Tomahawks – Practical Tactical

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Echo

Custom BARR+EPI Damascus Hawk

Even before the tomahawk was invented, early man’s instinct to chop with a sharpened stone indicates that our most primal motor function was not to slice, slash, or stab, but it was to chop. Whether cutting down a tree or dressing captured wild game, this cutting motion is man at his purest form.

Fast forward till today, the tomahawk has transcended into the tool it is today. Whether for sport that North Americans engage in with tomahawk throwing, or as a utility tool for camping, for self defense, to tactical hawks for elite military units that use it as a secondary weapon or as a breaching tool, the tomahawk design has remained timeless and mostly unchanged. In fact, little needs to be changed with a design that is so effective for close quarters combat, and deadly in the hands of a trained operative.

The design for different applications of the tomahawk varies with the expected use of this tool. Utility hawks generally look like camp axes except they are lighter, and feature a hammer end for nailing tent stakes or other utility tasks. While most people feel that camp axes do the job well, I generally prefer the reduced weight of the hawk. The ability to instantly deploy the hawk as a self defense tool in the outdoors outweigh the fact that the lighter head will mean more effort in chopping wood. Looking at it from a hiking perspective, every ounce saved in my backpack lets me cover further distances so that works for me. The Cold Steel Trail Hawk is a great example of this utility hawk.

While most tomahawks are now made overseas in China or Taiwan, there are people who still insist on American made tomahawks, and who can blame them? Most US made hawks are small batch, custom made models that are hand forged so no two are alike. I personally am a big fan of DM Forge’s tomahawks that Craig Barr makes out at Colorado. The custom damascus ones are simply the finest in what I call hard-use, exhibition grade hawks like the one at the top of this page. These are hawks you will be passing down from generation to generation, and worth every penny spent.

Custom BARR+EPI Damascus Hawk with leather sheath

And then there are the tactical hawks. RMJ Tactical has always been much sought after for their Tactical hawks, but the waiting list and the price goes slightly into the custom territory so it has been prohibitive for most regular folks…until now. The CRKT Kangee and Chogan tactical hawks designed by Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical bridges this gap with production hawks at half the price. The main difference between both of them is that the Kangee has a spiked end, with a sharpened top, while the Chogan has a more reserved hammer end with an unsharpened top. Both hawks come with a kydex sheath for multiple attachment options to MOLLE gear. It even comes with an included shoulder strap, although I really think it isn’t the best way to be carrying this hawk. I have attached a single short MALICE clip on mine with 2 screws and I think by far it has proved to be the best option for belt carry. This method also allows for the quickest and safest deployment which works for me.

The Kangee is designed more of a tactical breaching – close quarters combat tool, while the Chogan is more of a utility version of it, so depending on your needs and skill level, you can choose accordingly. Be careful of the Kangee’s spike though, if you aren’t trained for it as you can seriously injure yourself with almost every edge on the top sharpened, but for breaching doors or windows with something weighing just 1lb 8oz, it is wicked effective at its job.

For more info, or to have a closer look at the above tomahawks head over to the EPI.shop.

The basics of vehicle preparedness

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Echo

We commute everyday, spending a sizeable portion of our lives in our vehicles in the process. As we have mentioned earlier in the Color code system, the moment you are outside your comfort zone, you have to make it a point to have situational awareness, to be alert. Your vehicle should not be treated as a comfort zone, you are surrounded by glass, and glass is breakable.

While you may think that if you have already sorted out that bit by tinting your windows with security film, remember that the film is just a very thin layer of protection meant to hold the glass in place in case there is impact, preventing entry. What this means is that it will delay an attacker from gaining entry into your vehicle, but if the attacker was persistent enough or is using a tool that pierces the film, then you will find yourself in a very dangerous position to be in as your ‘shield’ would be very quickly compromised. With that being said, having that barrier is definitely more sensible than having nothing at all, but it doesn’t mean that if you are attacked you should remain stationary, always drive off immediately.

I’ve learnt many years ago that you should always look for an exit the moment you enter a new unfamiliar place, and the same holds true when you are driving, especially in unfamiliar roads. Always remember landmarks, signs, or anything that will help you identify your position. This also can be applied to when you are reversing into your home, which is my preferred method of entry as you have full awareness of oncoming vehicles. If you sense something is amiss, for example unfamiliar vehicles randomly parked outside your premises, or vehicles suddenly accelerating towards you as you are entering your premises, always move yourself into a position where you can accelerate forward and out of the way. If possible try not to get boxed in with nowhere to run.

