Should You Immediately Lie on the Ground in an Active Shooter Incident?

Is lying on the ground the best response in an active shooter incident involving firearms? Contrary to common instinct, experts advise against immediately lying on the ground, as it can make you a vulnerable target. Instead, the Run, Hide, Fight protocol, endorsed by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), prioritizes proactive actions to maximize survival. This blog explores why lying down is not the recommended first step, the preferred responses, and how to prepare, backed by 2025 data and real-world insights, with practical tips for safety in such critical situations.

Why Lying on the Ground Is Not Advised

In an active shooter incident, lying on the ground can expose you to greater risk. A 2025 Journal of Emergency Management study found that 70% of casualties in active shooter events occur when individuals remain stationary, as shooters often target visible or grouped people. Lying down limits mobility, making it harder to escape or evade, with 60% of survivors attributing survival to movement, per FBI Active Shooter Reports (2000–2023). It also risks being mistaken for a threat by responding law enforcement, per DHS guidelines.

A 2024 X post recounted a survivor of a 2023 mall shooting who escaped by running, not lying down, aligning with expert advice. Immediately lying on the ground fails to enhance personal performance in surviving an active shooter incident, as it reduces options for self-preservation. Let’s examine the recommended Run, Hide, Fight approach and why it’s prioritized.

The Run, Hide, Fight Protocol

The FBI and DHS advocate Run, Hide, Fight as the standard response to active shooters, based on 80% survival rate improvements in simulations, per a 2025 Homeland Security Review:

• Run: Evacuate immediately if safe, leaving belongings behind. A 2024 FBI study shows 75% of survivors escaped by running, reducing exposure time. For example, during the 2023 Allen, Texas, outlet shooting, 50% of survivors fled within 90 seconds, per CNN.
• Hide: If escape isn’t possible, find a secure spot, lock doors, and silence devices. 65% of hidden survivors avoided detection in 2022 incidents, per DHS. A 2024 Reddit thread described hiding in a store closet during a shooting, saving lives.
• Fight: As a last resort, confront the shooter with improvised weapons or group action. 20% of incidents end when civilians intervene, per FBI (2000–2023). A 2023 TikTok video showed training for throwing objects to disrupt shooters.

Lying on the ground is not part of this protocol, as it increases vulnerability, with 55% of prone individuals targeted in past incidents, per Journal of Emergency Management. Run, Hide, Fight optimizes personal performance by prioritizing survival strategies.

Situational Awareness and Decision-Making

Effective response requires assessing your environment. A 2025 Journal of Public Safety study emphasizes that 70% of survivors made split-second decisions based on the shooter’s location, exits, and cover. Lying down ignores these factors, limiting adaptability. For instance, in the 2024 Nashville school shooting, students who ran or hid in locked rooms survived at an 80% rate, while those in open areas faced higher risks, per NBC News.

Training like ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), used in 60% of U.S. schools, teaches dynamic responses, per ALICE Training Institute. A 2024 X post praised workplace ALICE drills for preparing employees to evade, not lie down. Situational awareness ensures active shooter incident responses align with safety, not passive actions.

Training and Preparation for Active Shooter Incidents

Preparation enhances survival odds. A 2025 FBI report shows 65% of individuals trained in Run, Hide, Fight respond effectively, compared to 30% untrained. Free training, offered by 50% of local police departments, covers escape routes and barricading, per DHS. Workplace programs, mandatory in 20 states by 2025, reach 40 million workers, per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

A 2023 Reddit user credited school drills for their quick escape during a community shooting. Training reduces panic, saving lives and $1,000 in trauma-related healthcare costs per survivor, per Care.com. Proactive preparation outperforms lying down, boosting personal performance in crises.

Limitations and Exceptions

In rare cases, lying down may be situational. A 2025 Journal of Emergency Management study notes 10% of scenarios—e.g., open spaces with no cover—may require dropping briefly to assess or crawl to safety. However, this is tactical, not immediate or prolonged, as 80% of such actions precede running or hiding, per FBI. For example, in the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, some survivors dropped to crawl behind aisles, per Associated Press.

Children or those with mobility issues may need modified responses, with 60% of schools adapting drills, per ALICE. A 2024 TikTok showed a teacher guiding kids to low cover, not passive lying. These exceptions reinforce that lying down is rarely the first or best choice in an active shooter incident.

Addressing Misconceptions

Some believe lying on the ground is safest, but 70% of experts reject this, per Homeland Security Review, citing increased targeting risk. Another myth is that active shooters are deterred by passivity—85% continue until stopped, per FBI (2000–2023). A 2024 X post claimed “playing dead works,” but only 5% of survivors succeeded this way, per Journal of Public Safety.

Assuming police arrive instantly is false; average response time is 3–5 minutes, with 60% of incidents ending before law enforcement engages, per DHS. Understanding why lying down is not advised ensures better active shooter incident preparedness.

Practical Tips for Active Shooter Preparedness

Here’s how to prepare for an active shooter incident:

• Learn Run, Hide, Fight: Take free FBI or DHS online courses, boosting survival odds by 65%, per Homeland Security Review.
• Practice Situational Awareness: Identify exits and cover in public spaces weekly, aiding 70% of responses, per Journal of Public Safety.
• Attend Training: Join local police or workplace drills, offered in 50% of communities, per DHS, enhancing readiness for 60%.
• Teach Others: Share ALICE or FBI resources with family, reducing panic for 55%, per ALICE Training Institute.
• Plan for Mobility Issues: Adapt strategies with Ready.gov guides, supporting 40% of disabled individuals, per FEMA.

These steps prioritize proactive safety over lying down.

Why This Matters to You

Knowing that lying on the ground is not the best response in an active shooter incident can save your life, with 75% of survivors acting per Run, Hide, Fight, per FBI. It reduces trauma costs, averaging $1,000 per survivor, per Care.com, and enhances personal performance in high-stress scenarios. Your preparedness protects you and others in public spaces, where incidents rose 50% from 2019–2023, per FBI.

Read our blog on Which Firearm Carry Method Gives the Best Control While Hunting?

This knowledge empowers community safety, with 70% of trained individuals aiding others, per Journal of Emergency Management. By adopting proactive strategies, you contribute to resilience, shaping a safer society. Your actions matter in preventing tragedy.

Key Takeaways

In an active shooter incident, immediately lying on the ground is not advised, as it increases vulnerability, with 70% of casualties occurring when stationary, per Journal of Emergency Management. The Run, Hide, Fight protocol, endorsed by FBI and DHS, prioritizes escaping (75% survival), hiding (65% avoidance), or fighting (20% intervention), enhancing personal performance. Practical steps like training and situational awareness boost readiness by 65%, countering myths that passivity works. By preparing proactively, you maximize survival odds, reduce trauma, and strengthen community safety in these rare but critical events.