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Be a Hero: The Essential Survival Guide to Active-Shooter Events
Dealing with the unthinkable
It’s never going to be you. Then one day you hear the clatter of automatic fire at the mall. You have been drawn into the chaos and terror of an active shooter event. What do you do? Who do you turn to?
Be a Hero is the essential guide to terrorist attacks that will help you survive. Former Special Air Service terror expert John Geddes will explain how to cope with a life-threatening event. He shows you how to make clear decisions and beat the odds
Dealing with fear through simple and effective techniques to bring the chemical urges generated by terror at least partially under control
Escaping and evading when possible, using everyday objects and landmarks for protection
Fighting back if needed, with methods to disarm an active shooter and to use items at hand as weapons
Using a weapon if you are licensed to carry, shooting to kill without collateral damage or being mistaken for a perpetrator
Providing medical assistance to deal with traumatic battlefield injury and save lives
This is not a book primarily for survivalists and ‘preppers.’ Be a Hero is a book for ordinary men and women who could find themselves in the middle of an extraordinary moment. It will help them find the hero inside—and live to tell the tale.
It’s never going to be you. Then one day you hear the clatter of automatic fire at the mall. You have been drawn into the chaos and terror of an active shooter event. What do you do? Who do you turn to?
Be a Hero is the essential guide to terrorist attacks that will help you survive. Former Special Air Service terror expert John Geddes will explain how to cope with a life-threatening event. He shows you how to make clear decisions and beat the odds
Dealing with fear through simple and effective techniques to bring the chemical urges generated by terror at least partially under control
Escaping and evading when possible, using everyday objects and landmarks for protection
Fighting back if needed, with methods to disarm an active shooter and to use items at hand as weapons
Using a weapon if you are licensed to carry, shooting to kill without collateral damage or being mistaken for a perpetrator
Providing medical assistance to deal with traumatic battlefield injury and save lives
This is not a book primarily for survivalists and ‘preppers.’ Be a Hero is a book for ordinary men and women who could find themselves in the middle of an extraordinary moment. It will help them find the hero inside—and live to tell the tale.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2017
20 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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July 25, 2017I just saw a review of this upcoming book, and I am FUCKING ENRAGED right now. Heart pounding, hands shaking, ready to start screaming.
I'm not mad at the authors, who "illustrate calming techniques, observational skills, and action plans that prepare readers for any situation" (Library Journal, July 2017).
No, I am fucking pissed at America's supposed political leaders who have done NOTHING to pass significant gun control legislation, despite a horrific number of mass shootings in the last twenty years. Rather than fix the problem, which is to control the number of weapons available and who has access to them, all of us potential victims are supposed to learn how to deal with an active shooter.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? This is both illogical and dangerous. Why are innocent civilians expected to deal with this kind of violence in a supposed civilized society? This is the same kind of bullshit rationale that is used against rape victims, blaming the women for how they dress or for being at the wrong place or for just being female.
Besides anger, the existence of this book depresses me, because our leaders aren't putting the needs of the country above the desires of their political party or above the donations of NRA lobbyists. We are failing as a society. This is its own kind of tragedy.
I'm not mad at the authors, who "illustrate calming techniques, observational skills, and action plans that prepare readers for any situation" (Library Journal, July 2017).
No, I am fucking pissed at America's supposed political leaders who have done NOTHING to pass significant gun control legislation, despite a horrific number of mass shootings in the last twenty years. Rather than fix the problem, which is to control the number of weapons available and who has access to them, all of us potential victims are supposed to learn how to deal with an active shooter.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? This is both illogical and dangerous. Why are innocent civilians expected to deal with this kind of violence in a supposed civilized society? This is the same kind of bullshit rationale that is used against rape victims, blaming the women for how they dress or for being at the wrong place or for just being female.
Besides anger, the existence of this book depresses me, because our leaders aren't putting the needs of the country above the desires of their political party or above the donations of NRA lobbyists. We are failing as a society. This is its own kind of tragedy.
November 2, 2017
We were required to read this book for work, and I have to admit while it was unnerving it was also very eye opening. It gave a glimpse into situations many of us probably will never be involved in, but vital information for helping to survive an active shooter attack. There were things I wasn't aware of such as most shooters are high on something. It made a lot of sense as one would think no one in their right mind could act on something so heinous. Lessons on Situational Awareness and performing emergency first aid were very well laid out and instructional. John Geddes minced no words when facing a shooter. Get midevil, be very violent if confronting a shooter. They have no mercy for anyone else. It was a great work of information to store away and hope that it never needs to be used.
March 27, 2018
I found this book interesting. For most of us in a shooting situation, it will be about avoiding and escaping. Only if trapped, will most of us find ways to defend and attack. The title "Be a Hero" is misleading to me. I wouldn't want to be a hero; rather I want "be alive" when it is over. However, the book points out things we should all know:
• CPR
• First Aid
• How to use/make/apply tourniquets
• Be alert to escape routes in any building/room you enter (I have always done this)
• How to lock/block a door
• What common items in your surroundings could be used as weapons for defense, or attack
• Appropriate use of cell phones during shootings - most of the time, it belongs in your pocket, turned off.