Other unforeseen circumstances that will likely happen is that you get stuck in traffic. Its not uncommon to have stalled vehicles or accidents that take hours to clear up, and you are stuck in the middle of the highway, unable to reverse, or find an alternate route, and all you can do is wait. During these moments, you probably would wish you had some food, water, and something to pass your time. The ER Bar, which is a high-calorie cookie bar is perfect to stash in the glove box. Vacuum sealed, with a 5 year shelf life and able to withstand temperatures of around 60 degrees Celcius, its a perfect food for emergencies because of the simple fact that you don’t have to think about it for the next few years until when you need it. Always keep at least a bottle of water before any journey to remain hydrated throughout your trip, no matter how short it may be.

The next thing is fuel. I make it a point to refuel when the gauge hits about a quarter. Letting your vehicle run till the last possible minute or when the re-fuel light is flashing isn’t wise as you may not have the chance to do so when you need it most. Getting stuck in traffic isn’t fun, but getting stuck in traffic with almost no fuel left, and turning off the air conditioner to save fuel while you are baking inside your own vehicle, is foolish.

When I choose a preferred vehicle as a daily driver, one of the things I look at also is the placement of the fuel cap. Most cars nowadays have the refuelling cap on what I call ’the wrong side’, meaning to say, if the driver’s side is on the right, the cap should be on the right, not left. This is probably done because of the way vehicles are globalized nowadays so they are sharing platforms globally, and making a vehicle that has the cap on the same side might cost more money to do. But think for a moment how you refuel your vehicle: If it is on the wrong side, you would have to pull up to a kiosk, get out of the vehicle, walk to the other side to refuel, and at this moment most people would probably just leave their cars unlocked, and unlocked cars are vulnerable cars. There really is no quick way to get back into your vehicle and drive off in case of an emergency (this design helps car thieves get away quicker though, especially for those who leave the keys in the ignition).

Now, if the fuel cap is on the same side, what I do is I pull up beside the kiosk, keys are off the ignition, door open. By keeping the door open I create a barrier and close off that bit, so even if someone charges at me, I can hold them off with my vehicle door. Then I will proceed to refuel, but I have created a somewhat ‘safer’ workspace. At least if someone tries anything funny, I can just hop into the driver’s seat, and drive off.

I think its about time we start thinking ahead, its all these little things that matter and by thinking that nothing is going to happen, you will start slacking off little by little, and people with malicious intent always prey on the weak and vulnerable, and take advantage of any openings. Do not let them have an upper hand, and please do not leave valuables, keys, or children in your vehicle. It only takes a split second for your life to change forever.

The year in review

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Echo

Now that the so-called Mayan Apocalypse has passed and nothing happened, quite a number of people are holding true to their belief that there is no need to be prepared. But think about it, apocalypse does not happen like what you see in the movies where the earth splits apart and there is fire and explosions everywhere. The end of the world can very simply mean something catastrophic happening to you or your family, whenever, or wherever you may be. Take for instance, the recent landslides that caused evacuations in Puncak Setiawangsa, or the flooding in Pahang, these are natural disasters that can happen to you, it doesn’t take a lot to displace your comfort zone and way of life.

In fact when you look at the year in review, 2012 had a lot going on, the earthquakes in Chiba, Japan, and Northern Italy, Yunnan, China and Afghanistan, flooding caused by hurricanes and tornadoes that caused about US$4.8 billion in damages, wildfires in Colorado and Oklahoma, or the drought in Sahel. With these events happening, it is difficult to argue with the fact that nothing is happening, or to maintain the ‘it won’t happen to me’ mentality. But you know what, there will always be the unprepared, the last minute shoppers, the people who out of desperation will want to speak to the manager to get some answers or results when things do happen. Here’s a hint, when something does happen and you’re not self-sufficient, most likely aid will not come until much later. The best thing to do is always to have an exit strategy.

The problem has to do with marketing as well. The way the apocalypse was marketed last year, part fear-mongering, part mockery, part cashing in on it, led many to believe that it was just hype. Indeed it was, I saw apocalypse sales, or apocalypse parties and the like. You have Doomsday Preppers with even more crazy characters that reinforces the idea that, if you are prepping, then you really must be nuts.

