"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."

Shooting at North Carolina University Highlights the Importance of Active Shooter Training
Elizabeth City, North Carolina - On April 27, 2025, a festive student gathering at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) ended in tragedy. During the university's "Yard Fest," part of the annual Viking Fest celebration, gunfire erupted, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. Among the injured were three ECSU students who suffered gunshot wounds, while two others were hurt in the ensuing panic. Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening - but the psychological impact and trauma remain profound.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the university quickly initiated lockdown procedures and increased police presence across campus. While these responses were appropriate and timely, the incident underscores a deeper issue: the unpredictable and often deadly nature of active shooter situations, and the critical need for proactive preparedness.
Why Active Shooter Training Matters
In today's world, the threat of active shooter incidents is a grim reality - one that can strike anywhere, even in spaces meant for learning, growth, and community. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the average police response time to an active shooter situation is around 12.5 minutes, yet most incidents are over in less than 18. That means the first few minutes - often the most dangerous - are crucial.
Active shooter training empowers students, faculty, and staff with life-saving knowledge and strategies, such as:
- Situational awareness: Recognizing warning signs and potential threats before they escalate.
- Run, Hide, Fight protocols: Knowing when and how to evacuate, barricade, or confront the attacker.
- Communication procedures: Quickly alerting authorities and others on campus.
- Basic trauma response: Offering immediate aid to the wounded until help arrives.
These skills can dramatically reduce casualties, improve emergency response, and give individuals the confidence and clarity to act decisively under pressure.
Could This Tragedy Have Been Prevented?
While no training can guarantee complete safety, a well-prepared campus community is far more resilient in the face of violence. In the case of ECSU, it's possible that widespread, consistent active shooter preparedness could have mitigated the impact of the attack - or even deterred it altogether. Preparedness creates a culture of vigilance, awareness, and coordinated response, making schools less vulnerable targets.
The ALIVE Program: Empowering Communities Through Training
One of the most respected organizations in the field of active shooter response is ALIVE (Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, Expose). The ALIVE program is designed to help individuals survive violent encounters through intuitive, easy-to-remember strategies.
ALIVE training is more than just theory - it's practical, scenario-based, and empowering. From schools and universities to workplaces and houses of worship, ALIVE has helped thousands of people take control of their safety.
Take Action: Protect Your Campus Today
In the wake of this tragedy at Elizabeth City State University, let this serve as a call to action. Every campus must take proactive steps to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are equipped to respond to the unthinkable.
Contact ALIVE today to schedule life-saving active shooter training for your school or organization. Visit www.aliveactiveshooter.com or call (833)-992-5483 to learn more.
Don't wait for tragedy to strike - be prepared, be empowered, be ALIVE.
Hear From An A.L.I.V.E. Student Survivor Of The Las Vegas Massacre
"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.

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.