Helix High School on Lockdown

December 16, 3:46 PMSan Diego Parenting ExaminerSondra Santos LaBrie

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Reports of an armed man in a restroom on school grounds put the La Mesa high school on lockdown this morning. A high school student alerted the staff that a man was seen carrying a black handgun.

Authorities did not locate or identify the man. Helix High School re-opened about an hour after the intial threat was reported.

Parents and faculty members of schools nationwide discuss safety issues and what to do if students are threatened, both by outsiders or other students.

Preparing children for situations like this is never easy, but understanding the layout of your school and knowing where the exits are is something that every parent should be aware of.

When asked whether or not parents have their child's school telephone number handy, most parents stutter and hesitate before realizing that while they can be easily reached by school authorities, or their child directly, many do not know how to contact the school should they need to determine whether their child is safe in a situation like this one.

If you're reading this, make sure to program your child's school phone number into your cell phone or work phone. Be sure to talk with your children about safety issues and make sure that they have a trusting teacher they can go to if they feel threatened in any way.