Only 45 days into 2018, and there have already been 18 school shootings, three of which happened in north Texas. It goes to show this is a tragic part of life that students need to prepare for.
However, mass shootings have also impacted movie theaters, shopping malls, churches and concerts. How a person responds to an active shooter could save their life.
“You can't live in a world where you think, ‘It can never happen here,’” said licensed professional counselor and KHOU 11 mental health expert Bill Prasad. “Yes, it can, and so parents need to be ready.”
Being ready means two things: how to talk to your kids and what to do during an active shooting.
"Run. Hide. Fight." is a training video used all around the world. It was produced by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security in 2012 and its mission is to teach everyday people how to respond to an active shooter.
The advice is run if you can. If you can’t, hide, preferably behind a locked door, with lights off and cell phones on silent. If you must then fight using any object around you as a weapon.
Prasad explains having a plan already in place can help during a life or death situation.
“If they haven't been trained in an emergency situation, they might go blank, and going blank could get you killed," he said.
The producers of the video hope the words "run, hide, fight" becomes as second nature as "stop, drop and roll" is regarding fire.
Explaining how to respond to an active shooter to children can be a scary conversation. Prasad recommends parents keep the conversation age appropriate.
“For preschool kids, you don't need to have a conversation unless they bring it up. If they bring it up, provide them with just a few details," Prasad said. "(For) elementary school kids, get ahead of the conversation.”
Schools do have emergency plans in place. Parents can ask the school to provide that information.
Prasad also warns it’s important to be proactive and to pay attention to any concerning behavior.
“(A person) who is isolating or acting out a great deal or maybe using alcohol or other drugs or who is talking about suicide or homicide -- those are major red flags," he said.
To view the "Run. Hide. Fight" video, tap/click here.