Personal Security Awareness

Learn how to help staff to assume a more active role in their

personal safety and security.

Stages of Personal
Safety and Security

Note to Learners
The information and guidelines contained in this course are for general information purposes only.
Reliance on any information or guidelines is therefore at the user’s sole risk. If you rely on any
information or apply any guidelines contained in the course, you do so at your own risk and Save
the Children will have no responsibility or liability under any circumstances.

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Stages of Personal Safety and Security

Humanitarian organisations establish policies and procedures to mitigate risks to its staff. Their
effectiveness is dependent upon how fully they are put into practice by individual staff members. Level
of preparedness, awareness of potential risks, appropriate attitude, behaviour, and response greatly
help in mitigating risks.

The six stages of personal safety and security are:

• Awareness

• Vigilance

• Mitigation

• Defuse

• Escape

• Defence

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 Awareness
When working in a new location, it is important for
you to be aware of the overall environment, your
immediate surroundings, how others perceive you,
and your own limits, habits, and strengths.

Awareness

Overall Environment
Gain an awareness of the overall environment by understanding:

• Demographics

• Key stakeholders

LJ Local authorities
LJ Armed opposition groups
LJ Community leaders
LJ Prominent business leaders
LJ Other NGOs
LJ Civil societies
LJ Law enforcement agencies

• Social and political situation

• Security/threat issues in the area (mass demonstrations, rioting, looting)

• Frequency of security incidents

• Attitude of the community toward your organisation and other NGOs

• Any specific threats to your staff

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Immediate Surroundings
Gain an understanding of the immediate surroundings by:

Following the local media—read the local newspaper, listen to the local radio, and watch the local
television

Asking local colleagues about current events

Studying maps

Other’s Perceptions
How people perceive you affects their attitude and behaviour toward you. Consider the following
principles in your conduct:

Respect the religious Respect individuals,

beliefs, cultural norms, especially elders, by
and local customs showing calmness
and practices of the and being polite when
community talking to them

Be aware that Be aware of the local

drinking or smoking traditional norms that
may be perceived govern interactions
quite differently or between all groups and
unacceptable genders

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 Self-Awareness
Be aware of the following about yourself:

Strengths and vulnerabilities Ability to speak the local Fitness and agility level
language

Personal values and your Sensitivity to critical

tolerance of those who do not comments and harassment
share these values

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 Vigilance

Vigilance
Being alert helps you to mentally prepare yourself for a situation and act appropriately.

Maintain an attentive attitude

Pay attention to your surroundings at home, in office, while travelling, and in leisure time.

Look for warning signs

Pay attention to whether you are being watched, followed, having activities recorded or reported
upon, and any potential surveillance of electronic devices.

Trust your senses

Pay attention to your inner voice. If something seems wrong, then take action.

Get secure
Strengthen/adjust site security measures according to changes in threat levels.

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 States of Awareness
As you travel outside your residence, your level of alertness should increase, and also your expectation
that something can happen. Examine the following five states of awareness as identified in the Cooper
Colour Codes.

White

You are totally unaware of your surroundings and totally unprepared

for even the prospect of danger.

Yellow

You are relaxed, alert, not expecting trouble, but you are aware of your
environment. You will recognize a problem if it arises.

Orange

You are aware a problem exists, and your body is reacting to it. For
example, you are aware that someone is observing you and about to
attack.

Red

The problem has occurred, and you are faced with a threat that
may do you harm. You should take cover and actively perform the
appropriate defensive moves.

Black

You are panic stricken and unable to react due to not having
developed the skills to perform under such conditions.

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 Mitigation

Mitigation
Personal safety and security are influenced by both threat and risk.

Threat - Any factors (actions, circumstances or events) that have the

potential to cause harm, loss, or damage to an organisation including
its personnel, assets, operations, and reputation.

Risk - The combination of the impact and likelihood for harm, loss, or
damage resulting from the exposure to threats. The two factors that
determine the level of risk of an incident are likelihood and impact.

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 Risk Analysis
It is important to identify potential threats and their risk, then take measures to mitigate them by
reducing the likelihood of that threat and minimizing the impact of the threat if it does occur. The level
of risk reduces if we decrease the likelihood or impact of a threat.

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 Defuse

Defuse
You can defuse a negative situation by following these suggestions.

Remain calm

• Take a deep breath

• Control your reaction (don’t react suddenly or aggressively)

• Evaluate your situation (assess your risk)

Give people what they want

• Property is replaceable, your life is not

• Criminals’ behaviour may be erratic due to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, so follow
their demands

Reduce the tension

• Speak in a calm, clear, and respectful voice

• If faced by multiple individuals, identify the leader and speak directly to him/her

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 Escape

Escape
In some situations, you may need to identify a safe escape route. Follow these suggestions for
ensuring a safe escape.

Identify a Safe Route

Be aware of your surroundings when driving or walking and always identify the exit or other safe
escape route.
Commit to Your Decision

In a threatening situation when considering escape, it is essential to quickly review options, make the
best decision, and leave. Commitment is critical, and any hesitation can reduce your chance of escape.
Move Expeditiously

Once the decision to escape has been made, move with quickness and care. Running or driving as fast
as possible may result in a mishap or accident that can ruin your chance of escape.

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 Defence

Defence
In some situations, your very survival will depend upon your ability to defend yourself using any means
necessary. In this case, there are no rules. Verbal, psychological, and physical defence are the different
options that you can use to survive the incident.

Verbal

Shout, scream, confront, or convince the criminal in order to survive the incident. This will help you to
get others’ attention or let the criminal know that you are not an easy target.

Psychological

Pretend to be sick, soiling yourself by urinating or vomiting, or saying that you have a disease. This
makes you an undesirable target and may change the mind of the attacker.

Physical

Turn your fear to fury and fight hard. Use any means necessary —punch, slap, kick, scratch, poke, or
bite. Use any available sharp or pointed object as a weapon such as keys, pen, stick, or stone.

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