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Guard your safety, security in public places

Public places are vulnerable to personal catastrophes, and in an age of terrorism threats, people should be prepared for the unexpected, according to information provided by the Ada City-County Emergency Management (ACCEM) office.

“The issues of terrorism present us with many new challenges. One challenge is that large, crowded public places such as sports arenas and shopping malls, may be singled out as targets,” explains the January 2007 ACCEM newsletter.

“This is partially because some of those locations have come to symbolize American culture and that large numbers of people could be hurt or killed at once. We also have to realize that terrorists rely on shock and surprise. They want to create the most publicity possible for their causes.”

In the event of attack, whether by a terrorist or sniper or other assailant, people should: 1) Resist the urge to panic and run, 2) Be aware of immediate sources of danger, 3) Rely on previous lessons about emergency reactions, and 4) Act (react) quickly and responsibly to protect yourself and others.

Or, in ACCEM’s simpler terms, stop, look, think and act.

To see a more detailed plan, please see the linked ACCEM January newsletter.