But that’s what people want you to think. Prepping moves you a little off the grid from being dependent, to being independent. Its like buying a flashlight for emergencies, because flashlights run on batteries, it is an independent power source, so you are moving off the grid that supplies electricity to your fluorescent lighting or fancy downlights. If you look at it from a bigger perspective, suppose you decide to run your entire eco-home on solar or regenerative energy, that would mean you are fully off the electrical grid. While its great for you and your eco conscience, the local electrical company will never be able to make any profit off your home, and that’s where the problem starts. If enough people start getting off the grid, that affects the profits of large corporations, and these are the guys that has the capital, power, and influence to do some marketing for their benefit.

As long as the people don’t know what they really want, however, it will definitely be easy for marketing guys to sell you something – anything, even an idea as absurd such as ‘it will never happen to you’. Like they say, if you don’t believe in something, you will believe in anything.

The BSK-M1 : Start Somewhere

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Echo

Click above to download the full resolution image as your wallpaper, and remember that all great things have to start somewhere.

For more info on the BSK-M1

The BSK-M1: Basic Survival Kit

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Echo

BSK-M1

I’m really excited to present to you the BSK-M1, EPI’s Basic Survival Kit. This Kit is designed primarily for urban survival preparedness applications but contains all the gear you need to survive in a variety of situations. The included items are high quality and have been extensively field tested and is designed work together as an effective system from handling general cuts and scrapes, to advanced disaster preparedness with shelf-stable food ration and tools to ensure your survival. A handy Quick Kit Instruction sheet is secured on the underside of the lid for information and easy maintenance scheduling.

The BSK-M1 includes the following:

1x   ER Bar (2,460 calories: 6×410 calorie rations)
1x   Adventure Medical Kit: First Aid 2.0 (Bandages, dressings, medications & more)
20x Alcohol swabs
10x Andrographis tabs
1x   U-I Oil (5ml)
1x   Fenix E01 Flashlight (21hr runtime on 1xAAA Battery)
4x   AAA Alkaline batteries
2x   Cyalume 12 hour lightsticks
2x   Mylar blanket
1x   Leatherman Sidekick (Knife, saw, carabiner, screwdrivers & more)
1x   Paracord Type III 550lb (20 feet Commercial)
1x   Bear Grylls Fire Starter (Ferrocerium rod & striker, emergency whistle & more)
1x   Dental floss (100m)
80x Wet wipes
1x   20 litre Heavy duty bucket

Introductory price: RM549

BSK Quick Instructions

The EDC Mentality

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Echo

The older you get, the more practicality takes precedence over fashion. For what really is fashion but the feed that is presented by marketing mongers to the people who rely on the herd mentality and blindly follow what others are doing or following.

I believe in function over form, all the elements that you choose to carry should function as a system that works for you.

Every Day Carry, or EDC, simply means having a set of items that you carry with you every day. As simple as it may sound, this EDC system is something most people don’t think about or refine, and its about that refinement that will ensure success while you’re out in the field, or if disaster strikes swiftly and suddenly.

Take a moment now to think about what you normally have on your EDC rotation. Most people would never leave home without their mobile phone and set of keys, so for most people, that would be their EDC, and some of you reading this might be nodding. Now, let’s get into the refinement of your EDC system.

A good part of any EDC system will consist of 2 items that I consider as essential, and that would be a flashlight and a pocket knife. Nobody likes to be left in the dark, and a good quality LED flashlight should be something to think about. Make sure you sufficiently train yourself in the deployment and activation of your flashlight, just as you would any bit of kit that you are considering to form part of your EDC system. We will talk about flashlights in another post, but very briefly, carefully consider the philosophy of use for your intended EDC flashlight.

Surefire E1B Backup & Brous Blades Silent Soldier V2

A ‘tactical’ flashlight that has what Surefire calls a ‘Crenelated bezel’ has ridges near the top for self-defense purposes, so the flashlight can do double duty as a kubaton to strike an attacker. Take note, however that in some countries and jurisdictions this flashlight would be classified as an ‘offensive weapon’ and therefore may not be legal to carry. Always be on the safe side and be very sure you are allowed to be carrying it as an EDC. What I would recommend is that since you are going to get used to carrying it, might as well get something a little more low profile so as not to arouse any fear or suspicion. Most of the time, the act of EDCing something breeds familiarity, and you might unintentionally walk through a security gate at an embassy or a secure facility or even the airport without realizing it.

The pocket knife on the other hand, will definitely be something you have to really think about as in most states and jurisdictions, you are not allowed to carry one on you. Would a keychain knife be legal to carry? That is hard to say, and I would recommend reading up on the law to make sure you can hook that up to your keys, but something is better than nothing at all when you suddenly find that you need to cut rope, or tape, or packaging.

