When bullets are flying, the odds of survival are determined by split-second decisions.
Whether those decisions are educated ones, rather than unconscious moves made in the
clutches of fight or flight, can mean the difference between safety and serious injury or
death.
The instinct to run for cover is universal, but it must be coupled with an understanding
of the relationship between ballistics and everyday materials. Dense wood, concrete, steel,
and granite are the preferred materials in the face of open fire—these thick, heavy
materials can stop bullets and save lives. Sheetrock walls may offer concealment—thus
diminishing a shooter’s accuracy—and give the appearance of solidity, but they will not
stop bullets. Even a small .22-caliber pistol can rip through drywall. Concrete or steel
columns, on the other hand, provide better ballistic protection, despite their relative lack
of coverage.
In cases of emergency, these principles can be applied to many of the objects in civilian
environments. Granite-top tables, concrete planters, and steel appliances all fit the bill.
Countertops, desks, and tables in hotel rooms are frequently made of granite or steel. But
some everyday objects appear solid yet are made out of lightweight materials that won’t
hold up to gunfire. Mailboxes and trash cans are generally made out of aluminum.
Hulking vending machines are mostly comprised of glass and plastic. Cars are partially
made of steel, but a steel so lightweight that it fails to offer adequate protection; in the
absence of other options, hiding behind the engine side of the car, rather than the empty
trunk, puts an additional layer of dense materials between an operative or civilian and the
shooter.