POINT TOWNSHIP – Following the tragic mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, a local police officer is providing important information on personal safety. Point Township Joshua VanKirk has done extensive research on staying safe in a critical situation and was a telephone guest on WKOK’s On The Mark program.
VanKirk said, “Regardless of where it happens, I think for most of the public, we should focus on basic safety practices that are realistic, that they can achieve.”
VanKirk talked about the importance of reporting strange behavior, “I know people are afraid of reprisals, but if you hear somebody talking about hurting people, making remarks repeatedly, that do not really fit normal behavior, the most responsible adults can benchmark what normal behavior is. At that point you need to report it. It is possible you could be labeled, but compare the cost of reporting someone who is acting unusual, and perhaps you get labeled, versus the cost if you don’t report it and then someone is hurt.”
VanKirk said environmental awareness is critical, “People should at least challenge themselves to know the situation that they are in, whether it’s a movie theater, club or mall. Kind of know where the exits are, take some scans around and see what’s available to use for cover or, worst case scenario, as a weapon.”
He said knowing your surroundings is also important, “If you are pulling in to dark hotels, you can use the headlights of your vehicle to scan the area. Don’t just pull in, talk about how great the day was, and then hop out of your car without knowing what your surroundings are. You know, there is a pretty good rule that it’s easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble.”
And if you find yourself in a critical incident, VanKirk talked about how to react, “If you find yourself in a critical incident, the very first rule is ‘run, hide, fight’. Get out as quick as you can. Get a rapid call to 911. The violence is already happening, but as the clock runs, the death toll increases.
He said, “Escape and get out as quick as you can. If there is no escape route, try to hide behind some cover that stops bullets, you know, slow the shooter down from getting to you. It’s kind of like putting hurdles in the track. We are just trying to buy some time and if they find your location, by all means, you have to be willing to fight as nasty as you can. There is no such thing as a fair fight when someone is pointing a gun at you.”
You can hear more from VanKirk from WKOK’s On The Mark program online at www.wkok.com. (Ali Stevens)