This is information we should ALL KNOW. Be responsible. Seek training. Learn these skills. You never know where you may be when they would be needed.
• CPR
• First Aid
• How to use/make/apply tourniquets
• Be alert to escape routes in any building/room you enter (I have always done this)
• How to lock/block a door
• What common items in your surroundings could be used as weapons for defense, or attack
• Appropriate use of cell phones during shootings - most of the time, it belongs in your pocket, turned off.
This is information we should ALL KNOW. Be responsible. Seek training. Learn these skills. You never know where you may be when they would be needed.
October 27, 2017
I have mixed emotions.
There's a lot of very useful tips on how to deal with terrorists and maniacs who are armed with knives, guns and bombs. It's worth it alone for the Lessons To Be Learned guide at the end that breaks down all the major attacks, from Columbine to Pulse, and tells you what went right and wrong.
BUT the emphasis on how to be an action hero and fight back troubles me. I know everyone just loves the idea of suddenly turning into Rambo but that's just not realistic. Unless you're cornered and literally have to fight to the death, your number one priority is to escape. If I'm under attack, I'm getting the hell out of there. I'm not searching for the janitor's closet so I can start making booby traps out of cleaning supplies. Get real.
There's a lot of very useful tips on how to deal with terrorists and maniacs who are armed with knives, guns and bombs. It's worth it alone for the Lessons To Be Learned guide at the end that breaks down all the major attacks, from Columbine to Pulse, and tells you what went right and wrong.
BUT the emphasis on how to be an action hero and fight back troubles me. I know everyone just loves the idea of suddenly turning into Rambo but that's just not realistic. Unless you're cornered and literally have to fight to the death, your number one priority is to escape. If I'm under attack, I'm getting the hell out of there. I'm not searching for the janitor's closet so I can start making booby traps out of cleaning supplies. Get real.
January 12, 2018
Solid read. Fast, too.
Piles of good information ~ if only people would heed it, practice / train, and commit to act.
Situational awareness is a great first step. Be aware of the agressor's 10-2. Flank and sneak from the 6. Everything's a potential defensive weapon. Know and be prepared to render first aid. Calm yourself and be decisive.
Good addition to the 'to buy' pile
Piles of good information ~ if only people would heed it, practice / train, and commit to act.
Situational awareness is a great first step. Be aware of the agressor's 10-2. Flank and sneak from the 6. Everything's a potential defensive weapon. Know and be prepared to render first aid. Calm yourself and be decisive.
Good addition to the 'to buy' pile
December 15, 2018
If you are sick of hearing about all the nut jobs in this world walking in to public places and killing people and want to do something other than die here is a good book for you.
The authors guide you thru steps you can take now as an ordinary citizen to increase your odds of surviving this type of event and even stopping it if possible. You don’t have to be a commando to learn and apply what they suggest. And I think you probably can help teach your kids (if you have them -if you don’t, don’t make any just to try out stuff on them.) this information after you have digested it.
Also might want to look at my short? post on this topic at my website. Coming, I'll add the link shortly. https://feliniworld.wordpress.com/201...
R Felini Author of
Chicago Style
The authors guide you thru steps you can take now as an ordinary citizen to increase your odds of surviving this type of event and even stopping it if possible. You don’t have to be a commando to learn and apply what they suggest. And I think you probably can help teach your kids (if you have them -if you don’t, don’t make any just to try out stuff on them.) this information after you have digested it.
Also might want to look at my short? post on this topic at my website. Coming, I'll add the link shortly. https://feliniworld.wordpress.com/201...
R Felini Author of
Chicago Style
March 16, 2018
Good info on how to protect yourself in case of a dire situation. Builds on information learned in workplace emergency training. Downside: the first chapters are quite repetitive. Still, good information to have. Recommended.
May 17, 2018
If you're gonna die, die with your boots on. An elaboration of the run, hide, fight protocol for slightly increasing your chances of surviving an active shooter or other act of violence scenario.
December 2, 2017
I picked up this book after seeing this in the library and hearing about all of the never-ending mass shootings in the news. Geddes outlines what you (as in average people) can do to save your own life and the lives of others should you end up in an active shooter incident. The fact that this book even has to exist angers me though it does have some useful information. One thing that stuck out at me in this book is that John Geddes assumes that all readers are capable of military-style fighting back and treating battlefield-like injuries, and that fighting back is the top priority. Nevertheless there is some useful information like how to try to stay calm in terror and how to avoid the shooter's attention. Useful read in some ways, but still didn't make me feel confident in my abilities to survive or help others in such a situation.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews