Professional security guard practice should include training in emergency responses. In fact, top-notch security officer training should include emergency responses to, what I call, mundane emergencies.
Let me give you an example; this really happened, today. Not only is it a good example of quick-reaction response, but it will get you thinking about the image that you project when you “aren’t” working.
Here’s what happened:
After picking up registration papers for my daughter to attend high school, next year, I headed over to the barbershop.
A man was leaving as I entered. Karen (named changed to protect …), the owner, motioned me to sit in the barber chair. At first, we were the only ones in the shop, but as she continued cutting my hair, a few more men came in, sat down and waited.
Karen was just about done with my cut, when she tripped over the rubber mat under and around the barber chair. She went down hard and fast. BAM! … and I do mean BAM!
If I had to guess, I’d say it took me less than a second to fly out of the chair to her side.
Even though her head had bonked, she didn’t seem worried about it, and I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary (blood, for example). I had her see if her legs were okay; they were.
She was worried about her back … she has a herniated disc.
About a minute passed; I told her that there was no hurry to move. It was alright to just lie there few a few. At that point, some of the other patrons finally got their keesters out of their chairs, and came over to offer assistance….
[headline_arial_medium_left color=”#000000″]Different Security Guard Training[/headline_arial_medium_left]
The conclusion to the story is that we got her up, and when I called back later, she was fine.
So, at this point, you might be guessing that I’m going to suggest you take first-aid classes to be a more professional guard. Well, I think that should go without saying, and that’s not what I’m talking about here.
Let’s read between the lines of this seemingly non-security-guard-training-anecdote:
- 1. I was the fast reactor out of everyone in the barbershop. It looked like the others were jumping into action, but … it took them almost 45 seconds to respond.
2. The entire time, Karen spoke to me, and to me only. I wasn’t the oldest or the youngest there. I don’t know if it’s because I used to be a teacher, and have a teacher persona about me, or if I project a sense of security as a martial artist, but it was clear that she wanted to talk to me, and not to the others. (Hmm, trust.)
3. I’m willing to bet that I’m the only person to do a follow-up phone call, to check on her. Yet, I wasn’t the only one there who knew her by name.
4. Even though I hadn’t had any first aid training in 25 years, I still had the sense to tell her to take it slowly. In fact, on the spur of the moment, I told her to roll only about a quarter-of-an-inch to each side — just a slight wiggle, to see if there was any pain. I told her that we’d take it from there.
5. Even though three of us helped her up, she put all of her weight on me. Hmm, why is that?
[headline_arial_medium_left color=”#000000″]Lessons for Security Guards[/headline_arial_medium_left]
If you read between the lines, you’ll see several potential lessons in this little story. Do any of the points inspire you to go out and get further training?
How about lessons in instilling confidence and trust as a security guard?
And what about those first-aid lessons?
Any thoughts to working out, so you have enough muscle to help people up, and let them support their weight on you?
What other training could you glean from this security-guard blog post?
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Last thought: The only ebook that I know of that will teach you specifically how to become a higher-paid security guard is a bonus that comes as an instant download to the soft cover book Wrist Locks: From Protecting Yourself to Becoming an Expert. (Another skill you absolutely need as a security guard.)