Why Immediate Response Training Is Important for Everyone

When a crisis strikes, every second counts. Whether it’s an active shooter situation or a medical emergency, the outcome often depends on what happens before first responders arrive. In those critical moments, the actions taken by ordinary people — including employees, community members, and loved ones — can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why immediate response training isn’t just for healthcare professionals or law enforcement. It’s an essential skill for everyone.

Seconds count in critical situations

During emergency situations, survival often hinges on what happens in the very first moments. In cases of severe injury, for example, a person can bleed to death in as little as three minutes. When immediate care is given, such as applying direct pressure or using a tourniquet, the injured person’s chances of survival increase dramatically.

The same principle applies in an active shooter event. Many lives are lost not only because of the violence itself but also due to delays in emergency medical services. While professional help is on the way, it may be slowed down by lockdowns, distance, traffic, or confusion on scene. The first step to creating a safer environment is ensuring people on the ground are trained and ready to provide immediate assistance.

Active violence incidents can and do happen anywhere, including:

• Office settings
• Manufacturing companies
• Retail environments
• Healthcare facilities
• Events and festivals
• Sporting venues
• Open areas and parks
• Government buildings
• Places of worship

The unpredictability of where violence or injury can strike makes preparation the key to improving outcomes for all involved. Get the facts.

Immediate response training helps with overcoming the freeze response

In moments of extreme stress, people tend to react in one of three ways: they run, they fight, or they freeze. The freeze response is very common. But it’s also dangerous because it delays action. Even a few seconds’ hesitation can determine whether someone escapes safely or becomes trapped in harm’s way.

Immediate response training helps participants overcome natural hesitation by teaching them how to recognize the signs of freezing and then move decisively into action. Whether that means escaping, evading, or defending in place, the goal is to replace paralysis with practiced responses.

Just as importantly, immediate response training prepares participants to guide others who may be overwhelmed by fear. In a crowded workplace or public space, having even one trained person who can take charge, calm panic, and direct people toward safety can make the crucial difference between chaos and survival.

What makes AVIRT’s immediate response training different

AVIRT is designed to prepare people for critical situations where a decisive response can ultimately determine survival. Unlike traditional training programs that only teach “Run, Hide, Fight,” AVIRT focuses specifically on the realities of active violence situations and incidents involving severe bleeding.

This type of training teaches participants how to:

• Understand active shooter response procedures from multiple perspectives, including how to communicate and coordinate with law enforcement.
• Recognize warning signs and respond quickly in a violent or emergency situation.
• Escape, evade, or attack depending on circumstances.
• Take immediate action to stop life-threatening bleeding.
• Move people to safety using clear evacuation procedures, including how to identify safe exit points, adapt to changing conditions, and account for variables (e.g., crowds, obstacles, or the location of a moving threat).
• Support a culture of safety by preparing staff members and community members at large to respond effectively.

By blending situational awareness with practical lifesaving skills, AVIRT gives everyday people the confidence to step up when it matters most.

Round out your lifesaving skills with CPR, AED, and First Aid training

While AVIRT focuses on active shooter and bleeding control training, it’s smart to round out your emergency care knowledge with CPR, AED, and First Aid skills.

Adding CPR training and AED use to your toolkit gives you the ability to respond to cardiac emergencies (e.g., sudden cardiac arrest or a heart attack). You’ll learn how to effectively provide chest compressions, deliver rescue breaths, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Additionally, First Aid training programs teach you how to respond to a wide range of medical emergencies, including severe allergic reactions, stroke, choking, and other first aid topics.

When combined with AVIRT’s immediate response training, these added skills expand your ability to protect lives in almost any emergency.

Building a safer workplace and community

Organizations that invest in safety training build resilience and create a safer workplace for everyone. With nearly 1 in 7 employees reporting they feel unsafe at work, and OSHA estimating more than 2 million people are affected by workplace violence every year, it’s clear that a proactive approach is necessary to allow people to feel safe and prepared.

A strong emergency response plan, backed by trained employees, ensures that in the event of an emergency, there’s reduced hesitation in delivering immediate first aid and guiding others to safety.

For organizations or individuals that want to go a step further, becoming an AVIRT Instructor can be a powerful way to embed training across their workplace or community. Through AVIRT’s Instructor Development Course, participants complete a blended learning program that combines online preparation with realistic, hands-on drills during a six-hour Instructor-Trainer led session.

Authorized AVIRT Instructors receive the tools they need to deliver in-person and blended immediate response training to organizations across all industries.

“The course totally changed my mindset on an active violence situation in all aspects. I can’t wait to share this knowledge with my community and all types of industries in my area. Thank you.” — Steve Pesqueira, AZ

Interested in learning more? Check out our free Become an AVIRT Instructor eBook and our New Instructor Roadmap to better understand the process, requirements, and benefits of becoming an AVIRT Instructor.