shot on a flat road, you might try your hand. Either way, be able to quickly release your child from their seat.
⭐ Be between the children and danger | Without getting paranoid or going overboard, position yourself and family near walls where danger won’t occur behind you.
Being near exits and steering clear of obstacles will allow you to react by putting your children behind (or in front) of you and moving quickly. If you have a stroller or baby equipment, do not go to the back of a restaurant with a small path out.
Basic best practices in an active shooter situation
Being alone in an active shooting situation will be different than having your children with you, which is the point of this post. That said, the basic principles remain the same.
There are essentially three options, and experts agree that your chances of survival increase when you attempt them in this order, as is possible. (video from the FBI on Run, Hide, Fight)
Run > Hide > Fight
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
🚨 Run
Experts agree, hands down, the best thing you can do to increase your family’s chance of survival is to get as far away from the shooter as possible.
Even the Department of Homeland Security suggests, “If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.”
This is logical common sense, and yet… most people do not run. Whether it is normalcy bias, fear, or shock, it’s difficult to say. Knowing in advance the best thing you can do is run will help you react appropriately if you ever find yourself in this devastating situation.
Know your exits on transportation, in a restaurant, or in a larger building. If a shooter is in the front of a store, run towards the back, through the kitchen or employee entrance, and outside.
We are programmed those are “keep out” areas, but in an emergency crisis anything goes.
If it is an open area, run in a zig-zag pattern away from the shooter until you can get far enough away or take cover.
Update: If you are a semi-fast runner and holding your children, running as fast as you can straight toward your hiding spot, say behind a car, or your escape route is optimal.
If it’s a wide open area with nowhere to hide, zig zag can definitely help, but the goal is always to get as far away as possible from the shooter as fast as possible.
Don’t try to gather your things and don’t stop for others who are not moving. Try to encourage others to follow you, but just go.
Emergency responders do the same and though you’d like to show compassion for others who are down, the best chance your children have for survival is to get as far away from the shooter as possible.
Remember, shooting a moving target is difficult even for an experienced shooter. Many mass shooters have little to no experience with guns so if you run fast, zig-zag, and take cover behind things that stop weapons like pillars, vending machines, or bookcases (source) you have a good chance of survival.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
🚨 Hide
If running would require you to be in open air for an extended period of time with your children exposed, you may choose to hide. If it is running or standing still, run. If it’s running or hiding, you’ll have to make a judgment call.
When running isn’t an option because the shooter is blocking the exit or you can’t jump out of a third-floor window, the next best option is to hide. The goal is to be out of the shooter’s view and behind something that will stop bullets.
Glass doors, windows, or flimsy structures will not provide safety from bullets. After finding a spot, position yourself in front of your children so there are multiple barriers between the shooter and your children. Think Secret Service here.
Try to hide behind something solid, if possible. If you can go in a room and lock the door, do that. Mass shooters historically look for easy victims, and will not spend an excess amount of time trying to get in a locked room.
If you go into a room and lock the door, immediately barricade the room with whatever you can find. Tables, chairs, dressers, filing cabinets, whatever you can physically move. Turn off the lights, be quiet, and don’t let your cell phone ring. As I mentioned in my article on what every mother needs to know in case of an intruder, don’t answer the door or respond to the shooter. Unless you can confirm it is the authorities, do not open the door.
If the shooter passes you by, and you were able to see this from your hiding spot, make a run for it if the coast is clear. Again, getting as far away as possible from the intruder is always the best idea.
🚨 Fight
Now, if you have small children with you I don’t suggest this. However, research shows that unarmed bystanders can subdue or chase away an assailant if they are in numbers (source).
Even a trained shooter (which most mass shooters are not) would not be able to fend off people from every side. If you have small children with you, fighting would require leaving them unattended which is not acceptable. If running or hiding are not options, other adults in your party may want to engage, but stay close to your kids and shield them.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
➡️ Finally, Get off your phone and watch your surroundings
The best thing you can do besides thinking in advance about your plan is to be aware of your surroundings.
