Just Some of the Tactical Gear Available

Some of our gear available

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For the Trainers...

As a trainer, there are many things we need to do prior to any class. These may include reviewing all the course material, making sure we have all the training aids and all the good stuff that we already do. We strive to do the best that we can in the classroom or whatever environment we will be training in that day.

My question to you is: Is that all you do? When was the last time YOU increased your knowledgebase? When was the last time you took care of yourself?

Most of the time we do not think of any of this. We may go to different trainings and learn a few new things, but for the majority of us, that is it. Depending on what type of agency you work for, you may be a trainer in a few areas. In other agencies, you may be an instructor in just about everything.

I'll use myself as an example for both so bear with me. While I was working for Vermont DOC, I was an instructor in OC and Fire Safety. I taught mostly at the facility on a quarterly basis (training was conducted this way) while continuing to work shift the rest of the time. It was relatively easy for me to find the time to read different articles, etc about anything that I was interested in.

Now, working in Texas is a totally different ballgame. My full-time job is as an instructor. We get to teach everything: CPR, first aid, defensive tactics, classification, restraints, communication, firearms, chemical agents, transport procedures, Safe Prisons (PREA), con games plus anything else that is there. And let's not forget about in-service as well. Finding the time to read something new was a lot harder to do.

Sure, I could do it at home without a problem since I have a computer. I would also be neglecting my family since I am extremely Type A (hey, as instructors, we are all type A personalities. We have to be). I also had my business that I needed to keep up with as well. I would start in on something and forget the world existed until it was complete. I had to find the right balance.

My knowledge was getting stale. Yes, I would know the material that I taught. Yes, I kept on reading the lesson plans to make sure I wouldn't miss anything. I had been looking for a way to learn more and more so I wouldn't feel like a cereal box that was left open for a month. I wanted to challenge myself. It was not a matter of being better than anyone else.

I work with an outstanding group of instructors. Arguably the best. I will have them go toe to toe with anyone else. I just wanted to be better than who I was. I was not happy where I was as an instructor. I was becoming complacent. Not good for me...at all.

I knew about a few sites in which I could get some more training. Some of them free, some of it not so free. Probably one of the best ones I found was for the National Institute of Corrections. They have so many classes that I could do online, at my pace and it would not cost me anything. What an awesome resource for trainers!

The only limitations that we have are the ones that we place on ourselves. I can't blame anyone else for the stale knowledgebase that I had. It was my own doing. My own laziness.

The status quo cannot remain as it is. We must continuously move forward. We are the experts in our field. People depend on us to teach them. Guide them. Help them.

Are we where we want to be as trainers? Where do we want to be as trainers? I can tell you this, I know where I want to be and I also know I am not there. Still have a very long way to go. I have not achieved my full potential. Have you?

Protecting ourselves...and our children

I’m heading to my local grocery store. As I pull into the parking space, I see something that catches my eye. It is such a beautiful sight that I can’t stop staring as she gets out of the car. She is gorgeous. Her blond hair is blowing in the breeze, beautiful smile and laughing. I know that I must meet her. I can’t control myself. I have never felt like this before. She is perfect. She is God’s gift to me. She is 6 years old.

As we enter the grocery store, I keep watching her and just want to talk to her. Her mom may pose a little problem if I approach her but I’m patient. Up and down the isles we go. I keep my distance so I don’t stick out like a sore thumb. Then I see my chance. Mom is busy looking at the sales while my princess starts to make her way towards the cereal. I carefully approach her and call her by her name. At first she looks at me skeptically until I ask her how school is going and if she is enjoying her ballet lessons. I also ask how her brother is doing in football.

I CAN’T be a stranger since I know so much about her.

Before anyone notices, we are walking out the grocery store…

As children, we are told by our parents not to talk to strangers. We are told that there are bad people out there that want to hurt us. We are told not to tell strangers our names and to tell an adult if a stranger tries talking to us. In a small child’s mind, if you know my name you can’t possibly be a stranger. If you know mom’s name (or dad’s), you must be a friend of theirs so I shouldn’t worry.

There are many predators out there. A quick search of my state’s Department of Public Safety’s website showed that there are 132 registered sex offenders within a 3 mile radius and 22 within 1 mile of where I live. There is one the next street over. Would I do anything to protect my daughter from them? You bet I will.

Now, question: How many people out there will go and say to a sex offender “Good morning, this is my daughter Jane and she is in your target range?” Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Well the fact is that it is not. The scenario played out at the beginning is not farfetched in any way. Subconsciously we give the predators all the information that they need. Some of you readers are either doing it, or have close family members that are doing it. Trying to figure out how we TELL them? Vehicle decals and bumper stickers.

We have all seen them: the family stick figure portrait on the back window. Mom, Dad, kiddos and pets along with the names underneath. How about those activity decals (football, lacrosse, hockey, ballet, dance, etc) with your child’s name under it. “Proud parent of a ‘insert school name here’ Honor Roll student.

Get the picture? As parents we are very proud of our children and their accomplishments. We love to brag about them. We tell our friends and family about their latest feat. But we are also giving the predators this information that can be used against our own children.

