4 Tips to Improve Your Security Awareness

Security awareness is Knowing + Noticing The Threat (in time)

The ability to maintain security awareness is a skill that can save your life, and the life of your colleagues, especially when working in emergencies, disasters. and difficult environments.

  1. LEARN WHAT CAN HURT YOU

    You can't protect yourself or your colleagues If you don't know the risks. Therefore, find out what risks exists in your work environment. Your supervisor or security advisor must brief you on the risks, before you start work. If not, ask for a briefing. Get in the habit of asking the “5W” questions (see below).

  2. LEARN ABOUT THE DANGER SIGNS

    When you see smoke, you may expect fire. When you hear thunder, you may expect a storm. If you enter an area with landmines, you may expect….. what? Danger signs are often present but you need to learn what they are.

    When you're in your hometown or in a familiar place, your instincts typically alert you when there is a threat. This is because you have acquired the knowledge and experience needed to automatically detect threats. But you won’t have this instinct when you start working in a new job or in a new disaster area - you need to ask what the danger signs are.

  3. PRACTICE STAYING AWARE

    When you are working abroad or in a new context you must learn to switch your security awareness from “automatic” to “manual” mode. This means you have to consciously work to identify risks - and this takes practice! When you are walking or driving, do you daydream instead of paying attention? Most of us do!

    Staying aware (being present and mindful) is not easy, it’s a habit that needs to be developed.

  4. DEVELOP ESCAPE PLANS

    Noticing a threat is important but so is having a plan in mind. Many experienced humanitarians will tell you that they are continually making mental plans in case something happens.

 
 

ASKING THE “5 Ws”

Ask these five questions before you start work in a new environment.

  • What are the main dangers in this area?

    Ask them to be specific. If they say crime, ask what kind of crime. The more you know, the safer you will be.

  • Where are the dangerous area?

    Where is it safe and where is it not safe? Are there off-limit areas?

  • When is it safe and when is not safe?

    In many cases, threats are more common at certain points of the day, or during some seasons or period.

    Some serious threats, such a certain mosquito borne diseases, are more common during certain period of the year.

  • Who can harm me and who can help me?

    For example, is any group (criminal or political) targeting humanitarian workers in our area of operation?

    Who should I contact in case of emergency?

  • Why are some areas and times safe or not safe? Why are some group or individuals opposed to our presence?

    Try to understand the local context.