Don’t walk around on your phone or oblivious to your environment.
Everyone involved in the mass shootings thought things were normal until it was too late. Look around you. Observe. Pay attention. Be wise.
I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
FAQs
The goal is to provide age-appropriate information and strategies that can help them stay safe without causing unnecessary fear. Other than the tips listed above, tell your kids what you will do if you are ever in that situation (run, hide, or fight) and that the most important thing is to flee for safety. Discuss practical things like leaving behind personal items, staying calm and quiet, following your directions, etc. Remember that the goal of these conversations is to empower your child with knowledge and strategies while maintaining their sense of security.
Your primary focus during an active shooter situation should be on ensuring your immediate safety and the safety of those around you, especially if you have children with you. If you are safely away from the threat, then using your phone to call the authorities is appropriate. If you are hiding, silence your phone. Leave all personal belongings behind, including your phone, if you are moving away from a threat for your safety.
Sources:
What to do in an active shooter situation
Department of Homeland Security Booklet
FBI video on Run, Hide, and Fight
Why people freeze in emergencies
FBI study of active shooter incidents
Students taught to fight active shooter if no way out
Thank you for the helpful information. Sadly, this is something I worry about every time I’m out and about with my family.
I know, so sad isn’t it! :(
Our society is what it is – however, it’s just our “mama bear” instincts turned up a bit – there is a great book, entitled “The Gift of Fear” that I highly recommend. Being aware just takes some practice. And we need to teach our children the same skills.
Wonderful book! Highly recommended!
Thank you. It makes me feel better just knowing that I’m not a psycho scaredy cat. Almost immediately after things started picking up steam I found myself observing places to hide my children or run to in stores should the unthinkable occur. What a world. :(
I know, what a world. Still it’s better to have an idea than to be caught in off guard :(
Not the ‘world’. Just the USA and other war zones.
Holy Moly! I’m not gonna lie, I just visited America for 5 weeks to visit family and friends, we were in lots of public spaces and and I was thinking about this all the time! We’ve lived in Australia for the past 8 years, and although it seems much much safer, it’s still something important to think about.
Yes, Kate! It’s not to be overly fearful when going out, but just wise so you can react in the best way if you ever have to.
Thanks for sharing this information, my kids are young adults and I have wanted to go over with them what to do in a situation like this, I will definitely share this article and chart with them. Really helpful post!!
Thanks, April. I know the post was geared mostly towards parents with small children, but the concepts hold true for people of all ages.
great post, thankyou
This is great advice that’s easy to follow. When watching the news after the recent Paris attacks, I was concerned by how many bystanders grabbed their shopping bags and purses before running, and took up valuable space in potential hiding places and created noise by keeping their possessions with them. Just drop everything (except your children) and run. Thanks so much for posting this.
Anne, what a great point. Yes drop everything and go. Big bags and things are cumbersome, loud, and take up a lot of space! Especially if you have kids. just keep the kids and move out.
Finally, another mother who thinks like me. As a mother of a 4, 3, 2 and pregnant with our next I have always feared the mentality that I may have to sacrifice one at the expense of another. A firm believer in concealed carry, albeit I don’t have one myself (too scared that my children may discover my weapon) I think being armed mentally is also important too. The thought of that terrorizes me and sends my pregnancy hormones raging. However, I agree that having children that know they must come to you when you first call them is paramount, and being aware of your surroundings is also critical. I still have not come to peace with knowing how I would, alone get all of my children out but I know that God is bigger and I have to trust that He would help me. He is not interested in me sacrificing my children for another and I have to trust that. Thank you for this post.
