Defensive Countermeasures Institute —

As we approach the sixth anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history, we cannot help but to reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  For many of us it will remain a period frozen in time; serving as an ever present reminder of the great lengths our enemies are willing to go to demonstrate contempt for the American ideal. 

Citizens of this great nation were joined around the world by our friends and allies—as smoke and ash drifted from the rubble of ground zero—and swore a solemn pledge, “Never Again.” 

John F. Kennedy once said, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

As we reflect on our personal lives—and how each of us was affected by the loss of so many innocent souls—let us not succumb to complacency.  Our vigilance is as important today as it was the hour the twin towers fell. News making events around the world serve as a reminder that our enemy is weakened, but not defeated.

In the days following 9-11, President George W. Bush addressed the nation before a session of the U.S. Congress.  His speech renewed our spirit-describing the difficult road ahead. His words that evening were heard around the world.  And to our enemies he spoke directly of American courage and fortitude, promising, “We will not falter, and we will not fail.”  This message exemplifies the efforts that we here at DCI strive for every hour of every day. 

Our fellow Americans and honored guests must not be allowed to forget the danger that continues to fester in the hearts of those that wish us harm.  Reach out today and each day ahead to touch the life of someone close to you—whether family or friend.  Compassion is food for the soul and the world we share is our common bond. 

Share your experiences. Let us never forget the lives that have been sacrificed so that others may remain safe and free.  DCI wishes to extend profound gratitude and support to the untold numbers of men and women around the world that serve as our nation’s vanguard.  Stay safe!

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!

Kudos to the woman for her bravery!

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.

Drive safely!

Abduction is a very dangerous situation that requires resolve and sound presence of mind to increase chances of survival. If you are someone who thinks these types of crime only happen to others…think again. Perpetrators of these despicable acts of violence often times know their victims. Information available from the web page hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveals that victims have disappeared at the hand of their spouses or other relatives and acquaintances. Sadly, even small children are victims of these cowardly acts.

An important point to understand about these crimes is that moments immediately following the attack are the most critical for survival. As time increases, the window of opportunity to affect your escape diminishes. The more time that transpires, the more time your captor has to carry out his or her intentions. If we consider that in a large number of abductions cases, victims are spirited away from the scene of the assault in some type of motor vehicle, then we are able to draw upon assumptions that provides a basis to begin our survival planning.

The first step involves becoming intimately familiar with the automobiles we operate routinely. Many newer model vehicles are equipped with interior trunk latches designed to permit opening from the inside. In some cases, a separate latch may lower the rear seat, thus assisting with escape through the passenger compartment. Many are plainly marked and visible while others are more discreet. Still others have manually operated interior lights, providing illumination to someone locked inside.

A separate vehicle safety feature that undoubtedly has prevented countless injuries, can work against you in an abduction scenario—child safety locks. When engaged, child safety locks prevent occupants in the rear seating area from opening the doors from the inside. These safety features should be disengaged only if small children are not occupants of the vehicle. One compromise that requires careful consideration is disengaging one lock—on the door opposite the child’s seating area—where only one child is a routine passenger.

Of course, these features are useless to someone unfamiliar with its presence and operation. To determine if your vehicle is so equipped, consult the vehicle owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer’s representative. In addition, these points require consideration with rental vehicles, as well. Rental agencies should be able to assist with a vehicle that incorporates these important personal safety features.

Remember, time is critical following an abduction. Your chances of survival improve dramatically through planning and rehearsal. You can start by learning about your vehicle, inside and out. You are welcome to contact DCI for additional information or planning assistance.

As we proceed into the second half of 2007, vigilance continues as an important aspect of our daily lives. Just days ago, on July 10, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was quoted by the editorial board of a major newspaper citing that he had a “gut feeling” about a new period of increased risk to US citizens.

These comments have given rise to stirring public debate regarding the significance of Mr. Chertoff’s gastrointestinal impulses and the extent to which precaution should apply. Equally disturbing are recent estimates that al-Qa’ida has resurrected its operational capabilities to pre-9/11 levels, although there appears to be some disagreement within government as to the accuracy of these reports.

What does resonate from these overtures however, is the undeniable certainty that the threat terrorists pose remains dangerous and unpredictable. Our very capable British allies had no early intelligence warnings of the attempted car bombings in London earlier this month, or the attempted suicide attack at the airport in Glasgow. Fortunately, these thwarted attacks failed to produce the loss of life and structural damage intended by its perpetrators.

The lesson that we must seize upon is the necessity to be critically aware of the environments we venture into. Suspicious activity should always be noted and reported to local authorities quickly and precisely as possible—albeit, from a safe distance.

Finally, consider your personal and family needs as you prepare a contact plan for use during emergencies. This simple step is crucial to well-being and peace of mind during times of crisis. Gut feelings do not provide much to go on, but they do offer early warning and signal time for action.

For further information on how to get started with this import planning, contact DCI by e-mail or phone for free advice. Be Safe!

The other day I saw a mother walk away from and completely turn her back on her young child and her purse. I was somewhat surprised at the scene, however, sadly I’m sure it occurs every day around the country.

She was at an outdoor garden center; one that was located in a store parking lot. The mom decided she needed to get a closer took at some foliage so she left her toddler son sitting in the grocery cart as she walked across a boulevard and proceeded to stick her nose down into the plant leaves.

Never mind that she left her opened purse sitting in the cart – her son was out of her sight and out of her reach. Someone could have easily snatched that child from the cart in a matter of seconds. It was well populated with both cars and shoppers.

She was so engrossed in the Chrysanthemum that she was oblivious that her own child was at left unattended at least 100 feet away. He was a sitting duck.

If you must take your hands off your cart and your child, please ensure that your precious cargo never leaves your line of sight and is always within an arm’s reach. If the cart is too cumbersome to get close enough to the items, take your child and your purse with you.

Protect your valuables. Be vigilant. Be alert. Cast off any denial that “nothing will happen.”

“Never underestimate the power of denial.” Wes Bently

Get it and Go

It’s a familiar scene; you pull up to an ATM to make a cash withdrawal. After you receive your money you stop to count your bills, then stuff them into your wallet and perhaps even make an entry into your checkbook log. You’re a sitting duck.  A potential criminal could by lying in wait. It’s a good bet you have money and it’s easy to gain access to a person just sitting at a standstill.

Next time you need to tap the automatic teller machine, get it and go. Immediately drive off of the bank property. If you really want to stop and situate yourself and your purse, do so in a well lit, well populated area located away from the credit union. Keep your vehicle doors locked at all times and be brief if you must stop your vehicle for adjustments. Get it and go.