Sheriff: Video Could Save Lives

What should you do if someone comes to your workplace with a gun and starts shooting bullets at people?

A video that answers that question caught Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco’s attention lately.

The city of Houston produced the video called "Run, Hide Fight - Surviving an Active Shooter Event" that gives tips on how to avoid death when someone with a gun walks into a workplace, movie theater or other place that has a lot of people and starts opening fire.

Nocco liked the video's message so much, he asked Houston for permission to create a version just for Pasco County residents. That video, with an introduction by Nocco, is now posted on the sheriff's office's Facebook and YouTube pages. 

The sheriff's office is also reminding residents that 12 people died and 58 were injured in the July 20 shooting at a showing of “Dark Knight Rises” at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater.

"This video provides an excellent source of information so Pasco County citizens can be prepared should this unlikely event happen here," said Nocco in a press release. "While the chances of this happening are very remote the shooting that happened in Colorado is a reminder that this can happen anywhere and we should all be prepared."

The video, which was made with the help of funding from the Department of Homeland Security, recommends getting out of the location first and foremost.

Get out and help others to leave, but don’t let them slow you down if they’re indecisive, the video suggests. Leave your possessions behind. Once you’re out of the danger zone, stop others from entering the area.

It also offers advice on hiding. Lock and block the door to your area, the video suggests. Silence your cell phone, hide behind large objects and stay quiet.

It also gives advice on how to fight a shooter as a last resort. It suggests attempting to incapacitate the shooter, acting with aggression using things around you as improvised weapons and committing to take the shooter down no matter what.