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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