SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 101

[Volleyball Granny]

having worked at a mall, i need to say that every single store has some sort of exit, even if they share one with a couple stores connected by a hallway running behind them all. The SPCA Adoption Center I worked at shared one with several small stores. This info might save your life.

Yes, I was going to point this out, too. If you hear anything at all, any type of ruckus, go to the back of the store and notify the person at the register.

To tell you the truth, I'd find a way to get that cage pulled down over the front of the store, too. If the cage is down and there is no-one visible from the front of the store, you might have a chance of getting out through the back hallway.

[maric]

Bumping.

[MaureenO]

Bumping.

Thank you, Mari. This is a good time for a bump.

Mo

[MaureenO]

If there was ever a time for a hard bump of this thread, this is it. PLEASE be extra vigilant of those persons and areas around you.

Don't be scared, be observant and ready to react (and retreat) in a conscientious manner.

Maureen

[kozanne]

Pray for the protection of this nation and everybody stay sharp. Thanks for the bump, Mo!

[MaureenO]

Pray for the protection of this nation and everybody stay sharp. Thanks for the bump, Mo!

The recent FBI BOLO says all that's needed. We NEED to be observant especially since we will NOT know where or when.

Mo

[MaureenO]

BTTT.

[adgal]

Thanks Maureen - should be top of mind for everyone.

[MaureenO]

Thanks Maureen - should be top of mind for everyone.

Yes, it should--especially now. Those explosives have not been recovered which means they are still available for use in the US.

Mo

[MaureenO]

Bump.

[MaureenO]

BTTT.

[OddOne]

Think I'll bring my tameshigiri katana in to work tomorrow to, umm, clean and re-oil it. Yeah, clean and re-oil. That'll work.

Swords are far more interesting when they're real and have live edges...

[maric]

BTTT

[strudel nut]

BTTT...especially with the holidays coming. a lady was robbed in a walmart parking lot this afternoon and beaten.

[MaureenO]

BTTT.

[Witness]

If I were in a mall and saw something TRULY suspicious, I would first call police then second tell mall security or a clerk.

The reason I say that is, I worked in a large department store in a mall. We (the employees) were not allowed to call police, we had to call security for everything.

I have been very aggravated on a number of occasions when I found out that the information I gave security THEY SCREWED UP. I am not knocking them, I highly respected them and was so happy and refreshed that they were very honest and dedicated.

Also, when I saw a crime being committed or something suspicious, I informed all the other store departments in my area, this worked out very well.

I learned to keep security on the line and make sure they did hear my accurate descriptions of the criminals, or suspicious individuals, and the area they are in and proceeding to. I have received kudo's and couple of times gift cards from the store.

But this is a thread not about theft but about personal safety. If there is a situation in a store GET OUT! Do not expect or wait for the store to tell you, it will be too late. FOLLOW YOUR GUT FEELINGS.

We had on two different occasions, a release of a unknown chemical. I could hardly work in my department. Management would not allow employees to leave. We all went to the far end of our departments. They tried opening doors. Customers complained and left the store. I'm glad that was not a deadly gas of sorts, we never found out what it was.

On another occasion someone had thrown a pneumatic type object in the trash can outside our store entrance. A customer called our security or the police. It looked to me to be a weird looking shock absorber. Heck we were a short ways from the automotive department and right next to the tool department. Anyways, security had us stand in front of the glass door and tell customers to leave by another exit. Police roped off the entire parking lot and called the b-mb squad. No one in the store, customers or other workers, had any idea what was going on other than the workers in that immediate area of the store. Good that it was just a truck part because I'm sure that glass would not have provided much protection.

[MaureenO]

If I were in a mall and saw something TRULY suspicious, I would first call police then second tell mall security or a clerk.

Under ANY suspicious circs that raise your hackles, screw your store's protocol. Dial 911 from your cell phone while you're finding cover. You don't even have to speak immediately when you dial 911, just tell them real quick "I'm finding cover" and they'll be tracking your information.

I would rather roll code on a mistaken call than not receive a dispatch for a righteous call.

Maureen

[OddOne]

Captain Keyring is often ill-prepared to deal with something major, so calling the constabulary before the security people is sound. Like Maureen said (and she'd know!), stuff their protocol.

Aside: If I were a 911 dispatcher and I heard "I'm finding cover" I'd have every available unit in the known universe headed there ASAP.

[MaureenO]

Captain Keyring is often ill-prepared to deal with something major, so calling the constabulary before the security people is sound. Like Maureen said (and she'd know!), stuff their protocol.

Aside: If I were a 911 dispatcher and I heard "I'm finding cover" I'd have every available unit in the known universe headed there ASAP.

That's EXACTLY how it happens, OddOne! It goes like this: "all available units respond to XXXXX cross of XXXXX. RP seeking cover, you are clear to respond code."

By the time the first unit goes 97, enough of the info has been received that we are able to establish a perimeter.
and strategise further response.

Mo

[OddOne]

I think I mentioned this in this thread already but I'll mention it again:

At the first sign of a crisis, your first priority is to get out of danger. Then, once you are out of danger, you can more comfortably and certainly more safely assess the situation and act accordingly. Back on 9/11, those that reacted this way to the first plane weren't killed by the second.

[Shacknasty Shagrat]

I think I mentioned this in this thread already but I'll mention it again:

At the first sign of a crisis, your first priority is to get out of danger. Then, once you are out of danger, you can more comfortably and certainly more safely assess the situation and act accordingly. Back on 9/11, those that reacted this way to the first plane weren't killed by the second.

