Surviving a school attack: Run, hide, fight, and know when to evacuate
Following the tragic school shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where two students died, certified emergency manager Martin Aguda Jr. has shared crucial safety tips for students and teachers facing an active shooter on campus. The first moments of an attack can mean the difference between life and death, and knowing the right response is essential.
What should you do first during an active shooter situation?
Aguda, speaking on the program Unang Hirit, emphasized that the priority is always to escape the attacker's line of sight. If there is a safe route, running or evacuating should be the immediate choice.
“Our first survival technique is always to get out of the shooter's line of sight,” Aguda said. Students who encounter a shooter in a hallway should look for any opportunity to leave the area quickly.
He also warned against a common misconception: playing dead. “Never play dead. The perpetrator knows that they have not been neutralized, so you could still be targeted,” he cautioned.
When running is not possible, how should you hide?
If escape is impossible, hiding becomes the next best option. Students should enter a classroom, lock the door, barricade it with available furniture, turn off the lights, and stay out of sight.
“As much as possible, they have to remain quiet so the attacker will think that there is no one inside the classroom,” Aguda explained.
He added a vital detail for those hiding in rooms with wooden doors: “If the door is made of wood, bullets can penetrate it, so it is also important to take cover behind concrete or cement structures.”
When is fighting back the right choice?
Fighting should only be considered when there is no safe way to run or hide, and the attacker has already entered the room. Aguda advised that if the shooter forces their way in, people should work together to overwhelm them.
“If the attacker actually gets inside and forces their way in, by all means, they can swarm or overwhelm the attacker,” he said. In such a situation, using any available objects to defend oneself is acceptable.
When is it safe to evacuate after the threat passes?
Even after the immediate danger seems over, students should not leave their hiding places without official confirmation. Aguda stressed that people must wait for instructions from law enforcement before coming out.
“We should wait for a knock or for instructions from law enforcement or the police telling us that it is safe to come out,” he said. Authorities need time to clear hallways and surrounding areas of any threat.
He also warned that the perpetrator could blend in with students, so following police orders is critical. “If they tell us to put our hands up, we should follow that instruction until we reach the evacuation area, and we should not take any action that goes against the instructions of the police,” he added.
How is the community responding in Zamboanga?
The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed deep concern over the incident and is coordinating with mental health partners to provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support to those affected.
“We urge the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and sharing sensitive photos, videos, or details about the incident, especially since minors are involved,” DepEd said in a statement.
City Mayor Khymer Olaso reported that two students died, one of them the alleged shooter. The university said it was “saddened by the incident” and declared Wednesday as a day of mourning and prayer.
In these trying times, our thoughts are with the families and the entire Zamboanga community. Knowing these safety steps can save lives, and it is our hope that no school ever has to face such a tragedy again.