FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- In a message on Twitter, Emergency Management officials for Ohio State University warned students about an armed person on the campus Monday. The tweet, in part, urged students and faculty to run, hide, fight.
It’s a saying that has been growing in popularity across the country for several years on school campuses and Universities.
The action plan is supposed to be easy for people to remember if they’re ever in an active shooter or attack situation.
Local students at Indian River State College said Monday’s attack at Ohio State hits close to home.
Marcella Cerda always feels safe on campus, but the OSU attack heightens her awareness.
“I feel like I have to watch my back more. You just never know,” Cerda said.
“It’s quite scary,” said student Michael Harding.
Cerda and Harding also said they did not know about the Run Hide Fight plan until Monday.
“My first instinct would be to hide and lock the doors,” Harding said.
The plan calls for anyone in an active shooter or attack scenario to first, run. Have an escape plan. Leave any belongings behind.
If you can not get away from the attacker, hide in a safe location out of the attacker’s view and lock the doors. Block the entry to your hiding place and turn off your cell phone.
The last resort is to fight only when your life is in imminent danger. The Department of Homeland Security says you should try to incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression and throw items at the attacker.
A spokeswoman for Indian River State College says the Run-Hide-Fight approach has been adopted on campus.
Michelle Abaldo, Director of Institutional Advancement at Indian River State College, said in a statement:
Student safety and prompt emergency notification is of primary importance at IRSC. In case of an emergency on campus, students and employees quickly receive an “emergency alert” text and e-mail, as well as tweets and announcements on Facebook and the Homepage.
Emergency procedures are listed on the website and workshops are held throughout the year for both students and employees, including training in the Run-Hide-Fight method utilized by Ohio State University, which encourages students to take a pro-active approach for their safety.
Harding also feels safe on campus. “They do send out emails whenever there’s some sort of emergency.”
There are critics of the Run-Hide-Fight approach who say it’s not a fail-safe for every situation.
It has been endorsed by various schools across the country.