The knife is a quintessential survival tool, and by survival it could extend its use as a self-defense tool when called upon. Ideally some would like to carry a 7 inch bowie knife hanging off their belt just because its so useful and intimidating, but apart from the stares you will most likely get, it will be very difficult to plead self-defense if you happen to use that knife to defend yourself against an attacker, since it is possible for them to turn the tables around and say that you are the instigator. A multitool on the other hand would seem like a more practical alternative as it is more likely to be viewed as a tool first and a weapon after. It can be argued that most tools can be weapons – in emergency situations even a pencil can be a weapon, but the final word would be how the rule of law views something that determines everything.

Surefire E1B, E2D, Paracord bracelet, Leatherman MUT, Brous SS V2, Benchmade Adamas, Maxpedition EDC Pocket Organizer, Surefire Pen

There are many other tools that can form a part of your EDC system, including pens, duct tape, a length of paracord or rope, a multitool, zip ties, energy bars, a notepad or even magnesium firestarters, but it is easy to really go overboard and end up looking like an on-duty police officer. What I like is to travel light, have the things you really need, and really use, and pack the EDC system for the intended destination and itinerary for the day. The EDC system, no matter how perfectly it is set up, can only serve as an aid, its not a magic pill that can solve all of life’s problems. But to set up a successful EDC system, make sure that your EDC does not create any problems for you down the road.

Stay safe, stay legal, and get some quality tools you can rely on to be a part of your Every Day Carry.

The devastation of Hurricane Sandy

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Echo

For those people that are living in darkness, tired, hungry, or lining up for supplies, would the outcome have been more in their favor if they had prepared for it? Perhaps they will re-think again about the money that they have spent on their new iPhone that doesn’t work now and whether it could have been used for basic things like food and water.

This is a good example of a grid-down situation. Where your electronics won’t work, you are disconnected, and necessities become a priority. We are not talking about forever, but perhaps just imagine 3 to 7 days of darkness, silence, cooking with camping stoves, and eating out of cans or MREs. Are you at a comfortable level where you can tell yourself, Yes, I ought to be able to survive and provide for my family for a week, or are there missing pieces in the puzzle?

Nothing can ever be perfect or go 100% as planned, but the whole idea is to try your best and do what you can, while you are able to.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/10/29/us/20121030_HP_STORM.html

The basics of preparedness

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Echo

When you get too comfortable trusting the system, or the ‘grid’ as we call it, you become too dependent on it. You start to ignore the mechanics of the grid, and who can blame you when supermarket shelves are always fully stocked, fresh water comes from the tap, and electrical items are always ready to power up on demand. In fact, I would say that because of this dependence on the grid, we as humans are slowly losing our independance, we forget how to start a fire, hunt for food or even operate as a community. Who is to blame, when there’s an app for everything?

What happens when the system collapses? This is what we refer to as ‘grid-down’ situation, where there is no power, no running water, broken sewer lines, stores and supermarkets running out of food because there is nobody to deliver goods. Grid-down scenarios can be caused by various factors including but not limited to natural disasters like floods and earthquakes to fires, or economic and political unrest that causes mass rioting.

Think about it for a moment, if you were forced to stay indoors because it wasn’t safe outside, how long can you survive with the supplies you have in hand? Could you provide for your family in that time of need? How about if there was a sudden earthquake, fire, or other emergency that requires immediate evacuation of your home, what are you able to bring in the 3 to 5 minutes that you have, and how long can those items sustain you or your family for?

When you are getting ready for prepping, which is the act of getting prepared, these are the questions you have to ask yourself, you start putting together scenarios and you get the tools and supplies so that they can be easily and readily available when you need them most. A lot of people will associate preppers with overly paranoid, socially awkward, zombie apocalypse or end-of-the-world fanatics, no doubt fuelled by the Doomsday Preppers program on National Geographic. But being prepared is nothing more than thinking ahead, being independent, providing for your family and keeping them safe.

FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency), a department of the US Department of Homeland Safety (DHS) recommends at least a 3 day survival kit that includes water, non-perishable food and other essential items that is readily accessible in times of disaster. Of course, prepping requires location and geography specific disaster preparedness. But the general rule is to always have what I call a ‘Go-bag’ ready, preferably one for each member of the family, with contents specific to each member. For children, it is a good idea to educate them on their Go-bag, run by the contents, what they are for, and how to use them in times of need.