Jessica, yes I have thought long and hard about how I’d get them all out!!! :(
You ladies give me so much comfort. I’m not alone in feeling this!!! God bless you all <3
I just sat down with my 2 boys who are 10 and 12 and had the conversation with them and read what you have written, really hard conversation. We live in Australia so not quite as bad as the US but you just don’t know these days. I had trouble with telling them not to necessarily help someone else, being the age they are they use examples and I used your situation as an example to help you with one of the kids but then they asked about elderly people……I said if you can then help but don’t put yourself in more danger.
Nicole, this is really tough because we always want to help people, but I think in a situation that has minute to minute danger and is very brief in nature, hesitating can be fatal. That said, perhaps adults will have the wisdom to know if they’re able to help without fallout?
I love this article. Great advice that I think everyone needs to know. Am I the only one though that thinks hiding isn’t a viable option with really young children? I can’t think I’d be able to keep them from crying. Any thoughts on that?
KaLyn, I agree with you, I don’t think hiding with kids is great unless it’s really the only option. I know they’d cry, but if you had to, you could do your best to calm them.
Letting babies breastfeed or have their bottle if on hand might be the best way to keep them quiet in a dangerous situation. Or mute your phone and let them see a cartoon, or game, etc. if you have that kind of time.
Ug. I hate this post so much. It made me cry. It sucks so much that this post is so very necessary.
But thank you. Thank you for saying these simple, but difficult words.
Thank you for the reminder and the tools. We can do this. We can protect ourselves and our children from evil. Thank you.
I took deep & long breathe!…..Thanks so much for sharing this.I’ll definitely take notes and post it in my kitchen.
Great article. Thank you for sharing!
I love the advice of running through areas that are normally off limits. I would not have thought of that I think.
Ali, if you google the topic most articles have the same main points. This is because the Run, Fight, Hide has come down from Homeland Security and the FBI. From government articles to doomsday and prepper articles to the Art of Manliness articles (of which there are many) I took common themes from ALL the articles then added parts that pertain to mothers of small children. And I did cite!
Lots of great information here. I recently took an active shooter education training and the officer said DO NOT run in a zig zag pattern though, better to find something that will block bullets and run straight for it. Also if your in an open area (like a parking lot) hide behind car engines because they are effective at stopping bullets.
Jessica, I was actually considering updating the post because I read last night that running fast and hard in a straight line is way better because if it’s an automatic weapon it won’t matter if you zig zag or not and zig zagging is actually hard. Plus, running zig zag with children would be really tough, I think I’ll update the post, thanks for the info!
Um, thank you for this. That’s all I have to say….Thank you for this and for making me think more about it. Especially the last part about not being on your phone, I don’t walk around with it on but I can say that sometimes I am on it at stop lights and in parking lots before I take off and also, admittedly at the park I sometimes glance at it. That made me think twice about looking at my phone at these times. Thank you….thank you.
Christi, you are more than welcome. I truly hope it’s something that sticks with all of us to be a tad more wise in these scary days.
Thank you for this. My nightmare came true for my family two moths ago. On a routine trip to a country grocery store, a mad man for no apparent reasoning, opened fire on my family inside our vehicle. He ended up firing 6 up close shots at my vehicle. There was no place to hide, no time to react. It probably took 30 seconds for this crazed situation to start and finish. We were not expecting this to happen, it happened in an extremely safe neighborhood. The mad man fled, but was caught less then an hour later. My children, ages 6, 11, 11, 10 were terrified, and screaming. I can remember that there was a sense of peace over me, though I’ll admit it, “the momma bear in me” wanted to rip his head off. The Lord must have wrapped his arms around my vehicle, because no one was shot, and only one bullet struck my vehicle. Your tips are fabulous, but I’ll add another. After a shooting situation, emotions are HUGE, fear lingers, doubts grow, mistrust festers, and then there are the nightmares. Get professional help for all involved families. Because the emotional healing takes a long time.
Trish, I cannot even imagine what you guys went through. Praise God your family was kept safe and protected during that time. I know your children and you are really going through a hard time in the aftermath of that. Thank you so much for sharing, that’s a great point about getting help afterwards.
