The recent tragic deaths on the UCLA campus, serve as a reminder that dangerous incidents can happen anywhere, and WSU Police are suggesting that what they call a “What if?” mindset can be the first step in building a foundation for personal survival regardless of your setting.
In the context of an active shooter incident, having a “What if?” mindset means you’ve considered how you might quickly escape from an area, where you might hide or barricade yourself if you can’t escape, and how you might fight to survive as a last resort. In active shooter trainings, WSU Police refer to these three options as “Run, Hide, or Fight.”
Shooting incidents, in particular, occur very quickly and without warning. Statistically, they are likely to be over by the time emergency messaging reaches the public. Safety messaging is often necessarily general in its admonitions because every person faces a different set of factors that determine their best individual response. If you notice that something isn’t right, or if you witness something that looks like an active shooter incident, work through the Run, Hide, or Fight options and take decisive action. Help others if you can and report to 911 if you have specific information about an active event. Follow instructions from emergency responders as they take control of the incident.
In the event that you learn about an incident through emergency messaging, follow the instructions provided in the message and look for additional information on the alert.wsu.edu website.
Group training for active shooter civilian response is available through the WSU Police Department at 509-335-8548 or at police.wsu.edu.
Visit MyWSU portal to update your emergency contact information on the WSU Emergency Alert System.
