We have seen two very terrible, very fatal and very real-to-life examples in the last week. Chicago and now RI.
I am afraid it will take worse for the stampede mentality to wear off. Our people and our society simply have no reference to such situations ... and very few parents and schools take the time to train and raise individuals who do.
As you point out in your novel, it certainly can and will be used against us.
They know very well how panic can be manufactured to leverage mass death from ordinary circumstances.