Thank you. Knowledge is power and I needed this right now. Empowering ourselves is the best thing we as mothers can do. Sad that I even had to read this, glad you shared the info
So sad, but I agree.
Found you via pintrest, great article im one of those moms who is even wary of people while putting my kids in the carseats, i always feel so prone.
Any advise about hiding? If its important to turn off your cell i imagine hysterical children would be a giveaway too. Any ideas?
Cynthia, yes turning off cell phone, having something snacky in your purse for kids to eat might help them keep quiet. Singing very softly? I guess it would depend how far away from the action you were hiding. I’d research that more!
I’m glad I read your article and will post it on Facebook. The world is getting so scary and unpredictable. I like the common sense, to be mentally prepared. To run though what we would do in a situation so we’re not paralyzed by shock. I will be much more aware now and am going to print this so my whole family can review it. Thank you for researching this out.
Thanks, Michelle :)
I also read the Art of Manliness article last year and found it helpful, but I love the way you adapted it for mothers of young children. My biggest remaining concern when it comes to active shooter situations is when we’re in church and our daughters are on the opposite end of the large facility in their age-graded Bible studies. Anytime I’m in the sanctuary and get paranoid [which happens pretty frequently when someone uses a door that normally isn’t used during the service, when I catch a glimpse of someone’s gun (we live in TX; it’s happened), or when someone is just acting strange], I’m paralyzed by the idea of what to do about protecting my girls.
Kelli, I totally understand this perspective and often wake up at night thinking.. what was that noise… because two of my son’s rooms are between any intruder and myself. In your case, I’d just find out if they are at all aware of what they should do in such a situation and you’ll have to pray and trust they do what they should. We can’t always be right with our little ones. Sob.
Not sure when this was posted but it is all too real today. I found myself on this page after reading the news of a shooting at a church in South TX. We are in TX as well and I cannot even imagine what I would do if someone walked into our church with a weapon and intent to harm.
Hi. I’m reading this from the UK and I’m shocked by the need for your post. How do you feel about people in the US being able to have guns? It strikes me that permission to carry a gun quite simply leads to use….leads to death.
It’s really sad that this post is even needed. That much is undeniable :(
Genevieve, even if citizens were not allowed guns, criminals would still get them. Better to have trained citizens than sitting ducks. I have a concealed carry weapon and feel much more secure knowing it.
I don’t agree with your logic. The US has more gun violence than any advanced nation and trending shows it increasing. More guns are making us more unsafe, by all rational explaination. Research the difference between gun violence here in the US and elsewhere.
GENEVIEVE LOVEGROVE, Statistics prove that crime is lower where citizens are allowed to carry guns. After all, criminals are less likely to attack when they cannot know if you are armed or not. Also, in a number of shooting situations here, it has been honest citizens who have stopped shooters – before police arrived. How many more would have died if they had not had guns? No matter how good the police force, it takes time for them to get to the scene and act. We all know that criminals DO NOT obey gun laws. They WILLl have guns anyway, so wouldn’t you want to be able to defend yourself and your family? I certainly would. Sadly, England learned what it is like to not be able to defend themselves recently. The shooting on a bridge was all over the news here. (Sorry, I can’t remember all the details right now.) Hopefully, things will not get worse there, but self defense is a right of every citizen, so I am glad we still have that right here–at least in most states. Keep safe.
I am so glad that living in Australia this is pretty much something we never have to worry about. Great tips though should the unthinkable ever happen.
Yes, definitely not something we worried about while living in Oz!
Practice drills are empowering and have forced me to think about my surroundings at work, home and in public. My place of work does workshop trainings employing the run, hide, fight mantra. At trainings, “real” scenarios are practiced. Participants are asked to use skills learned. “Bad guys” are in protective suits, should a participant need to fight, they are protected (we don’t want to hurt those who are training us who happen to be in those protective suits.) I pray to the Heavens, my newfound skills are never needed. But true to any Girl Scout or Boy Scout, the motto to always be prepared is a good one. Knowledge and skills are powerful tools that no one can take away.
