The following video shows a very brief snap shot of a few drills we run in our Responding to an Active Killer courses. All too often people assume running to safety is simple. And sometimes it is. However, when to run, where to run, and the variables that come into play create a decision making process that most don’t respect.
First and foremost, what physical shape are you in? Running requires physical fitness and if you’re out of shape, overweight, injured, or handicapped that will impact your ability to simply run. What exits are actually available to you? What direction is the perceived threat and what direction is perceived safety? Who are you accountable for? What if you or others panic? What if 20+ people are trying to leave the same single door creating a bottle neck and slowing your exit? What if you or someone you care about gets shots? What if people in front of you get shot? Will you step on or over them? Will that change your direction?
It’s not always just running. We do many variations of these drills. We begin simply having them move erratically in a an area simulating a crowd, then build upon the variables. This video shows a few of the versions we run in the following order:
1. Participants are allowed to freely run to any available exit the want.
2. Participants are limited to one available exit
3. Participants are told to choose a number between 1-10. They are then assigned the action or “run” or “panic” based on their number. No one knows each others numbers or how they will respond.
4. Participants are told to choose number between 1-10. They are all free to run to a singular exit, but certain numbers are told when they hear gunshots, they are gun shot victims and must hit the ground right where they are.
5. Participants select a buddy. That person represents someone they truly care about: spouse, child, etc… They are free to leave out of any available exit, however, they refuse to leave until they locate their VIP first.
6. Participants select a VIP again. They also choose a number between 1-10. They are then assigned the action of “run” or “panic” based off the number they chose. No one knows their number or action, including their buddy. They are free to leave out any available exit, but refuse to leave without the VIP. If their buddy is panicking, they must assertively convince and move their buddy to safety. If they are both panicking, then they look for each other and panic together. If they are both running, then they look for each other and are both running.
7. Same drill as above however we add one additional action which is “freeze” in which the participant drops to the ground and curls up making it that much more difficult for their buddy to convince them to run.
8. Same as drill number 6, however we implement the gunshot victim variable as well. Now if your VIP is shot, do you leave them or drag them?
Again, these are just a few of the variations of this drill we do. You can add more and more variables like locked doors, navigating hallways, isolating in barricades etc…
However, it helps the participants begin to realize the reality of the many variables that can come into play and the importance of understanding and practicing that decision making process.
For more information visit aaronjannetti.com and endeavordcf.com/activeshooter and check out How to Survive an Active Killer on Amazon
Aaron Jannetti 