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Active Shooter Preparedness: How to Be Ready Before It Happens

Active Shooter Preparedness: How to Be Ready Before It Happens

What Is Active Shooter Preparedness

Active shooter preparedness is the process of developing the awareness, mindset, and response capability needed to recognize and react to a violent threat before and during an incident.

It focuses on preparing individuals and organizations to make fast, effective decisions under pressure. Rather than relying on reaction alone, preparedness emphasizes anticipation, recognition, and action.

Active shooter preparedness is not about fear. It is about readiness.

Why Active Shooter Preparedness Matters

Violent incidents often unfold quickly and without warning. In many cases, the individuals present must respond before law enforcement arrives.

Preparedness matters because it:

  • Improves recognition of potential threats
  • Reduces hesitation during critical moments
  • Supports faster and more effective decision-making
  • Increases the ability to move toward safety
  • Enhances overall survival outcomes

The first moments of an incident are often the most important.

Preparedness Begins With Awareness

Situational awareness is a key component of active shooter preparedness. It involves understanding your environment, identifying exits, and recognizing when something feels out of place.

Prepared individuals develop habits such as:

  • Observing entry and exit points
  • Noticing changes in behavior or environment
  • Maintaining awareness in public or crowded spaces
  • Avoiding distractions that limit attention

Awareness creates the foundation for action.

Planning Ahead Improves Response

Preparedness includes thinking through potential scenarios before they happen. This allows individuals to respond more quickly when faced with a real situation.

Planning may include:

  • Identifying multiple exit options in familiar environments
  • Understanding how to move to safer areas
  • Considering how to respond in different settings such as work, school, or public spaces
  • Thinking through how to assist others if needed

Mental preparation reduces uncertainty.

Training Builds Confidence and Capability

Reading about preparedness is not enough. Training helps individuals develop the ability to act under stress.

Active shooter preparedness training focuses on:

  • Decision-making under pressure
  • Movement and positioning
  • Recognizing threats early
  • Responding based on environment and conditions
  • Maintaining composure during high-stress situations

Training turns knowledge into action.

Prepared Individuals Act Faster

One of the most important benefits of active shooter preparedness is reduced response time. When individuals have already considered their options and practiced their responses, they are more likely to act quickly.

Faster action can mean:

  • Reaching safety sooner
  • Avoiding dangerous areas
  • Helping others move to safer locations
  • Reducing overall risk

Preparedness shortens the gap between recognition and response.

Organizations Play a Critical Role

Active shooter preparedness is not only an individual responsibility. Organizations play a key role in creating safe environments and preparing their teams.

Organizations can support preparedness by:

  • Providing professional training
  • Encouraging awareness and reporting
  • Developing clear emergency procedures
  • Reinforcing preparedness through ongoing education

A prepared organization is more resilient.

Preparedness Is an Ongoing Process

Preparedness is not a one-time effort. As environments change and new risks emerge, awareness and training must be reinforced.

Ongoing preparedness includes:

  • Regular training and refreshers
  • Reviewing and updating plans
  • Reinforcing awareness habits
  • Ensuring new individuals are properly prepared

Consistency ensures readiness remains active.

The Takeaway

Active shooter preparedness is about being ready before a crisis occurs. It involves awareness, planning, and training that allow individuals and organizations to respond effectively when it matters most.

Prepared individuals recognize threats faster, act with greater confidence, and improve their chances of reaching safety.

A.L.I.V.E. provides active shooter preparedness training designed to develop awareness, strengthen decision-making, and equip individuals with practical survival strategies for real-world environments.

Contact us today to learn more.

LEARN HOW TO SURVIVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER!