So true thank you for sharing!
Indeed a great article. I love reading it and it’s very helpful.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned it yet, but you can GET your concealed weapons carry permit! Sure would be better to at least have the option to protect myself & my son, God forbid. What’s the one thing that always ends those scenarios of a bad guy with a gun? A good guy/gal with a gun!
The single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your children in an active shooter situation is to carry a concealed handgun. You don’t have to be an ex-military human weapon to do this either, just find the weapon that is right for you and practice with it. Many first time gun owners will find the 380 to be a friendly but somewhat effective caliber with which to start. This also doesn’t necessarily mean you will use your weapon in an offensive role in an active shooter situation. It may only be an insurance policy for your escape route should it be cut off by the shooter. Just look at the ‘fight’ section of the poster. It depects people yelling, throwing a chair, brandishing what might be a ruler, and incapacitating the shooter by throwing – what – a paper airplane? Does that even seem rational?
Yes! I am wondering why this isn’t included in the article? The most effective way to keep your family safe is to responsibly arm yourself. Period.
That is a bad idea. Just get rid of guns.
I am an able bodied and strong person. Running in a zig-zag pattern while holding two kids and pulling two would greatly increase the likelihood that I would trip. It would also increase the likelihood that a child would trip rendering them more difficult to pull. Getting out or under cover FAST would be my priority. That would mean a straight line run to exit or cover.
http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/dont-run-in-a-straight-line-and-other-bad-advice
As noted in the link above: “Surprisingly for me, there wasn’t much difference in hit rates between any of the running methods. No matter which method the runner employed, he or she got shot 52%-55% of the time. Despite the “experts’” recommendations against it, the straight line run resulted in the fewest percentage of hits. But even more importantly, it also resulted in the fewest number of SHOTS FIRED. The runners were moving so fast that in three of the test runs (25%), the shooters were unable to fire a second round.”
Thank you for sharing this, Christi!
In this statement, “If you have a child in a stroller, you’ll have to determine if it’d be quicker to take the child out of the stroller and run or to leave them and run with the stroller.” Did you mean to say to leave the stroller and take the child?
Yes, I’ve gone in and edited that. Leave stroller and take the child!
I think about this every time I’m at the mall with my kids! A few years ago there was a shooting at our mall’s food court (domestic situation taken out in public). So the shooter was aiming at one person rather than the crowd, but it made me realize that this danger can happen even where I live in a regular suburban town. Thank you for the post!
Hi all, yes this event was super sad, but it also was preventable! Please please please take 10 minutes out of your day to call your senators and representatives and insist they pass stronger gun laws which also includes mandatory background checks on owning a gun, and makes it illegal for assault/guerilla type guns to get in the hands of civillians! Those type of guns should be reserved only for military/police! Please grieve, mourn, support, pray, but also take action and do your small part that saves lives! Thank you! –A mom who believes in a person’s right to bear arms–to a reasonable extent!
Excellent advice! I have 4 kids aged 4, 3, 2, and 9 months and we just had a talk with the older 3 about immediate listening and quick action when we say danger. Going to have some “drills” to so it becomes more of a habit. It’s sad we have to think about this, but it’s definitely necessary to be prepared!
Impossible to protect your children from unexpected events,when you have no idea from where or whom.Just have to trust them and hope they are sensible to do the right thing for themselves and others.Happy to live in fairly gun free e country.
Thank you for This article! That’s something that has been in my mind for a while. How to scape in an emergency with the kids. I’ve even practiced carrying both the other day. One in front (4y) and one on my back (6y). Which I don’t know if it’s a good idea in case of a shooting, but maybe in case of a terrorist attack (the chances are higher here in Germany).
