In this powerful episode of Shield the Vulnerable: Untold Stories, safety expert Dave Miller shares how years of witnessing violence in workplaces, schools, hospitals, and public spaces led him to a sobering realization: most organizations are dangerously unprepared for active threats—and relying on outdated models that don’t work. For decades, organizations have taught “Run, Hide, Fight” as the gold standard. But Dave began to see its limitations firsthand. After countless incidents, conversations with survivors, and a deep study of how people actually respond under stress, he created ACTD: Assess, Commit, Take Action, Debrief—a proactive, trauma-informed response model that trains ordinary people to lead themselves and others through crisis. With clarity and urgency, Dave explains why preparedness is no longer optional, why mindset matters more than memorizing steps, and how recovery is just as critical as response. Episode Breakdown: (0:00 – 0:02:30) Introduction: Why Active Threat Preparedness Matters Dave introduces himself and lays out the stakes. Workplace violence, active shooters, and other threats are no longer rare—and they don’t just happen “somewhere else.” He challenges leaders and individuals to stop waiting for tragedy and start preparing now. (0:02:30 – 0:05:00) Active Threats Are More Than Just Shooters While active shooters dominate the headlines, Dave explains the many forms of violence organizations face: workplace aggression, harassment, and escalating behaviors that often go unaddressed. He shares examples from schools, hospitals, and retail stores that underscore the breadth of the problem. (0:05:00 – 0:08:00) Why Run, Hide, Fight Falls Short Dave explains the flaws in the “Run, Hide, Fight” model. While better than nothing, it’s reactive, overly linear, and often leaves people freezing in fear. “People don’t fail because they forget the steps,” he says. “They fail because they were never taught how to think under pressure.” (0:08:00 – 0:12:00) Introducing ACTD: Assess, Commit, Take Action, Debrief Dave unveils the ACTD model: a framework designed to build confidence, decisiveness, and recovery skills. Unlike “Run, Hide, Fight,” ACTD trains people to assess risks early, commit to a decision, take purposeful action, and debrief afterwards to heal and improve. (0:12:00 – 0:16:30) Why People Freeze—and How ACTD Changes That Dave dives into the psychology of why people freeze in crises: denial, fear, and lack of mental conditioning. ACTD helps people override that paralysis by building safety as a habit and training them to move with clarity and confidence when it counts. (0:16:30 – 0:19:00) Recovery: The Missing Link in Most Training Most response models stop once the threat ends. Dave explains why the debrief stage is critical—not just for legal and HR reasons, but to help people process trauma, reduce long-term stress, and restore workplace culture after a crisis. (0:19:00 – 0:21:30) Why Preparedness Is Everyone’s Job Safety isn’t just for security professionals. Dave shows how ACTD empowers teachers, healthcare staff, office workers, and even students to respond effectively—regardless of fitness level or prior training. (0:21:30 – 0:24:00) Lessons from Real-World Heroes Dave shares the story of Rick Rescorla during the 9/11 attacks—a powerful example of how preparation and leadership can save lives. He asks listeners to weigh the cost of training against the potential cost of lives lost. (0:24:00 – 0:26:00) Beyond Awareness: Building a Culture of Readiness Awareness is important, but not enough. Dave explains why organizations must move beyond checklists and one-time seminars to embed preparedness into their culture—without instilling fear. (0:26:00 – 0:28:00) Final Thoughts: Prepared People Protect People Dave closes with a simple truth: Preparedness is not about paranoia—it’s about leadership and care. “Prepared people protect people,” he reminds listeners. The question isn’t whether a threat will happen—it’s whether you and your team will be ready. Learn more about ACTD training: https://pursuitpathways.com Contact Dave: Dave@PursuitPathways.com Connect on LinkedIn: Dave Miller | Pursuit Pathways #ShieldTheVulnerable #ACTD #WorkplaceSafety #ActiveShooterTraining #CrisisResponse #PreparedPeopleProtectPeople