When is it appropriate for a casualty to play dead?

The choice of playing dead is a tactical response that can be appropriate when an individual is unable to escape a situation and is still under enemy fire. In this high-stress scenario, maintaining silence and stillness can potentially deceive the enemy, making them believe the person is no longer a threat or is already incapacitated. This can provide an opportunity for rescue or evade further aggression from attackers.

In other situations, such as being in a trauma state, medical assistance being on the way, or hearing an explosion, playing dead would not serve the same purpose and may not strategically benefit the individual. Being in a trauma state would likely require alertness and support, while the presence of medical help implies that maintaining contact or signaling would be more beneficial. Hearing an explosion does not necessarily indicate a need to play dead, as the nature of the threat can vary greatly and might require a different response.