Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet
CHINO, Calif.– It’s hard to imagine being in a place where your life is at risk and an active shooter is on the loose, but if that were to happen, would you know what to do? It’s probably something you never had to worry about.
Gary Mendoza, and his son Michael pay their respects at a makeshift memorial site honoring Wednesday’s shooting victims (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
That is, until it hit a little too close to home.
Last week, after Syed Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, murdered 14 people and injured 21 others at the Inland Regional Center, located at 1365 S. Waterman Ave. in San Bernardino, the city of Chino Police Department shared an FBI video on their official Facebook page to help people prepare for a similar situation, should they find themselves in an active shooting situation.
“We as an agency have watched and used this same video for training personnel and educating the public when a situation like this arises,” Tamrin Olden, public information officer for Chino PD said. “We felt it was appropriate to share it in light of the recent San Bernardino attacks.”
In the video, authorities detail what actions you should take if you are confronted with a shooter. The first action is to run. If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate, whether or not others agree. You should leave your belongings behind and help others escape if possible. Once you’re safe, call 911 and prevent others from entering the area.
If that isn’t an option, hiding is the next best thing to do. The FBI video advises you to act quickly and quietly and to secure your hiding place. Next, you should turn off the lights and lock the doors and remember to silence your ringer. If you can’t find a safe room, conceal yourself behind large objects that might protect yourself and remember to remain very quiet.
Lastly, the video gives a third option scenario when the first two are unavailable: Fight. The video suggests acting with physical aggression, and attempting to incapacitate the shooter, whether you are alone or with a group of people. In this instance, you must commit to your actions and improvise weapons to thwart the attacker.
Chino Police Department shared a video created by the FBI to help inform citizens of what to do in an active shooter situation. (Photo: Courtesy Chino PD)
Facebook user Yvette Kimbel wrote,”This is powerful and educational.. Sad that we have to come to this but I pray that we all can stay safe.”
“This made me cry,” wrote another Facebook user, Blythe Cosby. “I just had a conversation I never wanted to have with my 9- year-old and 7-year-old about what to do in an active shooter situation.”
Karen Gracie, another Facebook user commented, “Thank you so much for the info. I am in Canada, but this affects anyone in a crisis situation.”
So far, the video has received over 1.2 million views, and over 59,000 shares and over 9,600 likes.
“A lot of people are sharing it with loved ones and co-workers and are taking the knowledge and internalizing it,” Olden said. “Social media is a prime source of communication and it is important for people to share it with their loved ones and start thinking about a situation like that.”
According to authorities, the shooters had 1,600 rounds of ammunition with them and another 4,500 at their house and fired between 65 and 75 times at a holiday party for the county health department.
“An event such as this affects everybody,” said Oldin. “Being a neighboring agency, we are lending as much support and resources as needed and want to express our deepest condolences to the victims and those affected. This video and post is a great reminder to be prepared, especially for our responders to be well trained and equipped. We need to do our part to educate our citizens.”
To watch the video, you can go to: https://www.facebook.com/chinopolicedept/?pnref=story.
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