---
title: "ProActive Response Group Blog: Equipping & Empowering | Chad Ayers"
description: "Chad Ayers served as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Greenville County in South Carolina for 12 years. During his time as a Deputy in Greenville County, Chad worked undercover in numerous federal and state investigations, performing in high-pressure environments.\n\nChad was a member of the SWAT team, where he served as an assistant team leader. He is experienced in hostage negotiations and rescue as well as active shooter events. Chad also assisted in the creation and implementation of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office active shooter response program.\n\nDuring his tenure as a Deputy, Chad received numerous awards and commendations. In 2006, he was named Greenville County Sheriff Rookie of the Year. In 2008, Chad received a Distinguished Service Award, and in 2009, he was awarded two Letters of Commendation for undercover work. He was the recipient of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Medal of Valor in 2011 and 2012. On January 21, 2016, Chad received the 2015 Sam Simmons Award which is given to the top Deputy in Greenville County.\n\nChad is a 2006 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a 2006 graduate of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy where he received the academy’s top award, the J.P. Strom Award, given to the graduate with the highest academic average."
---
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# Our Blog: Equipping & Empowering
## Chad Ayers
Chad Ayers served as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Greenville County in South Carolina for 12 years. During his time as a Deputy in Greenville County, Chad worked undercover in numerous federal and state investigations, performing in high-pressure environments. Chad was a member of the SWAT team, where he served as an assistant team leader. He is experienced in hostage negotiations and rescue as well as active shooter events. Chad also assisted in the creation and implementation of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office active shooter response program. During his tenure as a Deputy, Chad received numerous awards and commendations. In 2006, he was named Greenville County Sheriff Rookie of the Year. In 2008, Chad received a Distinguished Service Award, and in 2009, he was awarded two Letters of Commendation for undercover work. He was the recipient of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Medal of Valor in 2011 and 2012. On January 21, 2016, Chad received the 2015 Sam Simmons Award which is given to the top Deputy in Greenville County. Chad is a 2006 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a 2006 graduate of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy where he received the academy’s top award, the J.P. Strom Award, given to the graduate with the highest academic average.
### Recent Posts
## [Does Your Company Need Active Shooter Insurance?](https://info.proactiverg.com/does-your-company-need-active-shooter-insurance)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Nov 22, 2019 8:00:00 AM
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A brick and mortar business wouldn't think of operating without fire insurance. And yet, did you know that a workplace shooting is more likely to happen than a fire?
The fastest growing type of murder in the United States is workplace violence. Most people are unaware of this reality, which is why the idea of active shooter insurance is just catching on for businesses, schools, and other organizations.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/does-your-company-need-active-shooter-insurance)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/does-your-company-need-active-shooter-insurance#comments-listing)
Topics: [Corporations](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/corporations)
## [The Difference Between First Aid and Emergency Casualty Care](https://info.proactiverg.com/the-difference-between-first-aid-and-emergency-casualty-care)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Oct 18, 2019 8:00:00 AM
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Most people have taken some form of first aid class at some point in their lives. Additionally, many people take first aid courses regularly because their jobs require it, or simply because they want to keep their certification up to date.
First aid training is an important skill to have. It prepares you to take action in a variety of situations. If someone is choking on a piece of food, First Aid training prepares you to do the Heimlich maneuver. Or, if a person has a heart attack and stops breathing, you would utilize your First Aid training by doing CPR.
However, there are a different set of emergency circumstances that could require different training.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/the-difference-between-first-aid-and-emergency-casualty-care)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/the-difference-between-first-aid-and-emergency-casualty-care#comments-listing)
Topics: [General Prevention & Response Tips](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/general-prevention-response-tips), [Emergency Medical Response](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/emergency-medical-response)
## [The Advantages of Blended Learning for Your Team](https://info.proactiverg.com/the-advantages-of-blended-learning-for-your-team)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Aug 23, 2019 9:10:22 AM
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A question our customers often ask us is, why does ProActive Response Group offer Active Shooter Response Training in video format if hands-on training is so critical?
It's a good question, and the answer is found in the simple fact that not every company is able to provide hands-on training to every member of their corporate team. Two things typically stand on the way:
1. Limited budget
2. Large workforce
When these barriers are stopping a company from providing their employees with Active Shooter Response Training of any kind, we recommend blended learning.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/the-advantages-of-blended-learning-for-your-team)
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Topics: [Corporations](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/corporations)
## [Bleeding Control Kit and Training Saves Anderson Teacher's Life](https://info.proactiverg.com/bleeding-control-kit-and-training-saves-anderson-teachers-life)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Aug 2, 2019 10:15:20 AM
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#### PRESS RELEASE
Greenville, SC July 31, 2019 – In the fall of 2018, Anderson County District One Schools made what turned out to be a lifesaving investment. They gave every employee the opportunity to take part in Active Shooter Response Training from ProActive Response Group. The training included instruction on how to stop massive bleeding, and the value of the course became apparent on July 22, 2019.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/bleeding-control-kit-and-training-saves-anderson-teachers-life)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/bleeding-control-kit-and-training-saves-anderson-teachers-life#comments-listing)
Topics: [Schools](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/schools), [Company News](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/company-news)
## [Do Your Students Feel Safe at School?](https://info.proactiverg.com/do-your-students-feel-safe-at-school)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Jun 21, 2019 8:00:00 AM
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[](https://info.proactiverg.com/do-your-students-feel-safe-at-school)
Things that make students feel unsafe at school can range from bullying in the cafeteria to an unconcerned teacher in the classroom. In a world where school shootings are an imminent and unpredictable threat, schools must do everything they can to protect students' safety and also make them *feel* safe.
