personal safety Tag

Cyber Series: Social Networking – Friend or Foe?

27 September in Business Continuity Planning, Personal Safety

In this blog post, Rampart Group will take a look at social networking and how our desire to be transparent and share information can be risky business. We will also look at some common threats and steps we can take to be a responsible social networker. Social networking serves multiple purposes Social networks such as chat rooms, forums, discussion groups, emails and instant messaging all serve as places where we “connect” with others online.  Here are some of the benefits: *People “connect” and share information online with great...

Kidnap Avoidance – Move off the X

27 September in Personal Safety, Travel Safety

Never underestimate the value of introducing an element of randomness to your behavior when traveling in high-risk environments.  Examples of high-risk environments include countries at war or neighboring the war, politically charged foreign cities or countries, cities or countries nationally and internationally known for active drug cartels, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc. Kidnapping is a crime that requires forethought, planning, and surveillance.  Kidnappers typically follow a set sequence, from considering the level of difficulty in identifying a potentially valuable target, to determining when that target is...

Helping Kids Deal with Bullies

27 September in Personal Safety, School Safety

What is bullying? Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion and can include verbal harassment or threats; physical assault or abuse; and intimidation. Kids are often reluctant to tell adults or authorities about bullying because they are embarrassed and ashamed. Sometimes kids worry that their parents, teachers, coaches or guardians will be disappointed in them or think less of them. Forms of Bullying Bullying can be a real nightmare for kids and can reveal itself in many forms: Teasing...

Five Key Components of an Effective Corporate Travel Security Program

27 September in Business Continuity Planning, Corporate Security, Crisis Response, Personal Safety, Travel Safety

Policy:  Effective travel program development begins with a well-written policy that clearly establishes how your employees travel on business.  It should include what class of fares can be purchased and whether direct routing can be booked—in lieu of cheaper fares available with connecting flights.  Your policy should address the needs of international travelers allowing for improved class on long flights over a clearly defined length.  The class of hotels must be included, describing the level of service permitted that is booked on business travel. The...

Predicting Violence in Public Venues

27 September in Corporate Security, Crisis Response, Personal Safety, Travel Safety

News reports in the aftermath of an incident involving extreme violence frequently quote victims and witnesses as saying things like “it came out of nowhere”, or “he just snapped”, or “he seemed like such a nice guy, I never would believe he could do it”.    All are common quotes and all are likely incorrect.  While specific incidents of violence can never be entirely predictable, the capacity for violence is often entirely predictable.  When situations are predictable, they are preventable. In the recent tragic case of the...

Vehicular Safety Tips In Mexico—for High Level Protectees and Vacationers

27 September in Corporate Security, Personal Safety, Travel Safety

12 Safety Tips to Note Travel to certain regions of Mexico is risky– even with a full-blown protection detail. Whether you are traveling to Mexico for vacation or business, with or without protection, here are a few critical safety tips that might help prevent an attack or help you avoid catastrophe under attack. Do not rent or utilize cars with running boards or luggage racks. These are holding straps for would-be attackers. Running boards allow them to stand alongside the vehicle and hang on to...