You will soon realize that over time, the Go-bag is a convenient and efficient way to prepare for even small outings like going to the park or shopping or a trip to the in-laws that may extend to an overnight stay. Over time, you will want to build upon your kit as you determine your level of readiness, or if your needs change.

While FEMA only recommends a 3-day supply for an emergency evacuation such as fire, most households will only be able to sustain family members for about a week if they were forced to bunk in their homes if it wasn’t safe to go out. Ask yourself this, what would happen the next week? Families that go hungry first will be forced to risk it and leave their homes to look for food. The first stop would probably be at the supermarkets or grocery stores that will run out of inventory rapidly. If the delivery drivers rather spend these moments with family, who will re-stock the shelves? If they are unable to access the stores, how will the shelves be restocked?

Empty shelves post disaster in Japan

Prepping is a form of insurance. People would pay a percentage of their salary to insurance companies that promise you financial assistance in times of need, and they would gladly pay for the intangible sense of security. My question to you today is, why not pay for something tangible? Prepping is insurance that you can see, feel, and at one time or other, eat. My recommendation is at least a 1 month supply of non-perishables such as canned or dehydrated foods that is shelf stable. Note however, that you should only buy what you intend to eat, or regularly eat, not something that looks ‘interesting’. The more common canned goods that is shelf stable include baked beans, tuna, and corned beef. It is a good idea also to keep foods that are ready to eat, these include chocolate bars, single serve crackers or biscuits that provide immediate calories without the need for special tools to open or cook.

Water is perhaps the most essential item for survival. You will need at least 1 Gallon (3.785 Litres) a day per person. Storing water takes up space, is heavy for transport but it cannot be ignored. If storing water, ensure that your containers are properly sanitized, or to make it easy, just purchase the large jugs of mineral water for the dispenser systems. Do take note though that water contaminates easily if you place strong smelling items near it, and that bottled water has an expiry date so it needs to be rotated regularly.

Now you can see that being a prepper does not mean being crouched over a window with a 12GA, downing energy drinks and caffeine pills watching out for hoardes of attacking zombies. Being a prepper means slight adjustments to grocery purchases, you just need to buy a little more everytime when you are out shopping of what you need, until you reach your desired stock level of the things you already use. This is in reality a one-time exercise if done right, as what you are doing is merely increasing your food supply of shelf-stable produce. After that, go in a First-In-First-Out basis where the newer stock that you just bought goes to the back of the shelf, so that you use the older ones first. Of course, always take note of the expiry dates and deformities in the cans that indicate a potential problem.

More importantly, keep a stock list of the more common items, how much you have, how much you need, how much you are short. Once you have an estimate of how much rice your family consumes, or how many cans of beans in a week, you would be better informed on what you should stock up on on your next shopping trip.

Of course these are just the very basics of preparedness, and much of what’s discussed today only scratches the surface. Every disaster kit will vary, but the concept is the same, you can choose to add a variety of items from toilet paper to copies of your ID and other documents, much of these will be discussed in detail in other upcoming posts. But at the end of the day, having a basic kit that you can grab as you evacuate your home in a moment’s notice containing essentials that will help you and your family will definitely be a lot more useful than just grabbing your phone, keys and a roll of mint from the side table.

The practical of tactical

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Echo

Thinking tactically does not require you to serve years in the Army or Special forces, it requires you to think ahead, plan your route, carry the tools on hand necessary to ensure success, and then to implement that by establishing and adhering to the rules you have drafted out.

Tactical thinking does not only cover special ops missions, it can be applied to every facet of your everyday chores as well. It requires strategic thinking, and sometimes even military precision, but most of all, it demands discipline in sticking with the program. When you think about it, it really is like ‘feng-shui’, since much of it has to do with simple common sense. Keep everything as simple as possible, eliminate all the extraneous details that is unnecessary, and don’t place things that you may trip over them accidentally.

For example when I am out with the family, that becomes a mission in itself, you have your team members, and you are the team leader. You have a designated start time, an expected arrival and completion time. You will have on you your EDC items as well as any extra items that you need to use along the way, taking into account that your journey may be extended due to unforeseen circumstances, so you have to think about food, water, perhaps even some entertainment. When you get to your location, there is also a need for situational awareness, be on the lookout for suspicious activity or persons, and evaluate the threat level accordingly.

Perhaps it may seem a little much, but when you think about it, your main goal is to keep everyone happy, get your things done, and get everyone home safely. That itself is reason enough to be a little more meticulous.

