YOU Are The First Responder

For John, BLUF:  We need to get over expecting someone else to do the heavy lifting in the first minutes of a crisis.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Here’s how Charlotte should prepare for an active shooter

From The Charlotte Observer, by Paula Broadwell and Ryan Hoover, both of whom are from the local Charlotte area.

We talked about this earlier today, here and here.  This is a refresher and here is the key paragraph:

Prepare everyone to be a first responder.  The majority of active shooter scenarios last 15 minutes, and 60 percent end before law enforcement arrive on the scene.  In 83 percent of active killer incidents, the event only ends through use of force.  In many cases, civilian bystanders bring an incident to an end.

I suspect that this is a hard thing to accept, but you are the first responder.  Remember, when trouble is right in front of you the police, fire and ambulance are only minutes away.  Sometimes it is best to wait for them to arrive, but sometimes you have to act now.

For instance, if you are in a burning building, you "Clear" the building and go somewhere else.

If someone is choking right in front of you, you "Care" for that person just like Heimlich taught you.  If it is a heart attack you provide the initial CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation).

     For instance, go here.

If it is an active shooter you "Clear", "Conceal" or "Confront", based upon your circumstances.  To do nothing is to risk death for yourself and those around you.

Regards  —  Cliff