It's Almost Thanksgiving

It’s almost Thanksgiving. A time we should slow down and look at all we are thankful for. Thankful for all the blessings we’ve received. As a country favorite of mine says, “a log on the fire, dinner in the oven, and a good woman's lovin’ “. Beatrice and i are especially thankful this year to be celebrating with her immediate family. Something that has not happened for one reason or another in the past several years. 

In light of the recent tragedies that have occurred around the world, we should be especially thankful to be living in a country that values freedom, liberty, and justice. But there are others who hate those virtues, and hate those of us that hold them dearly in our hearts. Not since the Nazi movement in the 1930’s has any group forced their totalitarian culture on the world. During this time of love, joy, and happiness, it is very important to remember this. Please be aware of your surroundings and those around you. We get so involved with the joy of the season we sometimes miss the danger signs in front of us, whether it is a pick-pocket, a scam artist, a mugger, or a terrorist. The first three will most likely not harm you . The last, the terrorists, have harm and only harm on their minds.

The other day i read a news article, and would like to pass some of it on. Not a warning. Not a prediction, Not even a negative dread. Just a list of suggestions that might help you survive many different emergency situations. As someone who worked in the field of Public Safety for 27 years, my hope is that you will never need any of these suggestions. But if you do, they may help keep this wonderful festive season a safe one for you, your family, and those who might be around you. If you would like to read the entire article it can be found at http://bearingarms.com/ten-ways-avoid-killed-terrorist-attack/

1. Realize it WILL happen here – This isn’t a paranoid statement: it is a simple unpleasant fact based upon intelligence gathering efforts, expert opinion, and common sense. At some point, it is likely there will be a coordinated, Paris-type attack in the U.S. on schools, shopping malls, sporting events, or other mass-gathering areas.
2. If you are licensed, consider carrying a concealed firearm where legal – A concealed firearm in the hands of a responsible and trained individual is statistically one of the best tools available to stop mass killings.
3. Improvised weapons are within reach – If you cannot or choose not to carry a firearm, there are always effective weapons within your immediate area so learn to use them. Whenever unarmed in a public area, make it a habit (or game) to choose three nearby items that would make a good weapon if things turn dire.
4. *****Know where exits are located****** – Many people die during all types of emergencies because they don’t know where exits are located.  This should be the first thing you do, above all else, whenever situated in a public place.
5. *****Act decisively***** – The “immediate action drill” during an attack is either fight or flee. Don’t mill around, waiting for instruction or to gain a better idea of what is happening. Flee the area when you have an opportunity or instantly attack a threat if one presents itself. The old chestnut is still true: “To Ponder is to Perish.”
6. Be alert to people and unusual circumstances – Most folks wouldn’t see a large pink gorilla wandering down the hallway and certainly won’t see a suspicious individual fiddling with wires under a long trench coat on a hot day. You don’t have to glare at every passerby but simply maintain a loose focus for unusual patterns of activity within your surroundings.
7. “If you see something, say something.” – Cops everywhere have stories of witnesses who said after a crime, ‘I wasn’t sure what was going on and I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.’  If you see people or objects that look suspicious, notify the authorities immediately. There is no punishment for being mistaken but there are huge consequences to being correct but not sharing the information.
8. There is usually one more bomb/attack/assailant – Experience has shown that attackers are increasingly planning not only their initially assault, but follow-up actions such as secondary or even tertiary explosives and attackers. Such actions not only increase the “shock and awe” of the incident but cause additional carnage and damage the emergency response system.
9. Have a basic understanding of trauma medical care – in the aftermath of a bombing or shooting incident, many people will be bleeding to death and you have two or three minutes to save lives.  This means you need to understand mass-casualty triage principals and some basic tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) techniques. Be ready to provide aid such as tourniquets, spinal immobilization and safe patient evacuation from threatening circumstances.
10. Trust your intuition – If something ‘feels’ dangerous or simply makes you uneasy, trust your inner voices. This inner dialog might be wrong, but then again, you may have subconsciously picked up subtle environmental clues that you “can’t quite put your finger on,” but are real nonetheless. At the very least, move to a safer position or relocate to where you can more easily escape a potential kill zone.
It is not hyperbole to state that we are all now terrorism responders because the avowed goal of Daesh (ISIS) and other such groups is to bring death and destruction to Mainstreet U.S.A. However, with planning and preparation individual citizens can sometimes prevent, often shorten and effectively respond to mass killing incidents.

The Department of Homeland Security’s website advises that we not change our plans for this Thanksgiving Weekend. BUT If you  see something….. Say something. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Stay Safe. Captain Grenville(Retired)