Active shooter incidents unfold in seconds, not minutes. In most cases, the attacker causes the majority of harm before law enforcement even arrives. What people do — or fail to do — in those first moments can make the difference between survival and tragedy.
At A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training, we teach a proven method that helps individuals react confidently and instinctively under extreme stress. But many people make predictable mistakes during real attacks, simply because they were never trained to respond differently.
Here are the five most common mistakes people make during active shooter events — and how proper training can help prevent them.
1. Freezing Instead of Acting
The most common response is not fight or flight — it is freeze.
People freeze because:
- They do not believe what they are seeing
- They have no mental plan
- Their brain tries to “make sense” of the situation before acting
Even a few seconds of hesitation can be deadly.
Proper training conditions your mind to recognize danger quickly and move immediately.
2. Ignoring Their Surroundings Before the Incident Starts
Most victims never noticed:
- Exits
- Cover and concealment
- Strange behaviors
- Loud noises prior to gunfire
- Suspicious body language
Lack of situational awareness gives attackers the advantage.
With the A.L.I.V.E. method, the first step — Assess — teaches individuals to stay aware, identify exits, scan crowds, and quickly spot irregularities in any environment.
3. Following the Crowd Instead of Thinking Strategically
During chaos, people often:
- Run in the same direction without knowing where they are going
- Follow others into dead ends
- Hide in predictable places
- Get trapped in bathrooms, closets, or corners
Crowd panic is dangerous.
A prepared person makes strategic decisions, not emotional ones.
ALIVE training helps individuals think clearly and choose the safest option, even under extreme stress.
4. Choosing Hiding Places That Offer No Protection
Many victims hide in:
- Unlocked rooms
- Under desks
- Behind thin furniture
- Places with no barricade options
These spots may offer concealment, but not protection.
In the ALIVE method, Impede teaches:
- How to barricade properly
- How to reinforce doors
- How to pick hiding spots that increase survival odds
- How to use the environment creatively
Hiding is not enough — you must hide intelligently.
5. Trying to Negotiate or Reason With the Attacker
One of the deadliest mistakes is believing an attacker can be reasoned with.
Active shooters are:
- Focused
- Intent-driven
- Often disconnected from negotiation
- Not seeking conversation
If escape or impeding is not possible, the ALIVE method teaches the last resort: Violence — defending yourself with full commitment to stop the attacker’s ability to continue harm.
This is not about fighting fairly.
It is about survival.
Why These Mistakes Happen
People make these mistakes because:
- They do not mentally rehearse emergencies
- They have no training
- Their brain defaults to confusion under threat
- They rely on hope instead of preparation
Active shooter survival is not instinctive — it is learned.
With proper training, individuals learn to:
- Stay calm
- React quickly
- Make strategic decisions
- Protect themselves and others
This is the power of the A.L.I.V.E. training system.
Be Prepared. Not Scared.
You cannot control when or where violence occurs, but you can control how prepared you are.
The ALIVE Method teaches you exactly what to do:
- Assess your surroundings
- Leave when escape is possible
- Impede the attacker’s progress
- Violence as a last resort
- Expose information when safe
Training builds the confidence and skills needed to avoid these common mistakes and greatly increase survival odds.
Contact Us Today to schedule life-saving training for your workplace, school, or organization.
Preparation saves lives. Awareness saves seconds. Training saves you.
About the Author
Michael D. Julian is President of MPS Security & Protection and a 30-plus-year veteran of the security and investigations industry. He served as President of the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) from 2005 to 2015 and has led executive protection, residential security, and corporate investigations engagements for Fortune 500 principals, high-net-worth families, and public figures across the United States. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.