Danger Awareness and Danger Awareness and ResponseResponse

Brian Landers

What you should get out of What you should get out of this training?this training?You are an animal, act like one!

Instincts! Instincts! Instincts!

Have a plan and follow it.

You are an animal…..You are an animal…..

Animals…..Animals…..Assess threatsScan their environmentsRely on instinctsReact to situationsFlee before fightFight with ferocity

Threat AssessmentThreat AssessmentLearned/Social Behavior Survival Behavior

Be nice to strangers Don’t trust strangers

Dependency on safety Responsibility of safety

Assumption of surroundings Suspicion of surroundings

Being polite Don’t show weakness

Instincts ignored Instincts followed

Environment ScanningEnvironment Scanning

EnvironmentEnvironmentYou don’t always get to pick and

choose the safety of your environment.

Other people (animals) can make your environment unsafe.

All environments offer an escape path, know it before you go in it. (Drive around block, rear exit of grocery store, Google maps, etc).

KNOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT!

InstinctsInstincts

InstinctsInstinctsInstincts are our animalistic

warnings coming out in us.We ignore instincts for fear of

embarrassment, job performance, reputation, personal goals.

We need to trust our fear!!!!“Fear is mother nature’s way of

saying….Be Careful!”

Examples of Using Examples of Using InstinctsInstinctsSeeing strange person in vicinity

and alerting security/police.Unknown car in parking lot and

getting escort out or calling security/police.

Observing abandoned backpack in odd location and isolating it.

Leaving store or mall when instincts tell you to.

React to SituationsReact to SituationsScanning, assessing, and using fear

to guide you does no good if you fail to react.

Develop a plan, a plan with OPTIONS.Role play.Enact plan.Do you have a tornado drill?Do you have a fire drill?Who conducts them? Plans them?

Tells YOU what to do?

StatsStatsTornado: 1:60,000Fire: 1:113,686Murder: 1: 16,326Violent crime at work: 1:200Victim of crime: 1:16Home/business targeted: 1:6

React to situationsReact to situationsYou are responsible for your own

safety!The deer in the woods does not

rely on the bears, wolves, raccoons, and birds for their safety.

Having a plan with options is better than working under stress.

Scenario: New car, ignition.

Evacuation?Evacuation?Field evacuation: Phone a supervisor

and seek permission to be replaced or reschedule.

Temporary Disengagement: Go out to the car, restroom, lobby. Collect your thoughts and analyze situation.

Building Evacuation: It is unsafe = get out.

Avoid “target rich” environment.Use resources. (Weapons, breaking

windows, first aid, alarming others)

How to planHow to planResearch people, places, things.Analyze your environments.Visualize your options under

stress.Know company policies.Practice at home, work, play.Code words.

Personal planningPersonal planningMake decisions in advance of

situation.“If he does this…. I do that”.Don’t look like a victim, walk with a

purpose.Stay off phone!!!!!!Keep hands free (don’t carry items).Constantly scan.Make eye contact and smile.

““Soft” DisengagementSoft” DisengagementFind a way to excuse yourself

from the environment without losing face for you and your agency.

Don’t make matters worse for the“next guy”.

End on the best terms possible.No task or assignment is worth

your life!Determine police response.

Flee before fightFlee before fightKnow Thyself!“He who knows when he can fight

and when he cannot will be victorious.”- SUN TZU- Art of War.

People are born fighters, our society has conditioned us to resist natural urges and tendencies.

Nike defense….

Run like hell!Run like hell!

Fight with ferocityFight with ferocityMay be literally fighting for your

life.Target eyes, throat, groin.Yell, scream, kick, bite, stab.DO NOT GO to second location.Use makeshift weapons.Realize you may be punched,

choked, stabbed, and shot.

After events….After events….Get to safe location.Call police, stay on line with

dispatcher.Self treat wounds (equipment,

training?)Try to keep others away from

dangerous location/person (if possible).

Collect thoughts, calm yourself.Try to remember details.

Legal JustificationLegal JustificationWisconsin Law 939.48: Self

defense is authorized when one reasonable feels that their person is being threatened illegally. The extent of force used must only be that to prevent or terminate the threat.

Legal JustificationLegal JustificationDeadly Force may only be used

when there is an“imminent threat” against one’s life.

Castle Doctrine- home, car, work.

Self DefenseSelf DefenseCan you be armed?Wisconsin conceal carry requires

training and issuance of a CCW permit.

Concealed Weapons: Knives, guns, tasers, other devices. (Deadly weapons)

Pepper spray is not a deadly weapon.

Self DefenseSelf DefenseTasers: Civilian versions.OC (Pepper spray). Must be

pepper spray, no chemical agent.Max concentration is 5%.No concealed container (clearly

marked).May not be used unlawfully.

Self defense…firearmsSelf defense…firearmsThink before you buy/carry a

firearm.You then bring a gun into every

encounter.What happens when you pull out

gun?What happens if you miss?What happens if shots don’t stop?What happens if your gun is now

going to be used against you?

Self DefenseSelf DefenseWisconsin Self Defense Laws are

defenses to criminal prosecution.You may still be open to civil

liability.Main focus will be on the your

perceived threat vs. the amount of force used.

ConclusionConclusionQuestions…Comments? Brian Landers608-393-3491brianlanders@charter.net