Security Corner: Never Forgetting Where You REALLY Are

As a Parent, yesterday’s news about the 2 Year old at Disney World Resort getting killed by an Alligator was gut wrenching for me. My family’s thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the child during this very hard time.

Every time there is a tragedy like this, it is inedible that questions start popping up as to the HOW. Well, besides the obvious fact that the parents were letting their two kids play in ankle-deep water in a man-made lagoon after hours, there really is nothing to say. I am aware that there was a “No Swimming” sign posted, but the kids were not technically “swimming” they were more like “wading”. No, I think the point that needs to be made here is that sometimes when on vacation we FORGET where we TRULY are.

Yes, the family was at Disney World Resort, but where were they truly GEOGRAPHICALLY located? The answer is that they were really in the state of Florida where alligator ” bites” because of human “encroachment has seen a recent uptick.  Now I know most of you are saying that Disney World should have warned the guest about the possibility of Alligators being in the man-made lake due to the maze like series of canals that surround the park. Yes, I agree and I am sure some sharp-witted Attorney is at this very moment preparing to offer to sue Disney World over that very point. The fact however that really matters in this case is that in the past 20 years in Florida there has been 16 Fatalities involving Alligator Attacks. 

At the end of the day folks, YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible for the safety of you and your family. Not the Hotel where you are staying, Not the Hotel Security Staff, Not the Florida Fish and Game Service and NOT the Sheriff or Police Dept., YOU!!

I say this statement with confidence but at the end of the day the trouble with it is no matter how “Situationally Aware” you aim to be, when you go on Vacation you are often “Lulled” into complacency by your surroundings. Think about it. They were staying at Disney World Resort, a swanky place of fantasy and adventure, and like any parent when their kids are really young, they were focused on their kids having the time of their lives and NOT thinking about Alligator Attacks or Physical Security or anything else along those lines.

This scenario is more common than you think. Consider the travelling businessman who has to go to some East Coast metropolis to close a deal. He books himself in at a swanky Hotel with a good, solid reputation and because of that, his situational awareness (if he had any in the first place) get’s downgraded…why? Because of his posh surroundings, he has FORGOTTEN where he REALLY is, which is a city whose crime rate is one of the highest in America, and as soon as he steps out of those Hotel doors, because of his lowered awareness and “non” presence of mind, he gets mugged, assaulted or murdered. Happens all the time.

Bottom line guys is no matter where you are going, whether on vacation or on a business trip, do your RESEARCH about the GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION of your destination; not just the hotel or theme park where you are going, but the AREA surrounding the Hotel as well. Actual crime stats on the State, City and/or County where you are going is a good start. You will be surprised at the information you can find out with some simple Google searches.

Remember to always CYA (Cover Your Ass) because nobody else is going to do it for you!

Stay Alert, Stay Armed and Stay Dangerous Out There!

Reality Check Regarding Terrorism

By Hammerhead

If you have been paying attention and not getting distracted with all the nauseating political theater in Iowa and New Hampshire, then you heard about the recent attack in Ohio where a muslim jihadist decided to attack innocent people in a restaurant with a machete. This happened in Ohio folks, not the Middle East.

Considering what is going on in Israel right now with DAILY stabbing attacks on police and civilians, one can draw a conclusion the terrorist have decided to try to KILL as many “infidels” as possible, by whatever means possible; wherever possible. This includes stabbing, shooting, running people over with vehicles, Suicide Vest, IED’s, you name it. So knowing this as armed civilians, there are 3 Primary Things we need to concentrate on:

 

• NOT becoming complacent in our Overall Security Posture

Avoid the tendency to “get relaxed” in your overall Security Posture and Situational Awareness. Regardless if there has been no incidents around your home or in the town where you work, frequently remind yourself of the threats to you and your family. Active Shooter, Random stabbings, etc. Now I always tell people it is a myth that people can be in so-called “Condition Yellow” all the time where people are so “hyper vigilant” they are dropping and rolling when a car backfires! As in all things, the secret to success is finding a happy medium. Being situationally aware of what is going on around you and having an action plan is not difficult folks, we just have to make up our mind to do it NOW.

 

• Stay Armed and Prepared 24/7/365 

I know I sound like a broken record, but I have to continually reinforce this fact. You gun does you no good if it is not on your person. This is why it is imperative you find a comfortable holster and concealed/open carry rig. Humans are creatures of habit and COMFORT, so if something is not comfortable, we may tolerate it a few times, but in the long run we will ditch it at the house or our vehicle to be comfortable; just the way it is. Also to expound on the “PREPARED” part: Besides having a cell-phone on you 24/7 (which almost every human on earth does). What sense does it make to carry a weapon that makes big holes without carrying the ability to plug those holes, both on yourself and other people. Having a small Trauma Kit on you with a package of Quicklot, Tourniquet, Israeli Bandage, EMT Shears and some latex gloves is not difficult to carry or use for that matter. Contributing author Mr. E offers a very handy PTK Kit HERE.

 

• Learn Traumatic Injury First Aid

Specifically how to treat a knife and gunshot wound and STOP major bleeding. No realistic Self-Defense Combat training is complete without this skill-set. If you have not taken a course like this, DO IT NOW before you take another Advanced Pistol or Rifle or How to be a Uber-Mall Ninja course! There is no better example than the Israeli’s in learning how to prepare for terrorism, so check out what the IDF is doing when it comes to traumatic injury first aid.

 

Stay Alert, Stay Armed and Stay Dangerous!!