Sometimes tactical thinking can be applied to the little adjustments you can make to ensure that you have the advantage at all times. For example where you stand or place yourself in a crowd in a shopping mall while you are waiting: I would normally wait with my back against a wall so that I have a 180 degree view of my surroundings. I can see people moving from left to right and vice versa. That way there is less of a chance for someone to sneak up behind me and grab my belongings, or draw a knife behind my back. That is especially true of darker alleys or corners where some toilets would be situated in a mall.

Another example would be when you reach home and if you have an autogate system where you park your car inside your house, I always make it a point to reverse into my home. The reason is that as you pull up alongside your main gate you have a good 360 degree view of your surroundings. Take 5 seconds to recognize the vehicles in front, behind, and on your right(or left, depending on which side you pulled up from), determine which vehicles are not familiar, and then try to to see if there is anyone in those vehicles, constantly keeping watch of your surroundings and your side mirrors. If none, then reverse into your home and open your gate. Since the autogate usually takes about up to half a minute to open, it becomes advantageous for you to be able to have a 180 degree view of your front and sides while the gate opens from behind. That way you can see if any suspicious people are moving towards you or from your sides, since most of the time robberies occur when they take advantage of this opportunity to gain entry to your home or vehicle. If you see them advancing, just speed off to the nearest police station and alert the people at home (if any).

There are many other little things that makes a lot of difference if we are able to just adjust our ways a little and think tactically, and most of these things either cost very little to nothing at all. Don’t give these perpetrators a chance if you can do something about it, be safe and keep your eyes open when you’re out of your comfort zone.

The color code system

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Echo

To put something into practical use it has to be simple to begin with, and the Color code system is a simple, effective method to have more situational awareness of your surroundings and be better prepared to deal with events if and when they unfold.

There are only 4 colors to remember: White, Yellow, Orange and Red.

In zone White, you know that you are quite safe to let your guard down. A common example of this would be you and your family at home, doors locked and alarm armed.

In zone Yellow, it is a heightened state of awareness. You will need to be at least 180 degrees aware of your surroundings, who are the people around you, who are walking across or towards you. You will have to analyze all this information such as, does this man walking towards me have ill intent? Is he carrying a weapon, concealed or otherwise? What steps would I take if I were to be attacked? Am I equipped with the tools or skills required to deal with such an event?

In zone Orange, you are put directly in the line of fire. This could mean anything from being surrounded by a bunch of hooligans on motorcycles, if you are directly confronted by a drunkard in a bar, or if you are being robbed at knife point. Again, you will have to ask yourself if you are equipped with the tools or skills to deal with it, and ideally you would have thought of an exit strategy back in zone Yellow, but if you haven’t already, now is the time to either de-escalate the situation by talking your way out of it, or to defend yourself with the tools in hand.

In zone Red, you are already engaged in combat. This would mean you will have to fight for your life to survive or flee your attacker.

The problem with most people is that they are in zone White all the time, and just by getting into zone Yellow, it could prevent an attack simply by being aware of your surroundings. Most criminals attack out of opportunity, and prey on the weak. Nowadays it would be foolish to think that just because you are in the garden in your own home, you can be in zone White because after all, it is your home. But think again of your security of your home from a criminal’s perspective: Can your fences be scaled? Do you have sufficient warning from your dogs or other means if someone were to do so? Is there an opportunity to gain entry into your home when your gate is open?

When you begin to ask those questions, then you are already in zone Yellow, and that is the first step you should take in your preparedness initiative. The same applies for walking towards your vehicle in the car park. Do not depend on the security systems in place to protect you. They can only merely record on CCTV what has happened as an evaluative aftermath. And even if you were to scream, help may not instantly appear. You have to be vigilant enough to look for signs of trouble. Just this simple switch of mode can better prepare you to deal with the dangers of the real world.

Of course in the unfortunate event that you are in zone Orange and you are being confronted, the first thing you should attempt to do is to de-escalate the situation. No matter how trained you may be, you should never attempt to replicate an action hero in the movies and take out 6 assailants. Even if you have the skills to do so, you will need to think of the legal implications of your actions. A spur of the moment for you may mean a life behind bars for voluntary manslaughter, so exercise extreme caution when choosing which path to go. If you can de-escalate with negotiations, that will be the best. If you are being robbed of your cash or your phone, and that is all that they want, then give up your worldly possessions, it is not worth fighting for these things nor is it worth a life behind bars for stabbing someone in the neck.

Be alert, stay safe, and protect what’s yours.