But which worries me more is keeping them quiet in a scary situation! How to make them not cry or scream?
Only God can protect your child, however some of these may give some a better chance. HFA (high functioning autism), and ADHD kids are hard to direct when younger, there may be a scenario that is unexpected, and other variables not listed.
To totally protect your children requires home school, not allowing them to go anywhere without you, and other such methods. Too much attention to this can create fear in them, even neurosis. So, be calm when teaching them.
I think practices (like teaching them to local all exits when you go out to plan escape (and alternate) routes, and frequent discussions (perhaps movies or tv shows will have a scenario to be discussed) and asking the child (FIRST) what would you do in case….will help.
If children are always the listeners…soon they stop listening. Above all, pray daily for their safety.
Even without children, I think this is valuable, and very useful information. So often, people are stopped from sharing valuable information because it’s sad, too soon, or is said to perpetuate fear. Your points are very valid, and this is a conversation that needs to be had. Thank you!
One option for those who are so inclined is to carry a gun. As a mother of four very young children as well, in some cases, it would be impossible to gather my children and run to safety. The only recourse such a vulnerable party would have would be to shoot back. Obviously this would work only in states where concealed carry is legal and when you are well practiced and comfortable with your particular weapon. I think of those people who hide in shooter situations and how awful that must feel just waiting and hoping that the killer doesn’t find you. If you were armed, you would at least have a chance to actually protect your children. I realize that this way of thinking will come across as crazy to some, but to me it’s just common sense. As you mentioned in your article, the police do not arrive until after the shooting has ended. We are unable to rely on law enforcement to protect us in these situations.
YAAAASSSS LORD YAAAASSSS! WE ARE NOT VICTIMS. WE CAN EMPOWER OURSELVES! WE CAN CONTROL OURSELVES IF WE CAN NOT CONTROL ANYTHING ELSE. EDUCATION IS EMPOWERMENT! LET’S EMPOWER OURSELVES!
This is all great information. The only thing I would add is to carry a small first aid kit that includes a tourniquet. I actually just got a new first aid kit that includes an app to walk you through emergency situations. Like you mentioned, it could take a while for first responders to get to the area and bleeding out can happen very quickly.
Hi Rachel, this piece, shared by a friend on Facebook inspired a poem which I posted on my artist page this morning… it’s already had nearly 1000 views. Displaying how necessary this is. Thank you for this and here is the link to the poem: https://www.facebook.com/eveunfiltered/videos/813998428780925/
I burst into tears three times while reading this.
That we are even having to confront this issue is complete insanity.
A very informative article….
I also believe child safety should be our first priority. We should take care of babies especially while traveling. We have to use toddler seats for safe driving.
I have a 1 1/2 year old and a 3 year old. I’m such an over protective mom and being aware of something that unfortunately has been going on so often and frequently this article has helped me so much. I have even trained my 3 year old a code in case of a natural disaster. Now its time to teach her about this as well. Its never too early to make them aware.
Thank You
All good information. I’d like to add that not only should you be thinking of how you will react, so should the places we learn, work, play and pray. If those places aren’t prepared, let them know that there are a few things they can do to mitigate the threat and save lives. Tell them to have trauma kits (not the same as a first aid kit), they should also have door barricading devices and security film on windows/doors. These few additions to a safety plan will make a big difference in the outcome if an attack occurs. If those places where you learn, work, play and pray don’t add these to their safety plan, let them know you are taking your family to another location that does. Your life and the life of your children just may depend on it.
As someone who survived the Paris attacks in 2015– thanks for this. I always fear I’ll be stuck somewhere with my babbling four month old. The attack really did rattle me so I don’t go out often anyhow; but even malls and movie theaters are frightening.
Oh my goodness, so glad you were okay and I KNOW it’s big on your heart to know how to react if your little one is near!
Hi Rachel, I love your blog.
Is it ok to post links to your articles on Facebook? If not, is it ok to send a link to just one person?
Of course!