By living in relative safety, most Americans take for granted the fact that they can sleep without hearing gunfire at night. This is true for most Americans but not all. In today's day and age you can never be too safe for fear of attack from terrorists, psychopathic killers, or zombies. So to help the majority of people, I have composed a list of tips to help you if you ever come under gunfire.

Seek cover and/or concealment. Written in order of importance. Cover is positioning your body behind an object that will protect you from bullets coming towards you. Some good examples of cover would be a concrete wall, a sandbagged position, or a large boulder. Get behind the first solid object that you see. If you heard a gunshot and have not been hit by a bullet yet, it is likely the shooter missed you and is now adjusting his/her aim. You don't have time to consider your options for cover. Pick something in your immediate area and get behind it.

Conceal yourself if you cannot find cover. You may find yourself in an environment without any suitable cover to protect you from incoming bullets. Do not panic. The next best thing to protect yourself from getting shot at is to hide yourself from your attacker. This could involve hiding in some large bushes or a dark corner if it is nighttime. Although concealment will make it difficult for your enemy to find you, it will not protect you from bullets. Never choose a bush when there is a good concrete or brick wall nearby.

If you cannot conceal yourself or find cover, drop to the ground. Dropping to ground is advantageous for a number of reasons, here are a few:

1. By dropping to the ground, your opponent may think he has hit you if he is firing from long distance. This may stop the bullets from coming towards you.
2. Dropping to the ground typically reduces the area of your body exposed to the enemy's weapon, thus making it difficult to shoot you. This does not apply if your shooter is attacking from an elevated position. An elevated position is the best position to shoot from and if you are prone on the ground, more of your body will be exposed.
3. Lastly, if you are on the ground and armed with a weapon, you are in the most stable firing position;the prone position. This position allows for the most physical support when firing a weapon. You are more likely to deliver accurate shots from this position.

Once you body is safe, identify the source of the gunshots. If you are in America, dial 911. If you are in a combat zone rally your squad for a counter-attack. If you can identify where the shooting is coming from, you will be better prepared to deal with it. Look for flashes of light, sudden movement, and smoke.

Develop a plan and execute. You do not have much time to react. It is critical that you think on your toes. If you have a weapon, return fire. If you do not have a weapon, look for one. Try and find a glass bottle, a rock, anything you can. Do not be in a gunfight empty handed. Hopefully, if you have hid yourself well enough your attacker will have left the area of attack, or he may leave his position to find you. When your attacker is looking for you, try to find a moment where you can take control of the situation. When you have your attacker of guard, use whatever weapon you have to disable him. Note: If you are well concealed, do not attack if you are alone.

If you are in an ambush, quickly identify the source of fire and run towards it screaming at the top of your lungs. Close the distance between you and your enemy. Use your warrior spirit to shock the attackers. By reducing the distance between you and the ambushers, you limit the area of fire that can be directed towards you. When you arrive at the position of your attackers, double-tap each one of your attackers in the center of their bodies with your firearm. A double tap insures that a killing shot has been delivered. (May not work on drugged up terrorists or insurgents) If you have no weapon, fight regardless. If you put up a good fight you might get lucky.

Hopefully, this has taught you how to survive an attack or ambush. At very least I hope it amused you.

Stay sharp.