What to do when there is gunfire.

• Position: Public Safety

You are shopping with the kids and chaos breaks out at the mall. What strategies will you use to stay safe and escape with your family intact? In light of recent episodes--from disruptions at shopping centers to the tragic shooting at a Safeway Food store in Tucson, Ariz., police trainer Dave Young indicates such events help people face reality: "It's no longer a question of if something will happen, but when. You have got to be ready."

Young, founder of Arma Training, Mequon, Wisc., offers these tips:

* If you hear gunshots or shouting, do not move toward it. Obviously, this is the best way to stay out of the line of fire. While it seems apparent, "you'd be surprised how many people run right into a problem. It's like a fire: when you see people moving in the opposite direction, join them."

* Ignore the impulse to video: posting a video to YouTube or gathering evidence is not nearly as essential as ensuring your safety. "Do not waste your time on anything that puts you in danger." Pull out the cell phone only under secure cover.

* If you need to hide, public bathrooms are relatively easy to secure, and can be locked from the inside.

* If you get separated from your children, tell them to stay where they are. If they wander from the last point where you saw them, it will become more difficult to find them.

* Focus on your safety, not your stuff: stash your purse in a planter and drop those shopping bags...