The Boston Marathon; Sandy Hook Elementary School; the Aurora, Colorado movie theater; Columbine High School—sadly, most Americans are very familiar with these names and the tragic events that took place at each event or location. Mass shootings, home invasions, and other attacks on the general public are no longer the rare exception they were decades ago. No one wants to feel like a potential victim in their own neighborhood, but what can the average person do to stay safe? The authors of Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters give us the answer to that question. Inside, they take the successful strategies that have been used to avert planned school shootings, bombings, and other deadly events and demonstrate how those techniques can be utilized by the average person. The powerful and potentially life-saving information in this book includes: An honest look at the myths and truths surrounding mass casualty events Proven strategies for surviving violent incidents in malls, movie theaters, places of worship, and at home Safety concepts that can be applied to fires, medical emergencies, tornadoes, car accidents, and other hazards With an in-depth look at mass casualty attacks across the centuries—including the earliest recorded incident in 1764 in Western Pennsylvania, a vivid review of case studies to help readers fine tune how they prepare for life and death situations, techniques for improving crisis response, and much more, Staying Alive offers everything the average person needs to know in order respond to, and recover from, a crisis. An ideal reference for school teachers, parents, security personnel, and all others responsible for the care and safety of others.

本書は単なる危機管理の指針を超え、予測不能な惨劇における人間の尊厳と生存の本能を極限まで掘り下げた魂の教本です。過去の凄惨な事件を歴史的視点から解剖し、漠然とした恐怖を冷徹な知性へと昇華させるその筆致は、読者に「抗う力」という名の希望を授けます。 映像版では緊迫した現場の空気が視覚的に補完されていますが、テキストの真髄は、危機を予兆として捉える思考回路そのものを緻密に鍛え上げる点にあります。映像がもたらす直感的な体験と、本書が授ける論理的な叡智。この両者が重なる時、読者は単なる傍観者から、自らの命を守り抜く強き主体へと変貌を遂げるはずです。