If you see something, say something: Community urged to help keep campuses safe

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With September marking National Preparedness Month and Sept. 25 designated as national “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day, Penn State University Police and Public Safety is reminding all students, faculty and staff of the steps they can take to help keep themselves and their fellow Penn State community members safe.  

“We are encouraging all Penn Staters, as part of the national conversation taking place this month around safety and preparedness, to take an active role in helping to keep our campuses safe,” said Wesley Sheets, chief of Penn State University Police and Public Safety. “This includes reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately, taking the time to familiarize yourself with Penn State's official Active Attacker Response Program, and signing up to receive PSUAlert text messages to stay informed of safety-related messaging from the University.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated Sept. 25 as national “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day to highlight the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement. By paying attention to one’s surroundings, recognizing the signs of suspicious activity, and contacting University Police if something doesn’t seem right, everyone can do their part to help keep Penn State’s campuses safe. 

September also is National Preparedness Month, which is a good time for the Penn State community to learn more about how to prepare for and react if presented with a potentially life-threatening situation anywhere. 

Based on the Run, Hide, Fight model developed by the city of Houston, Texas, Penn State’s Active Attacker Response Program offers the same three action steps if confronted with an active assailant, making it easy to remember and act upon in an emergency: run if you can, hide if you can’t, and fight if you have to.

“We like to remind the University community about the Penn State Active Attacker Response Program and its run, hide and fight action steps on a regular basis because emergency preparedness requires everyone’s ongoing attention,” Sheets said. “It is important to have a plan in mind if you are ever confronted with an active attacker, as seconds absolutely count in the first moments of an attack. In such a situation it is critical to be able to think clearly and act quickly and decisively, and that is what makes the run, hide, fight model so effective.”

The run, hide, fight concept is endorsed at the local, state and federal levels, including by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. University Police and Public Safety routinely offers Active Attacker Response Program training to campus groups, and training can be requested on the University Police and Public Safety website. 

University Police and Public Safety has robust policies and procedures in place for active-attacker situations, and Penn State police officers train regularly for such potential circumstances. However, it is important that community members take the time to familiarize themselves with the Active Attacker Response Program, as it is designed to provide options to help survive an attack in the first crucial moments before police arrive on the scene. Depending on individual circumstances, it is important to note that the run, hide and fight action steps may not always occur in this exact order, so being familiar with them all as possible options, regardless of order, is urged. 

Beyond the program’s namesake actions, University Police provides the following additional guidance to community members on what to do during each step in the process: 

Run 

• Have an escape route and plan in mind. 
• Make sure it is safe to leave the area. Use your eyes and ears to determine if it is safe to run. 
• Leave your belongings behind. 
• Keep your hands visible. 
• Once in a safe place, call 911 and give detailed information about what is happening and the location. Don’t assume someone else has already called the police. 

Hide 

• If unable to run from the danger, your second option should be to hide. 
• Find a place that’s out of the attacker’s sight and remain quiet. 
• Do not huddle together, as this creates an easier target. 
• Lock and barricade doors with whatever is available, such as desks, chairs or door wedges. Shut off lights. 

Fight

• Fighting is a last resort to be used only when your life is in imminent danger. (However, sometimes fighting may be the first and only option.) 
• Find an object to use as a weapon, such as a fire extinguisher, backpack, book or chair. 
• Attempt to incapacitate the attacker; commit to your actions; work with others to disable the assailant. 

In the event of any report of an active shooter or attacker, a rapid response by law enforcement to the scene and communication to the community by email, text, telephone and social media using the University’s PSUAlert system would occur. Initial alert messages would be followed by critical information and regular updates. 

All Penn State students and employees with a Penn State email address automatically receive PSUAlerts by email. Students and employees are encouraged to visit psualert.psu.edu to update their settings — using the yellow “Manage My Alerts” button — so that they receive PSUAlerts by text message and/or phone call as well. Users also can choose to receive alerts for multiple Penn State campuses. In the event of an emergency, PSUAlert will be used to provide the campus community with critical information. 

Employees who may find it difficult to review such subject matter or take part in the trainings offered by University Police can seek support through the Employee Assistance Program. Students at University Park can find support through Counseling and Psychological Services. Students at other Penn State campuses can find support here. 

Click here to report suspicious activity or a crime on any Penn State campus. In an emergency, always call 911.