Safe in 60: What to do in active shooter situation

SALT LAKE CITY – Have you heard the phrase “Run, Hide, Fight”? Lt. Robin Heiden with Salt Lake City police shares advice if you ever find yourself in an active shooter situation.

“Odds are you will never find yourself in an active shooter situation,” Heiden said. “But if you practice awareness and preparedness, you could save yourself and others around you valuable seconds.”

Remember the phrase: Run, Hide, Fight.

1. Run: Find an escape route, such as a window, door, or fire escape. Get out quickly, and leave your belongings behind.
2. Hide: Hide in an area out of view. Block the entry to your hiding place and lock the doors if possible. If you can, hide behind something large such as a copy machine or file cabinet.
3. Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression and throw items at the shooter. Make a plan with others around you about how you are going to fight together.

Whether at work, school or out with family or friends, talk about scenarios and what you would do if someone came in trying to harm people. Be aware of your surroundings: where is the door, and is there an escape route readily available?

“While this is a hard subject to talk about, it is extremely important for you to be ready to act immediately if you find yourself in this situation,” Heiden said.

For more information about how to respond to an active shooter incident, visit the Division of Homeland Security’s website.

Remember to always report suspicious activity. You may not know if it’s valuable information at the time, but it could be priceless. Consider downloading and using the SafeUT app.

Lt. Robin Heiden will share Safe in 60 advice each Monday on KSL Today from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.