Be Your Own Bodyguard

Nowadays you have to become your own bodyguard! As a professional bodyguard and executive protection consultant, I would like to share my expertise and experience in my thirty-five years on the job in hopes it can save your life in the event of an active shooter situation. Here are some common-sense safety tips if you’re caught in this type of situation.

1. When you enter a building, locate the exits and figure out a plan if you had to exit quickly, where would you go?

1. Stay in control and keep your drinking to a minimum. When you become inebriated, you are not an easy target to the shooter.

1. Have a plan with your friends where to meet outside if there is an emergency.

1. Know where you are at at all times. In the event you need to call 911, giving them accurate and timely information gets them there quicker to rescue.

1. Try to remain calm. Panicking distracts from reality and creates more room for error and mistakes.

1. If you hear what sounds like firecrackers, don’t go towards it to check it out, RUN!!! More than likely it is gunfire and not fireworks or firecrackers.

1. Don’t hide in a bathroom or a closet. If you can get out of the building, leave. Staying in traps you and ultimately makes you a victim.

1. This is not the time for a selfie and don’t draw attention to yourself.

1. Your belongings are not worth your life! Leave your purse or anything you are carrying behind as it can all be replaced, you cannot.

1. If you get shot, apply pressure and keep moving towards an exit and towards safety away from the shooter.

1. If you see the shooter stop shooting to reload, now is the time to ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK with everything you have as it may save your life.
   
   I pray for all of this senseless deaths to end, but I also want to educate in the event they continue. Use these tips and stay safe my friends!