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Since 2002, the  Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)™ Program at Texas State University has been used to train law enforcement officers across the nation in how to rapidly respond to dangerous active threat situations.  Over the years we’ve seen response times shorten and the capabilities of law enforcement increase.  As a result of increased public awareness, many citizens have asked what individuals can do protect themselves and reduce the dangers faced during one of these events. Avoid | Deny | Defend™ has been developed as an easy to remember method for individuals to follow -  as we’ve seen that hiding and hoping isn’t a very effective strategy.

Watch the Avoid | Deny | Defend video below on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0It68YxLQQ) for an overview of how to save your life in an active attack event.  Always remember - What You Do Matters.   

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The ALERRT™ Center at Texas State University:
Since 2002, we have trained more than 130,000 law enforcement officers in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the District of Columbia in the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) ™ standard for active shooter response, primarily through federal and state funding.  
Law enforcement officers and agencies are frequently requested by schools, businesses, and community members for direction and presentations on what they should do if confronted with an active shooter event.  The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course, designed and built on the Avoid  Deny  Defend™ strategy developed by ALERRT™ in 2004, provides strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event.  Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, the role of professional guardians, civilian response options, medical issues, and drills. 

AVOID starts with your state of mind
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  • Pay attention to your surroundings.
  • Have an exit plan.    
  • Move away from the source of the threat as quickly as possible. 
  • The more distance and barriers between you and the threat, the better.
DENY when getting away is difficult or maybe impossible
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  • Keep distance between you and the source. 
  • Create barriers  to prevent or slow down a threat from getting to you.                    
  • Turn the lights off. 
  • Remain out of sight and quiet by hiding behind large objects and silence your phone.
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Be Prepared

DEFEND because you have the right to protect yourself​
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  • If you cannot Avoid or Deny  be prepared to defend yourself.  •
  • Be aggressive and committed to your actions.   
  • Do not fight fairly. 
    THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL.

Remember that failure to plan is planning to fail. 

CIVILIAN RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENTS

Become CRASE Certified Today

As of 2022, CRASE Train-the-Trainer is available online through ALERRT's E-Learning site (https://elearning.alerrt.org/) for anyone wanting to take the course.
First responders and other professionals can access the course here.*

Upon completing this online course, students will have access to their own ALERRT.org account with materials for putting on a CRASE training for their community.  

For questions or more information about CRASE, please email help@alerrt.org.

*In order to access the actual course, students will need an active ALERRT.org account. If one has not been previously created, students can register at alerrt.org/register.
Individuals Are Not Authorized To Sell, Charge or Otherwise Profit from instructing or presenting the Avoid Deny Defend® protocol to the community.
Successfully completing the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)®  Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Train the Trainer course does not allow participants to certify other law enforcement professions or individual as CRASE instructors.  CRASE participants and others who learn the Avoid-Deny-Defend® protocol are authorized to deliver this information through their agencies or in a volunteer capacity, and are not allowed or authorized to sell, charge or otherwise profit from instructing or presenting the ALERRT® CRASE course material and/or Avoid Deny Defend®. This training was developed and delivered through federal and state grant funds, and cannot be used for profit or income by end users. ALERRT® and Avoid Deny Defend® are registered trademarks owned by Texas State University and the Texas State University System.   The content of all ALERRT courses are copyright protected and are the intellectual property of ALERRT at Texas State University. Any for-profit or commercial use of vital information without express written permission of the ALERRT Center at Texas State University  is punishable under intellectual property laws and  the US Criminal Code provisions.
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