How to Protect Your Family in Crisis Requires Advance Planning

 “Sooner or later comes a crisis in our affairs, and how we meet it determines our future happiness and success. Since the beginning of time, every form of life has been called upon to meet such crisis…..Constant repetition carries conviction."  Robert Collier

 

Protecting my family is a moral imperative.  I have trained my children how to respond in times of crisis. The first time I asked them what they would do if a person came into a room with a gun with intent to kill us, there were shocked.

After the responses of Dad, why do you ask us that?  They said the idea scared them and they did not know what they would do.

We talked.  I showed them a designed plan that left them with their mouths open.  I told them we could all sit still and die or we could act.

The next revelation made it worse.  I told them one of us would likely die and another of us injured.  We prayed and laid out a plan.

Step One – Action Distraction

My job as parent is to get between my children and the gun.  Both hands must go for the hand with the gun.  There will still be a free hand.

Step Two – Counter Attack

My oldest attacks the person behind the knees.  We want the one with the gun on the floor.

My second oldest goes for the free hand to bite as hard as possible.  The youngest is to hit the one with the gun in the throat as hard as possible and then go for the eye. 

In the first seconds, we must size up our setting as we act.  Something in the room may be available for use as a weapon.  The goal is to disable our attacker. 

Step Three – Attack Until Threat Resolved

Counter attack continues until threat managed or eliminated.  We stay the course even if the gun goes off.  None of us let go of our objective until it is clear our attacker is unconscious or dead, whichever comes first.  We execute without prejudice.

Step Four – Restrain and Detain

Restrain attacker even if unconscious before managing personal wounds.  Move the gun away from the attacker.

Step Five – Attend Wounds and Call 911

This activity can happen in 15 – 45 seconds or less.  When it is over, fear will hit while adrenaline rush continues.  As soon as possible, find a way to center emotionally enough to call 911 and make a report.

When a person shows up with a gun is not the time to ask them to wait while you develop a response plan.  Response plans developed in advance increase the probability of survival.  How are you protecting your family?