Basic Personal Safety Concepts

A Research & Analysis Services Company

Risk
The elements where a person has a certain level of control,
such as social contacts, and how these elements may expose
him/her to unforeseen dangers.

Threat
The broader elements that affect a person and are beyond
his/her control; traveling, business position, politics, the
weather, etc.

Copyright (c) 2011. SOA. All Rights Reserved. 4

Categories of Risks/Threats

 Against a Person’s Safety / Security
 Against a Person’s immediate Family
 Against a Person’s psychological well-being
 Against a Person’s Privacy


 Wealth
 Social Status
 Celebrity / Public Exposure
 Political Views
 Symbolic Status
 Personal / Business Travel


Types of Threats

 Verbal Assault
 Physical Assault
 Use of Blunt Objects
 Edged Weapons
 Firearms
 Explosives
 Kidnapping
 Severe Weather
 Natural Disasters


Types of Potential Attackers

 The Deranged Individual
 Former Intimate Stalker
 Unknown Stalker
 Disgruntled Employees / Co-Workers
 Personal Vendetta / Revenge
 Criminals
 Professional Assassins / Contract Killers
 Terrorists


Types of Health Risks

 Heart Problems
 Allergic Reactions
 Diabetes
 Previous Injuries
 Communicable Diseases
 Previous Surgeries


Types of Personal Risks/Threats

 Sexual Encounters
 Association with known criminals
 Excessive Drinking
 Drug Use
 Financial Problems


Daily Transit Activity
When you are in transit, from Point A to Point B, you
automatically have less control over the environment
and are open to many Risks and Threats.

You must learn to keep a Mental Snapshot of your
Surroundings throughout your day.


Exercise

Draw a map from Point A to Point B identified by the
course Instructor.

What Risks or Threats can you identify along the route
that you took?


Situational Awareness
 Being Aware of your environment and of any Potential
or Real Risks or Threats that might be present is the
first and most important key of Personal Safety and
Security.

 You should apply the Concepts while at Home, Work,
School, In Transit, etc.


 Being Aware of your Surroundings will help you
Avoid hostile actions and violent confrontations.

 Do you have a Safety and Security Plan to address
any Potential or Real Risks or Threats you might
face?



It is always better to EVADE any hostile and
dangerous situation by any means possible.

There is nothing wrong with running from a Risk or
Threat if possible.


4 Levels of Personal Safety
UNAWARE

 A State of Mind in which you are not Alert to your
immediate surroundings.

 This would include while you sleep, watch TV, cook a
meal, being at home, etc.


Aware

 The State of Mind in which you are Aware of your
environment.

 At this level, you have not yet identified any Potential
or Real Risk or Threat that may be present.


Aware

Awareness involves the use of your Five Senses:

Sight
Sound
Smell
Touch
Taste

During conditions where a Potential or Real Risk or
Threat is Present, you should avoid using items that will
impair your Vision and Sound.

Example: Avoid using headphones while jogging or
walking, especially at Night and Alone.


Alert

 In this State of Mind, you have identified a Potential or
Real Risk or Threat within your environment.

 Your spider sense is going nuts…


Alert

General Rule

Any person not known to you or your family can
constitute a Potential or Real Risk or Threat.


Alarm

 In this State of Mind, the Potential Risk or Threat has
now become a Real and your Personal Safety and
Security has been compromised.

A high level of FEAR and ANXIETY takes over.


Alarm

Alert

Aware

Unaware


The Defensive Mindset

The values, mental techniques, and attitude that
maximizes the effectiveness of how you respond to a
Risk or Threat.


Defensive Mindset Concepts
Ability to Defend

Do you have the ability and willingness to defend
yourself and not become a VICTIM?

Be wary of self-defense instructors that claim they can
train to defend yourself…their systems are untested
and are more for sport.


Ability to Defend

The State of Texas’ new Self-Defense Castle Doctrine
Statute effective September 1, 2007.


Never Give Up

A person becomes a VICTIM because he / she gives up
and is overpowered by the Offender.

You must be determined to persevere by all means
necessary and never give up.


Develop A Plan

Planning is an important component of Personal
Survival.

Are you laying the foundation to be Victimized?


Develop A Plan

A Plan is a Pre-Determined Course of Action used to
respond to specific situations you might encounter.

