Here's What To Do If You're In Public And Bullets Start To Fly

You’re in public, minding your business, on your way to work — and gunshots ring out.

This rare, but terrifying scenario is something that all of us should consider with the prevalence of mass shootings in modern times.

There have been five in the U.S. just this year alone, not to mention the staggering number of gun deaths in America.

So here are immediate actions you can take to ensure your survival, which I learned during my time as a U.S. Marine.

Don’t freak out. Don't scream. Stay calm.

1. Hit The Deck!

This seems like common sense. Matter of fact, all of these will seem like common sense. But you wouldn't believe how many people hear gunfire in a public place and just stand around, heads all in the air, bewildered, looking this way and that.

Get low!

The first thing you need to do is remove your dome from the where the bullets will be. So ... lower it.

2. Don't Scream

If you find yourself in a situation like this, keep your mouth shut. The last thing you want to do is make the shooter notice you.

That includes talking on your cell phone—stay off of it, especially if you're in a city or other populated public place, where people who are within earshot but outside the danger zone can call the police.

Authorities might even be on the spot.

So don't yell, don't talk. Stay quiet.

3. Conceal Yourself

Seems like common sense, right?

But again, some people will sit well within sight of a perpetrator. Put something in between you and the shooter, preferably something that blocks his sight completely, but anything that offers a bit of misdirection (like tall grass) will help.

If he can't see you, he'll have trouble shooting you.