Banks

No one thinks anything about violence when entering a bank, but armed robberies can go very, very wrong really fast. Here are a couple tips to keep you safe:

- Is there a get-away car? You are looking for a running car, parked facing the nearest exit to the parking lot, and someone sitting in the driver’s seat looking inside, nervously waiting for someone.

- Is everyone on the floor? Look in the windows as you walk in. Does everything look right? Is the bank normally crowded, but there is no one there? Are there any employees present?

- Does someone walk in who looks out of place? Clothing is normally the easiest way to see this. It’s been over 100° in Central Texas; is someone wearing a coat? Are they hiding something? Do they look nervous?

If you find something that seems wrong, simply turn around and leave. It will take you way less time to use another bank then get in a robbery, and it just might keep you safe.

Stay Safe,

Modern Self Protection

There’s Always another Way!

Talking with some other experts this last weekend I remembered a training session where the head instructor said, "my way is the best and only way."  I totally disagree with that statement.  I always train advance classes saying there are a million ways to solve any tactical problem, half of them right and half of them wrong, here is one way.  How do you know which ones are right and which are wrong?  Experience!  Not just personal experience, but the experience of others.  Talk to other people about their plans if something goes wrong and ask them why they would do that.  It’s a great way to gain experience without learning the hard way.  I love to talk to others about tactics and fighting.  It gives me time to reflect and to bounce ideas off of others.  Sometimes they can see something I don’t. A smart man once said, “an average man learns from his mistakes, but a smart one learns from others’ mistakes.”  Next time you are enjoying time with your friends ask them what they would do if something bad happened and enjoy some experience that would take years to learn.

Stay Safe,

Dehydration

Most people don't drink enough water.  Not much replaces water, to the soda companies' dismay.  While drinks like Gatorade and mineral waters will help, you still need water!  The more you are outside the more you need. Eight glasses a day is enough if you do nothing. If you work out (like everyone should) you need more.  If you even go out side you need to drink more (especially in Texas).  Did I make the point?  Drink more water!

Be Prepared!

The Boy Scout Motto.  Works for everything, especially first aid kits.  You should have a kit that is made for your skill level.  If you haven’t had any classes, a store bought one will work.  If you have any advanced skills, you should build your own kit.  This can be expensive.  But just think about the feeling if you could have saved a life, but didn’t because you didn’t have the right tools. If you don’t have at least basic skills, you should take a course.  Things have changed in the last couple of years.  The practical skills have become honed and there has been some good advances in equipment.  Take a class if you haven’t taken something in a while! Whatever kit you get/have, make sure you go through it on an annual basis.  Not that the stuff will go bad, you just need to know what’s in there and where it is.  If nothing else you could hand things to someone that has the skills, but isn’t prepared. Stay Safe,

Twitter your Trip!

Think twice before you do it!  Reports are coming in that criminals are reading Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, ect. to find out who is out of town.  They would like to burglarize your house while you are gone.  If you post when you are leaving, how long you are gone, where you are going, and when you’ll be back, you just gave all the info a burglar wants to visit your house.  Most of us even have our home address on these sites.  Be careful what you post! Be careful what info you give to whom on the internet. 

Stay Safe,