A Threat Assessment and Risk Analysis complement
your Personal Safety and Security Plan.


2 Steps To Take After Identifying A Potential Or Real
Risk or Threat:

1. Formulate a Hypothetical Plan of Action to deal
with the Risk or Threat.

2. Establish Barriers that will initiate your Plan of
Action. An Aggressive Gesture, entering your
Personal Space, etc.


Situational Visualization

This is the formation of a mental image for handling
different Situations.

It is also a major component of Developing A Plan.


Remember

Panic = Victimization


Fear

 Fear is good…it is your body telling you that you are in
some type of Danger.

 If Fear becomes paralyzing, it can’t help you fight
harder or run faster.


Fear

Fear = Release of Adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Adrenaline dictates the Fight or Flight Concept.


4 Types of Reactions to Fear
1. Tachypsychia

The perception from people under stress that describes
time moving in slow motion.


1. Tachypsychia

The brain is processing very quickly to allow for a faster
defensive response.

This is a positive side effect that can enhance defensive
abilities.


2. Auditory Exclusion

The brain’s ability to block sound while focused on a
Threat.



The brain blocks auditory input to allow you to focus
completely on the Threat.

This has both a positive and negative effects.



You get an increased ability to focus (positive) while it
also keeps you from noticing or hearing other
potential risks or threats coming at you (negative).


3. Tunnel Vision

This is the narrowing of your field of vision as you focus
on a particular Risk or Threat.


3. Tunnel Vision

You loose peripheral vision, which prevents you from
identifying other Risks or Threats that may be
approaching you from your left or right.


3. Tunnel Vision

To avoid Tunnel Vision, SCAN the immediate area Left
and Right after engaging a Risk or Threat.


4. Cognitive Dissonance

This is a Disassociation with the actual events as they
occur.



A Disassociated Mind is the most dangerous reaction to
Fear because it is rejecting the idea that something
terrible is happening.



When this happens, the Victim is negating the ability to
effectively fight back or retreat.


The “6 P’s Principle”

Proper
Prior
Planning
Prevents
Poor
Performance

Victimization / Targeting
3 Elements of a Potential Criminal Act

1. Desire

The criminal (s) must have a desire and / or motivation to
justify the actions or receive some type of tangible /
intangible benefit from the criminal act.



2. Ability

The criminal (s) need to recognize his ability, physical
skills, knowledge, available assets, etc. to commit the
criminal act.



3. Opportunity

The criminal (s) selects his target based on vulnerability
and accessibility.


Desire

Ability Opportunity


3 Elements of a Potential Victim

1. Suitability

Are you a Suitable Target?

Would coming after you further the criminal’s Goals,
Desires, or Motivations?

What do you possess that the criminal wants?


2. Vulnerability

What type of security measures do you have in place to
protect yourself and your family?



2. Vulnerability
 Personal Behaviors
 Physical Security (Alarms, Lights, Fences)
 Information Security (Denying Access)
 Computer Security (Passwords, Locks)



2. Vulnerability

Some Vulnerabilities can be very obvious
and can be detected without much effort.



2. Vulnerability

A measure of your Attractiveness to a criminal or
terrorist.

What are your Vulnerabilities?



3. Probability of Success

What is the probability that if the criminal comes after you,
he will be successful?

Keep in mind that by the time the criminal comes after you,
he has already studied you and determined the Risks and
Threats to himself.


Suitability

Vulnerability Success



Victim Selection + Victim Behavior =

VICTIMIZATION


Observation Skills
 The eyes provide the visual information, which is sent
to the brain for processing, and causes a person to
respond to a particular situation.

 Since you were a child, you have been trained using
your eyes.

 You need to further develop this skill.


Observation Skills
 Your eyes are trained to SCAN an area within your
sight from LEFT to RIGHT.

 This is the skill you use to read a book.

 You are also trained to SCAN an area within your
sight from LEFT to RIGHT to LEFT.

 This is the skill you use when driving a vehicle.


Observation Skills

By SCANNING Left / Right / Left, the
retention of what you observe increases,
and gives you a better picture of what you
have seen.


Observation Skills
SCANNING and GLANCING at something or someone
that has caught your attention are a more relaxing and
effective ways of observation.