We are constantly putting out of information out there for everyone to see without a second thought.

What got me going on this subject?  Well, let me tell ya. I had been talking about this same thing in a class one day when a person made a comment that was so ridiculously stupid that it sent me into a brief coma leaving me speechless. Once the initial “you gotta be kidding me, are you smoking crack???” shock wore off, I fought off the urge to knock some common sense into him and moved on.

On my way home I had been thinking about this entire conversation and how flabbergasted I was over it. Well, I had to stop and get gas and at the pump next to me was an SUV, with the decals on the rear window, kids in the back (little boy and young girl) and mom is working the pump. Any other day I would have not even paid too much attention to it but that day the temptation was just too much.

I looked over at the woman, smiled and politely asked how she was doing. She smiled and replied. I’m in uniform so she wasn’t freaked out…yet. I then asked, by name how the kids liked their football and ballet. Now I could see the panic starting to set in. Before she could get into panic mode, I pointed out the decals on the back of her car and how potential predators could get the same information (I NEVER would have tried this while out of uniform since it would be the fastest way to get the cops called on me).

As we spoke for a few minutes, she said that she had never thought about it in that manner and truly thanked me for making her see it from a different angle. I told her that I have children myself and being proud of them is what we do as parents as well as protecting them. We parted ways and I drove off into the sunset (literally, it was just that time of day and I have to drive West to get home…).  

We have to think  about the information that we put out there for everyone to see. Do you want this to be what lead to a tragic event?

It Is Because Of Them...

This memorial Day lets take time to thank all the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.

It is because of  them, that we can complain.
It is because of them, that we can protest.
It is because of them, that we can drive what we want.
It is because of them, that you can get the education that you want
It does not matter if you agree with them or not, it is because of them that you can do so.
And it is because of THEM, that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.

Not every service member is fortunate enough to be able to celebrate this great holiday, but it is because of them that the rest of us can.

They may not be with us but they will never be forgotten.

And if you have any bitches, moans, gripes or complaints...




THANK YOU!

Stress and the Unintended Consequences of Our Job

We put on our uniforms every day and go to work. The things that we deal with on a daily basis will make the normal person cringe. We raised our hand and volunteered to do this job. We volunteered to deal with the brutality that society has to offer every day. We volunteered….Our families did not.

Stress is an ever present factor in our daily lives. It is an evil that we try to learn how to deal with. I say try because we rarely succeed at it. We have gotten better at it over the years, but it is still a constant struggle for us.

It came as a shock to me, but as I was researching the divorce rates for Law Enforcement and Corrections, I found that the divorce rate for LEO’s was lower than the national average at 14.7%  and for corrections is was higher than the national average at 21.3%. The national average is 16.35%. I honestly believed for the longest time that we were at the top of the list (Dancers and choreographers are at the top with 43.05%).

Even though it is great news that we are not at the top of the list, when it comes down to stress, there is no doubt that we have one of the most stressful jobs out there. How we deal with it, and more importantly how our families are affected by it, is what makes all the difference.

How do we normally deal with stress? Since we are supposedly built to show no emotion in the face of adversity, we bottle things up and refuse to talk about our feelings. We don’t need to talk about them, right? Isn’t talking for sissies? We just need to deal with whatever it is and move one. How wrong can we possibly be about this train of thought?

We must learn how to control, and deal, with the stress before it controls us and we loose all control of our lives. When we allow stress to control us, we face the following just to name a few:

• Increased depression and/or suicidal ideations
• Use and/or abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Increase in health problems, both physical and mental
• Increased isolation
• Increased burnout at work
• Decreased familial interactions
• Increase in extramarital activities
• Decreased communication
• Inability to get adequate sleep
• Increased irritability/anger

 

I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t like the way that it makes me feel when the stress starts building up. My back starts knotting up, shoulders start killing me, can’t sleep well and then I get mad at the drop of a hat. Not good at all. Who do we take it out on usually? Our family.

Now there are a few things that we can do in order to deal with the stress and reduce the negative effects of stress:

• Develop or improve your community relationships. It has been shown that people that involve themselves in the community tend to live happier lifestyles.
• Take time for yourself. You need to find time to yourself so that you can unwind after a long day at work. It is better to look like a nutcase in your car on the way home by carrying on an argument with yourself and let it all out than it is to have an argument with your loved ones at home. Don’t let the frustration out on them. You chose the job, they didn’t.
• Get more sleep. If you are finding yourself getting up tired, try going to bed 30 minutes earlier and see if that makes a difference.
• Get into a nightly routine. Whether it is reading a book, listening to music, taking a bath or taking part in your favorite hobby, this can be a great way to relieve stress and relax. You know what you like to do.
• Get into a workout routine. 20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week not only increases your overall wellness, but it can also help in reducing stress.
• Forego drinking alcohol when stressed/angry. It may solve your problem at that moment, but the problem will still be there when you are done drinking (and hopefully not made it worse)
• Learn to communicate better with your family members. Bottling things up never work. It always comes out in the end. How it comes out is up to you though.