Great advice, OO
Several items of doctrine that I have been taught:
Look up, look down, look all around.
This is what one should do as a habit, when entering any new space.
Looking for a way out is one of the things to look for.

If something looks wrong, maybe something is wrong, and act appropriately.
Humans excel at pattern recognition, both on the conscious and subconscious level, and are quick to note deviations in a pattern(anomalies).
If you sense danger, see OO above(this can be running away screaming, shooting someone/something, call 911, ask a cop, there are a lot of options at this time. But do something.
SS

[MaureenO]

BTTT.

[Rescuedog]

Maureen,
Have you heard anything? My kids had their winter assembly today, 400 kids, parents and grandparents. I left for a moment to get something out of my car and got a shiver-it occured to me that I just walked out of the perfect target. Scary what we do in our day to day lives without a second thought.

RD

[MaureenO]

Bump.

[MaureenO]

Maureen,
Have you heard anything? My kids had their winter assembly today, 400 kids, parents and grandparents. I left for a moment to get something out of my car and got a shiver-it occured to me that I just walked out of the perfect target. Scary what we do in our day to day lives without a second thought.

RD

I have heard nothing SPECIFIC, which means no one sent me a date, means, location or time. However we do need to be extra vigilant but live your lives cautiously without bending to the terror.

Consider it this way: Your town has a serial killer on the loose--you will be extra vigilant but will go about your normal lives with an extraordinarily heightened sense of awareness.

Maureen

[Rescuedog]

Thanks Maureen

[MaureenO]

Bump for newbies.

[MaureenO]

BTTT, just because.

[medic38572]

BTTT, just because.

Just because why?

[Bobga]

Sorry if I missed this, as I just popped in near the end of the thread.
So I hope I am on subject as it seems...

What we try to do here in many calls, such as a bomb threat at a school, or something weird at a mall etc, is NOT roll everything at once.
Current thinking is that a tango could cause a rollout of emergency vehicles several times, and pretty much get a handle on who comes from where etc.

The thinking is that even if units hold back until the area is cleared, it sets up the holding areas for evil observers to record.

Then later, it is possible that the tangos could cause another rollout of emergency equipment for something, and when the units reached the holding point, and are waiting for the lead unit to clear the area, the holding area could be whacked, taking out most of the responding units. Then there is the possibility that no holding unit would be used, and the suspect area could be used the same way.

Rushing to help in itself could be just what the bad guys want.

Anyway that is what the current thinking and planning is around here, as much as possible.

Strategy, strategy, strategy....
Mind games.......

[MaureenO]

Sorry if I missed this, as I just popped in near the end of the thread.
So I hope I am on subject as it seems...

What we try to do here in many calls, such as a bomb threat at a school, or something weird at a mall etc, is NOT roll everything at once.
Current thinking is that a tango could cause a rollout of emergency vehicles several times, and pretty much get a handle on who comes from where etc.

The thinking is that even if units hold back until the area is cleared, it sets up the holding areas for evil observers to record.

Then later, it is possible that the tangos could cause another rollout of emergency equipment for something, and when the units reached the holding point, and are waiting for the lead unit to clear the area, the holding area could be whacked, taking out most of the responding units. Then there is the possibility that no holding unit would be used, and the suspect area could be used the same way.

Rushing to help in itself could be just what the bad guys want.

Anyway that is what the current thinking and planning is around here, as much as possible.

Strategy, strategy, strategy....
Mind games.......

You're absolutely correct Bob. The tangoes play the one-two punch game (as you've been instructed) and will hit a soft target, the followup on the primary target--the responders--comes next.

Maureen

[MaureenO]

BTTT.

[Brutus]

You're absolutely correct Bob. The tangoes play the one-two punch game (as you've been instructed) and will hit a soft target, the followup on the primary target--the responders--comes next.

Maureen

+1000

It's well known that the I.R.A. used tactics like this.

Call in a bomb threat and get everyone evacuated to a known evac area, and then set off a bomb in the evac area.

They'd usually get a higher casualty count that way, what with everyone bunched up in one place.

[MaureenO]

+1000

It's well known that the I.R.A. used tactics like this.

Call in a bomb threat and get everyone evacuated to a known evac area, and then set off a bomb in the evac area.

They'd usually get a higher casualty count that way, what with everyone bunched up in one place.

My main reason for bumping this is the many recent security bulletins and other advisements.

Maureen

[Brutus]

My main reason for bumping this is the many recent security bulletins and other advisements.

Maureen

Oops!

Sorry if my contribution was unwelcome. Just trying to help out.

Mea culpa.

[MaureenO]

Oops!

Sorry if my contribution was unwelcome. Just trying to help out.

Mea culpa.

Brutus, your contributions are WELCOMED, please don't apologise for doing something correct.

Maureen

[denfoote]

Evening Bump.

[Brutus]

Brutus, your contributions are WELCOMED, please don't apologise for doing something correct.

Maureen

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me

Well double oops!

Sorry. I misinterpreted your comment there.

"We now return to your regularly scheduled program."

[MaureenO]

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me

Well double oops!

Sorry. I misinterpreted your comment there.

"We now return to your regularly scheduled program."

Without overstepping my constraints, I only bump this thread when I have reason to believe it should be bumped.

Maureen

[MaureenO]

Bump.