Creating a safe and healthy learning environment for students is harder than ever, but it is also necessary for their success.
Certain negative experiences at school will deteriorate a student's sense of security over time. Let's discuss some of those experiences so that your school can come up with a plan to make your institution a safer place for your student body.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/do-your-students-feel-safe-at-school)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/do-your-students-feel-safe-at-school#comments-listing)
Topics: [Schools](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/schools)
## [4 Things Teachers Need to Know to Be Effective in an Active Shooter Situation](https://info.proactiverg.com/4-things-teachers-need-to-know-to-be-effective-in-an-active-shooter-situation)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on May 17, 2019 8:00:00 AM
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A school shooting — It's every teacher's worst nightmare. Yet, school shootings have become so common that teachers cannot help but wonder how they might respond if such an event occurred at their school.
But wondering about your response does no good when nightmares become reality. [It's critical that schools plan for active shooter events with urgency](https://info.proactiverg.com/6-questions-to-help-you-identify-school-safety-concerns), training teachers and staff to respond effectively.
A lot of training goes into an effective response, but there are 4 basic things teachers should know in order to be prepared for an active shooter event.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/4-things-teachers-need-to-know-to-be-effective-in-an-active-shooter-situation)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/4-things-teachers-need-to-know-to-be-effective-in-an-active-shooter-situation#comments-listing)
Topics: [Schools](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/schools)
## [ProActive Response Group's Training Program Achieves SLED-Curriculum-Compliance, First Organization in the State to Attain the Title](https://info.proactiverg.com/proactive-response-groups-training-program-achieves-sled-curriculum-compliance)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Apr 15, 2019 9:22:00 AM
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#### PRESS RELEASE
Greenville, SC April 11, 2019 – ProActive Response Group, a local organization that provides Active Shooter Response Training to schools, companies, religious establishments, and industrial facilities, has received official recognition by SLED for its training curriculum, which is compliant with SLED standards. ProActive Response Group is the first organization in the state of South Carolina to hold this privilege.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/proactive-response-groups-training-program-achieves-sled-curriculum-compliance)
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Topics: [Company News](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/company-news)
## [Beyond the Bleed: How to Spot and Treat Injuries When There's No Bleeding](https://info.proactiverg.com/beyond-the-bleed-how-to-spot-and-treat-injuries-when-theres-no-bleeding)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Mar 22, 2019 8:04:00 AM
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[Stopping the bleed is essential to saving lives](https://info.proactiverg.com/can-you-stop-the-bleed) during an active shooter event or any other type of emergency. But bleeding isn't the only sign of a serious injury, and it certainly is not the only type of injury you could encounter after an act of violence.
In order to treat injuries, you must also know how to identify them. In this article, we'll address three types of traumatic injuries that don't require bleeding control, but that *do* require the attention of a first responder like yourself.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/beyond-the-bleed-how-to-spot-and-treat-injuries-when-theres-no-bleeding)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/beyond-the-bleed-how-to-spot-and-treat-injuries-when-theres-no-bleeding#comments-listing)
Topics: [General Prevention & Response Tips](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/general-prevention-response-tips)
## [Levels of Situational Awareness: Which zone are you in?](https://info.proactiverg.com/levels-of-situational-awareness-which-zone-are-you-in)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Dec 4, 2018 8:15:00 AM
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Situational awareness is important for *everyone* — every teacher, student, working professional, church attendee, and stay-at-home parent. Granted, it's unrealistic, and arguably unnecessary, for civilians to maintain the same level of acute awareness as people whose livelihoods are based around it. Imagine how exhausting it would be to remain on high alert 24/7, not to mention how much it would exhaust the people around us as well!
U.S. Marine [Jeff Cooper](https://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Cooper/e/B000APBQSU) developed the Color Code concept to identify different levels of situational awareness and to help people understand how to act as someone who is situationally aware.
Practical and straightforward, the Color Code is still taught to law enforcement officers today. Let's take a look at it from a civilian perspective...
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/levels-of-situational-awareness-which-zone-are-you-in)
0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.proactiverg.com/levels-of-situational-awareness-which-zone-are-you-in#comments-listing)
Topics: [General Prevention & Response Tips](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/general-prevention-response-tips)
## [6 Habits of People Who Are Situationally Aware](https://info.proactiverg.com/6-habits-of-people-who-are-situationally-aware)
Posted by [Chad Ayers](https://info.proactiverg.com/author/chad-ayers) on Oct 30, 2018 8:00:00 AM
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Some people go about their day very attentive to their surroundings, and others are completely oblivious. Most civilians fall somewhere in the middle. We will probably notice the person in front of us in the customer service line yelling at the clerk because they can't get a cash refund, but we may not see the individual to our right wearing a baggy hooded sweatshirt on a 90-degree day.
Being situationally aware doesn't mean you're stereotyping people or assuming the worst about them. It means you continuously observe your environment and notice things that are abnormal, such as people wearing hooded sweatshirts in the heat of summer.
In order to improve your situational awareness on a daily basis, let's discuss 6 basic practices that people with a healthy level of awareness regularly do.
[Read More](https://info.proactiverg.com/6-habits-of-people-who-are-situationally-aware)
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Topics: [General Prevention & Response Tips](https://info.proactiverg.com/tag/general-prevention-response-tips)
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