'Run. Hide. Fight.': Point Park University Uses Same Safety System As OSU

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Just before 10 a.m. Monday, Ohio State University Emergency Management put out this tweet:

Buckeye Alert: Active Shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight. Watts Hall. 19th and College.

— OSU Emergency Mngmnt (@OSU_EMFP) November 28, 2016

The "Run. Hide. Fight." instruction is part of a safety system used by many departments across the country called "ALICE."

Point Park University Police use the ALICE system. It stands for: alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evaluate.

Safety experts believe "Run. Hide. Fight." is the best policy when you are confronted with an armed aggressor.

"This came from Virginia Tech when that individual came into the auditorium and just started shooting and everyone sat there. There are some buildings and rooms where you cannot exit the rooms quickly so you have to confront the individual," said Point Park University Police Chief Jeffrey Besong.

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Fighting an armed aggressor may seem counter-intuitive, but it's what law enforcement recommends if you can't first run or hide.

"If the individual does have a weapon, more than one person you can throw books, you can throw a chair. You have to do whatever comes into play to try to defend yourself and take down that individual," said Chief Besong.

Above all else, Chief Besong recommends using your street smarts and always being aware of your surroundings.

"Same thing if you're in a movie theater, try to sit in the back so everyone is in front of you. Know where your exits are," Chief Besong told KDKA.

Point Park University encourages students to speak up if they see anything suspicious.

"Fortunately, most colleges and universities are creating their own police departments and with the police officers on duty carrying firearms, they can neutralize the threat immediately. And that's what happened at Ohio State," said Besong.

Point Park University created a simulated active shooter video to use as a training tool. It is available for viewing on the school's website or by clicking here.