ShareKUWAIT: The United States Embassy in Kuwait has issued the following message to US citizens, containing instructions on how to respond to emergency events that might arise.
Security Message for US Citizens Responding to Emergency Events Such as an Active Shooter:
This security message to US citizens concerns how to respond to emergency events, including an active shooter.
In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and out of an abundance of caution, the US Embassy reminds US citizens to review the July 29, 2015 Worldwide Caution for guidance on the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against US citizens and interests overseas.
If confronted with an active shooter attack, quickly determine which of these three actions is the most reasonable to protect your own life; doing nothing is not one of them.
RUN
* This comes down to awareness of your surroundings; if an attack begins, and you see an accessible and relatively safe escape route, take it immediately.
* If you are carrying anything that may slow your escape, drop it immediately.
* If possible, help others escape with you.
* Once clear of the scene, do not allow others to blindly enter the area where the active shooter is located. Alert the authorities as soon as possible.
HIDE
* If it is absolutely impossible to run, attempt to locate a hiding place where it is less likely that an active shooter will locate you. Remember to silence any cell phones or other devices that may make noise or light and give away your location.
* Do your best to locate a hiding place that conceals you from view of the active shooter and provides some sort of substantial object that provides protection in case someone fires shots in your direction. If you are hiding in a room with a locking door, lock it and barricade the door with furniture or whatever else may be available for such use. The hiding place should also not restrict your options for movement.
* Minimize noise and try to remain calm if the active shooter is near your location. If you are on the telephone with law enforcement authorities and cannot speak, leave the line open to allow those on the other end of the line to hear what is going on near you.
FIGHT
Fighting is an absolute last resort and only if you cannot run or hide and only if your life is in imminent danger. If you must resort to this course of action, commit with every fiber in your being, be as aggressive as possible, and use whatever improvised weapons are available to incapacitate the active shooter.
For further information:
• See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Kuwait Country Specific Information.
• Contact the US Embassy in Kuwait. The US Embassy is located at Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa Street, Block 6, Plot 14, Bayan, Kuwait. If you are a US citizen in need of emergency assistance in Kuwait, you may reach the US Embassy by calling +965-2259-1001. After regular business hours, please request the duty officer at this number.
• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except US federal holidays).
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
This message may be accessed on the Embassy website, http://kuwait.usembassy.gov. Please note that the Consular Section is closed for US and most local holidays. The current holiday schedule for 2015 is posted on http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/holidays.html.
We strongly recommend that US citizens traveling to or residing in Kuwait enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the US Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the US Embassy.
