Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life

 

I listened to the audiobook of Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life: A Former CIA Officer Reveals Safety and Survival Techniques to Keep You and Your Family Protected by Jason Hanson. This book is written by a guy who is likely over prepared, but should an exceedingly rare event occur to him, he will be ready.

He does have some good advice sprinkled throughout and I took some notes:

He argues that to survive, you should be paying attention. This resonated with me given I just read an outstanding book called Visual Intelligence.

Here are his [Survival Intelligence Rules]:
1) Practice adaptability
2) Be self reliant
3) Don't be a hero
4) Movement saves lives
5) Perception is everything
6) Notice baselines - what is normal?
7) Practice situational awareness at all times

He then moves into what it means to have [Situational Awareness]:

• Know it is hands that kill - look at people's hands
• Know you have a short reaction time: 1.5sec
• Know if you are not alert and aware, you are vulnerable
• Think of having levels of awareness designated as colors: White, Yellow, Orange, and Red
  • White: a state of unpreparedness and unaware - avoid this level
  • Yellow: relaxed alert - stay in yellow to avoid red
  • Orange: a state with an elevated alert level - At least remove your tactical pen now
  • Red: Crisis condition - fight or escape

Movement (Get off the X): People who move, live

It can happen to you - fight normalcy bias

• not taking a disaster seriously
• not preparing for disaster
• believing that because something hasn't happened before, it won't in the future

Establish a baseline:

• Do the same thing always to know if something is off - such as light is always off or on when you leave your house, etc
• It all starts with Standard human behavior

The author walks readers through his idea of [Escape Kits]:

• Everyday Gear
  • pocket knife
  • gun
  • cell phone
  • Bobby pins
  • Monkeys Fist Paracord
  • Handcuff key
  • Cash
  • Tactical pen
  • Lockpick set
• laptop bag gear
  • Bulletproof panels 3A
  • Spare ammo
  • Lockpick set
  • Poncho
  • Quick clot
  • Flashlight
  • Multitool
  • Duct tape
  • Fire source
  • Paracord 7ft
  • Voice recorder
• vehicle gear
  • tool box: axe, tow rope, crowbar, first aid kits, Mari map, Paracord 20ft, knife, shovel
• 72 he kit:
  • 3d food and water, radio, whistle, sleeping bag, poncho, dust mask, safety goggles, sewing kit

He suggests building up and maintaining a year of food/water

What to do in a disaster:

• move
• arm yourself
• get your gear
• water - 1gal/p/d
• cash - \$1000 in \$20s at home

Protecting your house:

• Take a a walk and case your own gone
• Look for hiding places
• See if you look like you have lots of valuables
• Slean up for safety
• Case at night as well
• Home security signs
• Beware of dog signs
• Don't answer the door unless you know who is on the other side

For Home Defense:

• flashlight and weapon
• have a family member call 911
• know a choke point position

Travel safety:

• sit within 5 rows of an exit row. Prefer aisle seats
• be awake first 3 min and last 8 min of a flight
• keep shoes on

Hotel Safety:

• stay on floors 3-6 to be within reach of fire ladder trucks
• door stopper alarm
• note/know exits
• don't use a room by the stairs
• smoke hood and gas masks
• paracord rope (10ft per floor) and carabiner

If you suspect you are [Being Followed] test the person:

• one time is accident
• two times is coincidence
• three times is enemy action

Counter surveillance techniques:

• Pause and turn
• Acknowledgement - Demonstrate you know their presence
• Don't be a soft target
• Stay public
• Check/note their shoes

I will likely use some of these in my daily life, but I think the bigger picture is to know the risks are low and do only high value activities.

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