I’m sure that you can think of others, and if you may, please pass them on so that others can benefit from them. We need to always look out for each other.  ALWAYS…

Hiking Safety Tips

Hiking isn't typically dangerous. Much more often it's a great pleasure, even an adventure. But you're outside, sometimes far from 'civilization' and you can get injured or worse. It pays to heed some common sense hiking safety tips.

• Don't travel alone

Like any rule, there are exceptions. If you're just going for a stroll in a nearby, well-traveled area you're as safe there as anywhere. But if you travel through heavily forested areas, with steep canyons and winding trails, you can easily get lost. And, of course, there are lots of gradations in between. Use your judgment.

Traveling with a Hiking partner will help you in many ways, especially if he or she is an experienced hiker. People in pairs are much less likely to panic. They can assist one another up steep grades and apply first-aid when needed.

He or she can travel back to the trail head if you're injured. And, if needed, body heat can be much better conserved when there are two traveling together. Hypothermia has killed more than one lost hiker before they could be rescued.

• Know where you're going

This tip is a lot like the 1st tip. The same concern applies - you don't want to get lost. Stay on clearly marked or well-traveled trails until or unless you are experienced enough to take the uncommon route. Yes, they're sometimes not as interesting. But getting lost is interesting in a very unpleasant kind of way.

A map, a compass and/or a GPS unit is a must for any kind of serious hike. Naturally it has to be usable in the area you hike. Not all units will continue to function in every area. Get the details of where you plan to go and ask someone who knows.

• Take some basic gear

You can go overboard on gear. But for anything more than a simple, two-hour hike over easy terrain, a large chunk of peace of mind can be bought very cheaply.

Take a lighter or matches. Matches can get wet, but a lighter can run out of fuel. No plan is perfect. A knife, especially one with lots of genuinely useful (as opposed to merely impressive) gadgets can be a literal lifesaver.

A simple first aid kit can also be a lifesaver. Gauze and bandages, anti-bacterial cream and other standard items are essential. Anti-itch and sunburn pain reliever can be greatly appreciated sometimes. Aspirin is one of pharmacology's most under-appreciated drugs. All these things are small and lightweight. No need to take a miniature doctor's office, just the basics.

Of course, you have to have some first-aid knowledge. There are times when aspirin can be harmful. Gauze and bandages don't do you any good if you don't know the difference between venous and arterial bleeding.

A flashlight is a must. Toilet paper can be really handy, too.

• Take basic provisions

Water or other fluids like sports drinks are an obvious essential. You can lose a lot of fluid even over a two-hour period on a hot day. Heat stroke can kill, but is easily preventable. Even dehydration can radically reduce physical performance. Just remember water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon. Take what you need, not much more.

Except in emergencies, avoid drinking out of streams. Forget TV commercials. Natural water sources, not always but often, are loaded with bacteria. Just remember, animals bathe and eliminate in them.

Take enough food to last you the anticipated hike time. About 1 lb per day (depending on what you bring) is average for a medium-sized male. You can last longer without food than water, so trade off when you have to.

• Exercise common sense

Among other things that means don't get carried away with your enthusiasm - and a belief in your invincibility - and tempt fate. Despite what you may have read in and about some places, Mother Nature is quite indifferent to hurting you when you do dumb things.

TGIS! Thank God It's Spring!

For the past few months most of us have been waiting for the weather to be just right to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Spring is in the air, there’s a desire to be one with nature, and camping, hiking and all that good stuff is just calling our name. But as the weather continues to get warmer and our bodies do more exercise, there is one potential danger that we need to be very aware of: dehydration.

Symptoms of dehydration usually begin with thirst and progress to more alarming manifestations as the need for water becomes more dire. The initial signs and symptoms of mild dehydration in adults appear when the body has lost about 2% of it's total fluid. These mild dehydration symptoms are often (but not limited to):

• Thirst
• Loss of Appetite
• Dry Skin
• Skin Flushing
• Dark Colored Urine
• Dry Mouth
• fatigue or Weakness
• Chills
• Head Rushes

If the dehydration is allowed to continue unabated, when the total fluid loss reaches 5% the following effects of dehydration are normally experienced:

• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiration
• Decreased sweating
• Decreased urination
• Increased body temperature
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle cramps
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Tingling of the limbs

When the body reaches 10% fluid loss emergency help is needed IMMEDIATELY! 10% fluid loss and above is often fatal! Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

• Muscle spasms
• Vomiting
• Racing pulse
• Shriveled skin
• Dim vision
• Painful urination
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Chest and Abdominal pain
• unconsciousness


Being able to recognize this threat is the biggest preventative measure that we can take. Your safety is number 1.

Taking about safety, I came across a new item to the market, the UZI Tactical Pen. It comes in two variations: Glass Breaker or DNA Catcher.

Its construction is Aircraft Aluminum and uses a standard Parker and Fisher Space Refill. Let me tell you, it writes like a DREAM! I have been using it for the last 3 weeks and I don’t go anywhere without it. Due to the size of the pen (it is a little big) it can also double up as a Kubotan (the pen is slightly smaller but will fit in a uniform shirt pocket) as well if you know how to use one.

I would also urge you to check out BlueSheepDog.com: Police Training and Officer Safety Tips. They always have great information and tips for police officers and corrections.