Personal Safety and Security Playbook: Risk Mitigation Guidance for Individuals, Families, Organizations, and Communities

By Francis J. D'Addario

The Personal Safety and Security Playbook is designed for anyone who may benefit from shared community safety and security responsibilities. Chapters are organized by areas of concern, from personal risk awareness to protection and security considerations for family, home, travel, and work. The guidelines included help the reader recognize personal safety and security hazards, take proactive prevention steps, and react reasonably to danger with beneficial outcomes.

A full chapter of local and national resources for personal security is included at the end of the Personal Safety and Security Playbook.

The Personal Safety and Security Playbook is a part of Elsevier’s Security Executive Council Risk Management Portfolio, a collection of real world solutions and "how-to" guidelines that equip executives, practitioners, and educators with proven information for successful security and risk management programs.

• Chapters are organized by area of concern and cover everything related to personal safety and security, including protection for the family, home, during travel, and at work
• Emphasizes that risk awareness, reporting, response, and mitigation are shared community concerns
• Includes a full chapter of local and national personal security resources

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Release date: Oct 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9780124172364

Book preview

1

Preventing and Reporting High-Risk Events

Chapter 1: Preventing and Reporting High-Risk Events introduces fundamental concepts of personal security that will be discussed in later chapters. These concepts include looking out for yourself, your family, neighbors and colleagues; being engaged at home, at work, and with volunteer organizations; and getting involved in your community. Having an understanding of how to implement those three ideas will greatly reduce your personal risk for crime and other hazards. In addition to being prepared, the author provides strategies for reducing personal risk by being adept in conflict management in resolution. When and how to report a crime, suspicious activity, or emergency is also discussed.

Keywords

Crime prevention; neighborhood organizations; conflict management; mediation; negotiation; crime reporting; victim’s rights

1.1 Overview

1.2 Crime Prevention and Hazard Mitigation

1.3 Conflict Management

1.4 Mediation and Negotiation

1.5 Reporting Crimes and Emergencies

1.6 Victim’s Assistance and Rights

1.7 Using Available Resources

1.1 Overview

As you consider the issues of personal security, remember that there are three important things you need do to: 1. Look out for yourself, your family, neighbors and colleagues; 2. Be engaged at home and at work and with volunteer organizations; and 3. Get involved in your community.

• Understand and watch for early signs of risk (those situations or conditions that concern you or make you afraid for the safety or security of others).

• Take steps to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim.

• Work with resources on the job and off including neighborhood groups to make your surroundings safe and secure.

• Report crimes and hazards immediately and cooperate with responding or investigating agencies.

• Provide support to people who have been victimized.

• Actively promote awareness.

1.2 Crime Prevention and Hazard Mitigation

You have the right to live a secure and comfortable life, free from the fear of crime, violence and other situational risks. Unfortunately, whether you are at home, on vacation, or at work, threats and hazards are all around. You can significantly reduce the risk to yourself and others by following some common-sense tips and taking direct actions.

There are many ways to prevent crime or mitigate hazardous conditions, and each circumstance may require a specific response. Personal security and safety begins by knowing the basics of prevention:

• Reduce the opportunities for crime and accidents.

• Familiarize yourself with locally relevant hazards alerts, emergency reporting and preparedness guidelines.

• Public safety organizations including police and fire departments are typically excellent resources.

• Work with your employer, public safety and volunteer neighborhood organizations.

• Design an environment that fosters a sense of community.

• Watch for early signs of problems and take action when you see them.

• Actively promote awareness of the issues.

• Ensure communications options awareness and availability

1.2.1 Reduce the Opportunities for Crime and Accidents

Risk reduction opportunities depend on people taking a proactive stance toward personal safety and security. Be knowledgeable, equipped and trained.

• Be sure that your family knows accident, crime and fire prevention basics. Self-protection skills, how to react in an emergency and CPR or first aid techniques are valuable. Be aware of the issues.

• Ensure fire extinguishers, smoke alarm batteries, generator fuel, emergency supplies including food and water, contact lists and your emergency plan are proactively checked and refreshed for readiness.

• Store weapons and combustible materials securely in approved safety containers.

• Install consumer rated protective equipment including locking, lighting and detection devices.

• Know where your children or dependent seniors are and know what they are doing.

• Avoid leaving them unsupervised or supervised by a person who has not undergone a diligence investigation or you do not implicitly trust.

• Family members and caregivers should be briefed on household security and emergency preparedness plans including communications and rendezvous meeting places. Practice your plan. Training from a certified agency for neighborhood groups may be ideal.

• Walk, jog or hike with companion(s) in well lit, public safety patrolled areas against traffic with communications capability. Carry a mobile phone. Share your itinerary for more remote destinations. Check in with others on departure and arrival.

• Know the risk of travel destinations. Ensure the use of seatbelts, hands-free communications, GPS assistance and emergency supplies in any family vehicle. Consider roadside assistance.

• Report crimes, hazardous conditions (accidents, crimes, smoke, fire etc.) and suspicious behavior immediately to public safety agencies when it is safe to do so.

• Consider Crime stoppers and anonymous reporting ethics lines if you feel afraid to step forward as a witness for serious crimes.

• Find ways to resolve conflict nonviolently. The regular use of common courtesy and good manners helps to keep arguments from ending in violence. Involve supervisors and need-to-know subject matter experts when you feel afraid.

1.2.2 Work with Your Neighborhood Organizations

Get involved. Volunteer to help in community and neighborhood anti-crime and safety programs such as Neighborhood Watch, McGruff House, or other sanctioned public safety organizations.

• If you cannot find a group that already exists in your neighborhood, start one. Federal, provincial, county or city public safety referral agencies are generally excellent resources.

• Encourage participation of groups that already have a stake in neighborhood safety local businesses, tenants’ or homeowners’ associations, churches, and fraternal or social organizations.

• Partner with local public safety officials for voluntary background diligence. (Don’t assume that community volunteers will not be