Salt Lake first responders’ hearts ‘broken’ after Florida school shooting

SALT LAKE COUNTY – Emergency responders see and hear things many of us would never want to experience, but they’re people with emotions. Following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, Salt Lake County Emergency Management tweeted that their hearts were broken.

Members of Salt Lake County Emergency Management do practice drills for all types of hazards, including school shootings.

Steve Sautter, who is responsible for the operation of Salt Lake County’s Joint Information Center said schools in Utah practice fire drills, school lockdowns, and they know what do to if the event ever happens.

“We just hope that it doesn’t. It’s hard to say that it never will here,” Sautter said.

The tweet goes on to say, “We all need to be a part of the solution.”

“It’s always interesting after an event like this, people start saying ‘this individual did this or did that,’ ‘it was a little suspicious.’ ‘We didn’t want to say anything though,’” said Sautter. “What we are doing now is trying to work with our community and with our nation to say something if you see something.”

To report suspicious activity, Sautter said do not be afraid call police.

He said specifically describe what you observed, “Whether who you’ve seen, where you saw it, why you think is suspicious, and when you saw it. Boy, just give that call, the life you save may be mine.”

Another option Utahns have literally in their pockets, is an app called “SafeUT.” It is a statewide service that provides crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program. The app is also a place for parents and others to submit tips. It’ll connect users with licensed clinicians who can help anyone with emotional crises, bullying, relationship problems, mental health or suicide related issues.

In their tweet, Salt Lake County Emergency Management officials said this awareness could be the key to preventing a tragedy, like the one in Florida.