Seattle—
If someone pulls a gun and opens fire at the mall or in a classroom, would you know what to do to save your life? A Seattle man is teaching people the steps they need to follow so they don't freeze during critical situations like this.Larry Kaminer was almost the victim of a shooting while playing tennis as a teenager.
"It happened in a very dark and quiet lot next door, gunfire erupted from there. We couldn't see where it was coming from because of the thick hedges around the court but I completely froze like a deer in headlights," says Kaminer.
It was then he realized he needed a plan, and wanted to teach others how to be prepared.
"The time that is wasted thinking through the fog of the moment, those are valuable seconds that can make the difference between life and death," says Kaminer.
If you're in the middle of the mall and hear shots fired, Kaminer says to take cover behind a planter box, metal garbage can, or kiosk. If you're out in the parking lot, get in between two cars and crouch down, preferably toward the front wheels near the engine.
At school shootings, like Virginia Tech, the plan of action is different, especially if the gunman walks into your class. At close range, Kaminer says sometimes the best thing to do is get aggressive.
"There have been situations where people have thrown a chair at someone. In Baton Rouge two workers overwhelmed the gunman and managed to get his finger behind the trigger so he couldn't pull the trigger again."
Larry Kaminer is holding a seminar on how to react to gunfire on April 22nd at the Evergreen Safety Council, 410 Pontius, Seattle, WA from 6:30-8:30 PM. It's free, but you do have to register. Click on the link above for more information.
