'Run, Hide, Fight': Law Enforcement Reiterates Safety Measures For Active Shooter Situations

Experts say if you’re in a situation where someone starts shooting, the three things to remember are run, hide, and fight.

Law enforcement says as soon as you hear the shots, run and try to get out of the area.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office said one of the most important things you can do is be aware of your surroundings and have a plan in place ahead of time, so you don’t have to think about it.

Some people who heard shots after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shouted out their advice.

"I immediately told him 'Get down, get down,’ said one woman. ‘That's shots fired.'"

"And there were a bunch of kids, and my sister and I were running, telling them 'get down, get down,”’ said another woman.

"I was just telling everybody to get down, get down, and get out of the way,” said another witness.

But law enforcement says getting down is not what you should do in an active shooter situation.

Instead, you should try to get out of the area as fast as you can.

"If you can't run because the threat is too close, or something is going on, the exits are blocked, that's when you need to hide,” said Corporal Daniel Gullett with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. “When you're hiding, you got to consider two different things. You got to look for a cover and concealment."

Gullett says if you can’t barricade yourself in a safe place, the last resort is to fight.

He says people need to make a plan before they go to a restaurant, movie theater, or concert, and know where the exits are.

They should also realize that popping sounds are most likely not fireworks going off, but gunshots.

"The car ride over there, or the day before, be like 'Hey, if something happens, this is what we're going to do,”’ said Gullett. “’ As say, you're entering a structure. You need to be like 'Hey, here's our exit. If we get separated, this is where we're going to meet up.' Things that are going to give them peace of mind."

The idea is to not let panic cause you to freeze up when every second matters.

"If you already have that plan ahead, your reaction time is going to be so much quicker and that's what's going to save your life as well as your loved ones,” said Gullett.

He says when you’re running away, try to put as much stuff between you and the shooter as possible- like trees, chairs, or racks of clothing, depending on where you are.