"Michael Julian has written an excellent book. Practical, detailed, and a potential life saver if you find yourself in the midst of a targeted attack."
J. Reid Meloy Ph.D. - ABPP Forensic Consultant, FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit Faculty, San Diego Psychoanalytic Center
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Instructional Read - I completed my reading of Mr. Julian's book "10 Minutes To Live" and I have to say this is one of the most concise and professional books I have read on active shooter survival. The book is excellent and straight to the point on ways for the individual to take action and provide for their own safety and survival. The book provides intricate information through the "ALIVE" presentation in an easy to remember format and adds more tools to the toolbox to survive an active shooter event. With the threat of active shooters becoming more pervasive each day across the United States, every piece of information that can be gained should be explored to prepare. The first book they should look at is the "10 Minutes To Live" book and place those ideas into action. This book has become an integral reference manual for my research on the subject of active shooter survival and it should be a part of any active shooter survival specialist's library looking for accurate and applicable information. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Amazon Customer
I hope I never need to act on the tips in this book, but I learned a lot from it - Sadly, I purchased this book the day before yet another mass shooting at a public school unfolded. Mr. Julian has laid out a straightforward and practical method for surviving. I can already see from reading this book and the news reports, how more lives could have been saved had the victims practiced what this author lays out here. I plan on carrying this book with me on vacations, business trips and to large gatherings. It might help me see the one extra thing that makes me a survivor instead of a statistic.
This is an excellent book that EVERYONE should read. This is a wealth of knowledge to prepare yourselves, just in case. We never know where terror might strike and we should know how to react to save ourselves and our loved ones.
Randy K.
Gives you an edge and a plan - This may save your life. Well written and thoughtful. Helps you clearly understand what you need to do to have a chance. Read and share with your friends and co-workers.
Tina Lizzie
Informative Book Everyone Should Read - This book is an informative read that, unfortunately, everyone should buy and read since we live during a time when we have active shooters too often!
Kimberly M Hawkins
Five Stars - Everyone should read.
Robert Sherwood
An outstanding, thoughtful, well-presented approach to a difficult subject. The format makes for an easy read.
Terry R. Cox
Excellent information for professionals and laymen alike - Michael lays this information out so everyone can understand it. Straightforward and to the point. Excellent information for professionals and laymen alike. Well done, my friend.
Five Stars - Excellent read and right on target. It is a must-read for Security and Police Professionals.
Dean A. Beers
First, I know Mr. Julian well, he is a close friend and close professional colleague. Be certain-my review is unbiased, with the exception of also being from my perspective. One reason he is such a good friend is we are on the same page-and this book confirms that. I have young grandkids and we have very direct conversations about their personal safety and bullying. How many regularly tell their kids and grandkids-no matter what, you get away alive because a bad person only wants to hurt and kill people. Some may not like that-but it's effective. How many, when walking in stores, malls, playgrounds, regularly ask their kids and grandkids what they would do if someone tried to grab them? Our daughters, when in elementary school, had someone try to grab them from the bus stop (they were the only two)-their reactions saved them. The very small town we lived in (literally one traffic light) had someone try to kidnap a young girl-adults saw it and stopped it, keeping the bad guy until the SRO got there within minutes. It's real life, folks. The odds are nothing will happen-but our lives, and those of our dearest loved ones, are not "odds." The best thing every person-every family, business, school, etc.-can do is Be Prepared (Boy Scouts) and Improvise, Adapt, Overcome (US Marines). Mr. Julian lays it out very strong and very simple for every person to stay ALIVE-Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, Expose. No one is too young or old, strong or weak, to follow this. No special training-just a very strong mindset. Every school administrator, teacher, student, and parent should have this book as required reading at every grade.
Chris Story
Security professionals and others-Read and share this book. It could help save lives! I just read Michael Julian, CPI PPS CSP's book "10 Minutes To Live." I'm a voracious reader, often reading 3james -4 books at a time. At the same time I am discerning. If the back cover or first few pages don't make me want to continue, I move on fairly quickly. As a security professional, I have a critical eye for fluff and conjecture. With this book that was not the case. After the first chapter, I reached out to several colleagues and friends and recommended it. I also recommended Michael be a guest interview on a popular survival mindset podcast. This book is well written, well researched, cited, and yet easy to read and comprehend. It isn't a stale scholastic book on concept. It is an educational, read-and-apply-NOW manual for thinking through and surviving an active shooter event. His approach goes beyond the accepted "Run, Hide, Fight" and walks the reader through a mindset approach to surviving mass killing events. Regardless of background or experience, the author's simple and direct approach speaks volumes to the reader. The book is a must-read for security professionals and loved ones alike. It helps explain why and how mentally preparing now is simple survivability insurance in both corporate and personal settings. Well done! I look forward to more.
Randy Ontiveros
Excellent reading, very helpful and I would recommend to anyone who has thought "What would I do if a shooter appeared out of nowhere?" A box of rocks on each student's desk is not a solution. Read Michael's to find a better way.
Carl Scala
Great information geared towards surviving an active shooter/active threat situation - A very good read in explaining how to survive an active shooter/active threat situation for the novice. Having years of experience from the military, law enforcement and now Executive Protection, Mr. Julian breaks down the information in a very easy way so that it may open the reader's eyes to be more situationally aware. With all of the past decades of mass threat incidents, I highly recommend this book. It may just save your life.
Richard Marruffo
Great book!!! - Very well written and easy to read. Fantastic information and really hits home. I also highly recommend the Surviving an Active Shooter course taught by Mr. Julian!
Cynthia C.
Michael gave lots of very helpful tips on how to recognize a potential active shooting situation and the steps to take following. He also gave educated advice on what to do in every possible situation you could possibly find yourself in in several different scenarios. This course has been very helpful!
Christine Drawdy
Do not sub-contract your own security - Excellent read on action to take to survive an Active Shooter situation.


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"As a retired 32 year law enforcement veteran, with several years of SWAT and tactical experience, I learned some different unique perspectives as it pertains to civilians dealing with active threat situations. Very good class for civilians who may have never experienced reacting to a life and death stressful situation."
- Christopher C.

A.L.I.V.E. STANDS FOR:


Assess

Assess the situation quickly


Leave

Leave the area if you can


Impede

Impede the shooter


Violence

Violence may be necessary


Expose

Expose your position carefully for safety

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MICHAEL JULIAN

Creator of A.L.I.V.E.

A.L.I.V.E., which stands for Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, and Expose, was created in 2014 when Michael began teaching his Active Shooter Survival philosophy throughout the United States. His book on the subject, 10 Minutes to Live: Surviving an Active Shooter Using A.L.I.V.E. was published in 2017 and the online version of the A.L.I.V.E. Training Program was launched in 2019 and is now part of the corporate security training program for companies throughout the world.


Michael Julian - Creator of A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training

Why A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter
Survival Training Program?

The A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training Program is a comprehensive training program designed to provide individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to survive an active shooter incident. Its emphasis on situational awareness and decision-making makes it a practical and effective approach to active shooter situations. By empowering individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and others, the program can help prevent tragedies and save lives.


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