Do not stare because this action tires your eyes and
causes your vision to become unclear and fuzzy.


Observation Skills

One day, you might get the feeling or intuition that you
are being followed by another vehicle.

This is your mind warning you of a Potential or Real Risk
or Threat.


Observation Skills
Surveillance Indicators

 Multiple sightings of same suspicious individuals , a
vehicle, or other activity separated by:

Date  Time  Location


Observation Skills
Surveillance Indicators

TEDD
Time
Environment
Distance
Deportment


Observation Skills
What To Look For:

 A vehicle that slows down when you slow down,
but keeps its distance.
 A vehicle that does not pass you; this goes beyond
driving behavior.
 A vehicle that turns a corner when you do.
 A vehicle that stops at a distance when you stop at
your destination.

Observation Skills
How To Respond:

 Pull your vehicle over and try to get a license plate.

 Keep driving but do not go directly to your destination;
go somewhere else.

 Request police assistance.


Auditory Skills
The most important rule for maximizing your Hearing
accuracy is:

Breathing Control


Auditory Skills
During a dangerous situation, the pace of your
Breathing increases, and so does your Heart Rate.

Take deep, slow breaths to control your heart rate and
increase your Auditory Skills.


Smelling Skills
You are programmed to React to scents that are pleasing
or unpleasant.

A particular odor will trigger your sensory memories that
will correspond to your past events.


Smelling Skills
To improve your sense of smell, practice these steps:

Close your eyes

Take a deep breath

Let your mind instead of your eyes determine
the scent


Basic Criminal Warning Signs
 A person intent on committing a Crime will put on a
“FALSE FACE”.

 The criminal’s intent is to deceive the Target (Victim).

 Everything that the criminal says and does will most
likely be LIES.


Basic Criminal Warning Signs

The criminal will be extremely Charming and Friendly.

Alert: These behaviors are Warning Signs.


The Victimization Process
1. Pre-Victimization

At this point, the criminal will be searching for his
Victim.

This victim selection process is called “TROLLING”.


1. Pre-Victimization

The criminal will Troll for his Targets at:

Malls
Colleges / Universities
Nightclubs
Grocery Stores


2. Initial Contact

Once the criminal selects a Target, he will do all he can
to initiate contact.

At this point, the selected Target is unaware about the
Initial Contact’s intentions.


2. Initial Contact

The criminal will attempt to make contact with his target
in some manner.

The criminal will get close enough to begin a
conversation with the Target.


2. Initial Contact

The Initial Contact is to lower the selected Victim’s
defenses.

The conversation will be prepped in order to take control
of the situation.


2. Initial Contact

The Initial Contact can be made days or weeks before
the Target becomes a Victim.

The Initial Contact is part of the victim selection
process.


2. Initial Contact

The Initial Contact is to commit the Target into some
type of obligation and to gain trust.

The criminal might do a favor or task in which the Target
becomes in Debt to him.


2. Initial Contact

The favor might be one that is ongoing and one that
makes the Target accompany the criminal into a more
private and secluded location.


3. Follow-Up Contact

The criminal sets-up the situation in which the Target
runs into him to do a follow-up contact.

By this point, the criminal has already studied his Target
and has decided to Victimized the Target.


4. Target Isolation

The objective now is to Isolate the Target.

If the criminal has previously gained the trust, it will be
easier to Isolate the Target from other people.


4. Target Isolation

The Target must be prepared to refuse to be alone
with the criminal.

Ask yourself…Why should I go alone with this
person?

Be Inquisitive.



5. Target Victimization

Once the Target is completely Isolated,
the criminal will attack.



6. Post-Victimization

Once the criminal completes the attack,
he has to decide whether to release or
kill the Victim.



More likely, the Victim will be killed.

The criminal will then attempt to cover
up the crime by destroying evidence
and disposing of the Victim’s body.


The criminal will then depart the crime scene without
being seen.

Keep in mind that the seasoned, career criminal has
more experience and Situational Awareness that a
beginner and Victims.



Alert

The criminal will make his move
when it is most convenient to him
and the Target is most Vulnerable.


Sergio Olivares, MPA
President & General Manager
(361) 694 - 2385
research_and_analysis@yahoo.com

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