Good morning everyone.

Today I want to talk about the shooting that occurred last Wednesday.

On Wednesday, February 14th, there was a school shooting in Florida. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

As a response to this, John Brandt, the head of security at USG, sent out an email to the USG community, in concerns about the incident:

“If you ever do find yourself in the middle of an active shooter event, your survival may depend on whether or not you have a plan. The plan doesn’t have to be complicated. There are three things you can do that make a difference, RUN. HIDE. or FIGHT….”

– John Brandt, head of USG Safety & Security

John Brandt included in his email a link to a video, that describes what you should do if you ever find yourself in a situation similar to this one.

If you want to watch the video, here it is:

The video describes 3 steps to consider: Run, Hide or Fight.

RUN

If possible, the best solution is to run. Leave all your belongings behind, and find the nearest exit. Encourage people to exit with you, but don’t let them slow you down. Your top priority is to get out of harm’s way. If you see someone about to enter the danger zone, stop them. Once you are safe, call 911.

HIDE

If you cannot escape safely, find a place to hide. Lock or blockade the door to your room, and silence your phones. If you cannot enter a room in time, hide behind a large object that could conceal you. It is important to remain quiet while hiding.

FIGHT

Fighting should be your LAST resort. If you find yourself in this situation, find anything you can use as a weapon to attack the shooter. Commit to your actions to take down the shooter.

Once law enforcement has arrived, remain calm and follow instructions they may give you. Make sure to keep your hands visible, and avoid pointing or yelling.

In all of these events, you should always have an exit plan. Whether at school or at work, make sure you know where the closest exit is, of you find yourself in a dangerous situation.