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Gun violence has become increasingly more common over the last few years. Whether you are in the comfort of your home, on the road or out running errands, you might hear gun sounds and think maybe it’s fireworks or a burst tyre without realising that you are closer to a shooting than you think. Read on to discover what to do when gunshots are fired nearby.

1. Be Sure and Know When to React

Shootings won’t always sound as dramatic as they do in the movies. It might sound like a distant cracking of a whip or a car backfiring, and your brain won’t register the sound immediately. However, if it’s a shooting, you should know how to react without hesitation to avoid danger.

When in a high-stress situation, your brain may delay reacting as your instincts downplay the danger, hoping that everything is fine. However, it’s important to know for sure whether you’re near a life-threatening situation. Using the FREE-to-use iER App to alert the emergency centre the moment you realise there’s a shooting nearby can save your life and others.

2. Ensure Your Safety

When you realise you’re in danger, the best thing to do is avoid being seen and possibly wounded. If it sounds like it’s too close to you, you should look for a spot where you can hide and ensure you are shielded from stray bullets. It’s better to look for thick, solid objects, such as concrete walls and pillars, since they may deflect a bullet and provide more protection.

If you’re in an open area, you should crawl to the nearest hiding place. Most importantly, always ensure to keep your body as low to the ground as possible. If you stand while looking for cover, your height could make you an easier target than when you lie flat on the ground.

3. Avoid Attracting Attention

Once you are in a safe hiding spot, make sure that you do not attract attention. This isn’t the time to scream for help or call out to others unless it’s necessary. Any noise could give your location away and make you a target in case you’ve witnessed the ordeal.

You should put your phone on silent. If you must call emergency services, do it discreetly. You can rely on the silent alert or panic button features in the iER App to ensure you receive an immediate response without further endangering your life. Avoid sudden movements that might catch the shooter’s attention or cause panic among those nearby.

4. Prioritise Your Survival First Without Being a Hero

One of the hardest decisions during a shooting is choosing not to help someone who’s injured or panicking. You may notice someone in a life-threatening situation and want to rush to their aid. However, the truth is that you should prioritise your safety to ensure you can alert emergency services, provide a statement to the police, and assist the victims when there is no longer an immediate danger.

5. Call for Help When it’s Safe

Once you are certain that you’re safely hidden or far from the scene, the best thing to do is call for help. You can use the FREE-to-use iER App when you enable your location-sharing settings to ensure emergency responders are dispatched to your location. Alerting emergency services to details such as the number of shooters you saw, whether other weapons were involved, and any casualties you have noted helps them prepare for their arrival at the scene.

6. Don’t Assume It’s Over

The silence after a series of gunshots can be misleading, and you might think it’s safe to emerge from your hiding spot. Yet, gunmen can linger nearby to ensure they have finished the job or even mistake you as a threat if you decide to come out to check what’s happening. It’s important to wait for an official announcement from police, security personnel, or verified emergency responders before coming out. If you must leave because of fire, smoke, or visible danger, move with extreme caution and keep your hands visible to avoid being mistaken for a threat.

7. Speak Up if You Notice Signs of Trauma Afterwards

Surviving a shooting can be an emotional and psychological experience. In the days that follow, you might experience shock, nightmares, hypervigilance, or anxiety, which can signal underlying trauma. Even though it’s normal to feel like this, you should use the FREE-to-use iER App to access a network of mental health professionals who can provide adequate psychological support to navigate what you went through.

Gun violence is often unpredictable and can happen anywhere, at any time. Even if you don’t receive a warning or have time to figure out what’s happening during a shooting, staying prepared with 24/7 access to emergency services can be a lifesaver. Download the FREE-to-use iER App from the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or the Huawei App Gallery today!