The 2017 shelling of Avdiivka reminded many that school lessons on safe behavior in emergencies were not in vain. In such turbulent times, it is extremely important to know how to behave during shelling to ensure the highest possible level of safety.
What to do if you are in an apartment?
When under fire in an apartment, finding a completely safe place is simply impossible. You need to hide behind a windowsill or wall from direct hits, but this does not guarantee that a bullet will not ricochet off the ceiling or another wall and hit you.While in an apartment, never approach a window. To remain unnoticed, turn off the lights. Do this carefully, without standing up to full height. It is better to take an object and use it to reach the switch. As a last resort, you can break the light bulb by throwing a heavy object at it, because every second counts. If there is a room without windows, it is advisable to crawl into it.
If you are outside…
It is worse if the shooting catches you outside. In that case, as soon as you hear shots, you must lie down on the ground as quickly as possible. Do not look around hoping to find a cleaner spot. Even if there is a very dirty puddle right under your feet, you still need to lie down, and the faster the better. Clothes can be washed later, and even if for some reason that is impossible, the loss is still hard to compare with the loss of life.Correct priorities are key to survival in extreme situations. The only thing you can think about a second before falling to the ground is the direction of fire. It is advisable to lie with your feet towards the direction from which the shots are coming, as this will significantly reduce the area of damage.
If there is a car nearby, you can hide behind it. Never inside it, and also not near the fuel tank. It is better if it is a truck, as the area of such cover is larger and it is harder for bullets to penetrate.
The lull can be used to escape the scene or crawl to a safer shelter. To avoid suspicion, it is better to drop all your belongings and move lightly. It is important to remember that a lull does not always mean a complete cessation of fire, and new volleys may ring out at any moment. Therefore, every decision must be weighed carefully but quickly.
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