Humans tend to be creatures of habit.However, considering personal security we must strive to identify good habits and safeguard against bad ones.
Abductions may be thought to be the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While this may certainly be true in some instances, they can also occur because of the absence of sound security practices.“Time and Place” predictability is an element needed to perpetrate a calculated abduction.In others words, the perpetrator will look for patterns in movement and location, seeking to exploit these security weaknesses to their advantage.For this reason, it is important to understand the risks involved.
Business commuters for example should remain cognizant of the patterns they set by routinely taking—let’s say—the 8:00 a.m. flight to Chicago each Monday morning.Similar patterns are unconsciously established by stopping each morning of the week for coffee at the same location, or even parking your vehicle in the same section of the employee parking lot each work day.
Vulnerabilities to our personal security increase dramatically when our daily routines begin to read like a European train schedule. By taking a critical look at our personal habits, with an eye on identifying poor practices, time and place predictability becomes evident and we can see firsthand the importance of deviating from established patterns.
Frequent and subtle change to our movement patterns is one proactive step that can be undertaken to mitigate the threat of abduction.Alternating routes to and from work, or varying departure times plus or minus 15 minutes are great starting points.Driving a spouse’s vehicle to work once or twice a week, as well as parking in spaces other than your designated spot in employee parking are other examples of what can be accomplished to reduce vulnerability.
What patterns have you established? While it may not be feasible to deviate from the 8:00 a.m. flight to Chicago, the route and mode of transportation to the airport remains under your control.
Whether your needs are for free advice or a personalized analysis on how to reduce your vulnerability to abduction, please contact Defensive Countermeasures.Our professional staff is prepared to assist with your specified requests. Be Safe!
Back to school season is upon us.It’s time to reiterate the importance of Stranger Danger with your children.Whether your child is five or fifteen, don’t assume because you had “the talk” once, it should suffice.
Teens are just as vulnerable as elementary aged children.Discussions should include two important criteria:
1).Age appropriate - Talk with your teen about not walking and talking on the cell phone at the same time or drinking and driving.For younger children, discuss what or who a stranger could be. (Many children still think of a stranger as only an ugly, mean, nasty, scary monster looking person).
Develop a secret word or handshake for younger children.Many younger children would go with an adult if they were told “Your mom couldn’t pick you up and asked me to come get you.”In the event that you are unable to pick up your child and need to send a friend or co-worker in your place, alert your child that she may not go with that person unless the substitute knows the secret word or handshake.Role play this until you are confident your child fully grasps the importance of this check and balance system.
2).Discussion vs. Lecture – Unless you wish to get blank stares or a response of “Ya ya I know already” it’s best to talk with your child, not to your child.Ask open ended questions.Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no answer.A two way dialogue will be much more effective than a monologue.
Just as the switch to Day Light Savings time is a reminder for all to change the batteries in smoke alarms, Back to School time should be a reminder for all parents to have age appropriate, interactive safety discussions with their students.
Did you hear about the woman in Connecticut who strangled a rabid raccoon this weekend?The coon was attacking a child; so she went into defensive mode and choked the animal with her bare hands.No joke - Google the news if you haven’t heard about it.
Two important lessons can be learned from this:
#1 - When you or someone you love are in danger, you absolutely can do what is necessary to protect yourself and your family.The adrenalin will kick in and protection mode will ensue.
#2 – The woman was walking in the woods with small children. This just goes to show you that anything can happen in the woods.Be smart about where you are walking when you’re alone or with small children.Be prepared.
While this story could have turned out much worst, I’m sure the rabies treatment that the woman and child are undergoing is no picnic either!Let them be a lesson to us all!
Light is important to our personal psyche. When we enter a dark room, we search for the light switch that immediately washes the room with illumination, aiding in navigation and eliminating any subconscious suggestion that something, which might be harmful, is present beyond the threshold.Light is also one of the single most important tools for personal safety.Unfortunately, it is frequently under utilized as a personal security essential.Law enforcement and other security-minded professionals have long understood the tactical advantages that light provides; aiding in searches, providing visual cues to colleagues and when required, an effective non-lethal response.
As citizens, we too can take advantage of this portable utility.Several firms stood up in recent years and are making a kings ransom marketing flashlight models that are durable, lightweight and in some instances very concealable.These products are capable of producing intense light that will temporarily blind an attacker, thus aiding in a thwarted attack. The light—when directed at the pupil of an assailant—produces this result in both day and night scenarios. Quality lights are a bit pricy, however they come as state-of-the-art and are every bit as useful to homemakers and savvy business travelers as they are to people who face dangerous situations as part of their daily routines.
I am reminded of a story shared with me by a close—security minded—friend. Not too long ago, the city she was traveling experienced a blackout that encompassed the entire metro area.As luck would have it, the power failed just as she was returning to her hotel room after dinner.Suddenly, the world around her turned black.Never one left unprepared, she quickly retrieved the Surefire E2D flashlight clipped to the inside pocket of her blazer and lit the path from the parking garage to the hotel lobby. There she found the staff frantically trying to recover from the sudden loss of electrical power, not to mention field questions of concern from guests who descended on the front desk desperately seeking guidance. My friend swears that this event more than any other serves as continuous reminder of the need to prepare for the unexpected.She has come to recognize the value of a quality flashlight as a personal protection savior and never leaves home without it.
If you have a car seat or a booster seat in your vehicle right now, it should also have a child identification affixed to the outer most portion of the seat.
In the horrific event that you are involved in a vehicle accident and rendered unconscious who will speak for your young children?Include the following information: Child’s name, address, emergency contact (other than you), age, height, weight, child’s photo and medical release signature.Make a wallet sized card on the computer, laminate it and affix it to the seat with Velcro buttons.
This a simple step could save time and possibly lives down the road.
