5/2/2016 12:10:00 AM
HEADLINES
Rodriguez to SFA: ’Know Your Egress’ To Escape Workplace Violence Situation
Survival in a workplace violence situation “comes down to you,” Michael Rodriguez told the Southwestern Fastener Association.
The first step to survival is to “know your egress,” Rodriguez advised. “What is your closest exit? Beyond doors that might be breaking out a window.”
In addition to his fastener distributorship – The Fastener Connection of Houston – Rodriguez owns weapons and attack training company AWATT – Advanced Weapons & Training Tactics.
“Have exit maps on the wall in advance,” he advised. “If you think about a workplace violence situation in advance you’ll have options on where to run.”
Rodriguez noted that you probably can’t respond how you’d like to respond because “the attacker doesn’t have your values.”
• Survival requires “situational awareness” and “a decision.” Ultimately, “Do something,” Rodriguez urged. “Run away. Run toward them. Make a loud noise. A bad decision is better than no decision.”
“Get adrenalin pumping because there is a let down after,” Rodriguez said in reference to “Post Adrenaline Let Down.” While people are under acute stress, a rise in cortisol and other hormones can protect against the perception of pain.
• A third step is to be armed. That doesn’t have to be a gun, Rodriguez told the SFA. A stapler, pen, letter opener, knife, hammer or pepper spray can be weapons.
He demonstrated a steel “tactical writing pen” that can be purchased online for $20 to $60 and effectively used as a knife. It can be taken on airplanes. The self-defense weapon pens are of a heavy duty machined metal construction with pressurized ink cartridges.
• “Your best weapon may be the existing fire extinguisher.” Spraying “pulls the oxygen out of the air,” giving people vital seconds to get out of the building.
• Look in advance for ways to “confine that guy,” Rodriguez advised. Buildings are being designed to have a second set of doors and when equipped with cameras and a security system, that area between doors can be a “holding cell,” Rodriguez pointed out.
Citing the safety equipment in automobiles which can prevent death in wrecks, Rodriguez asked. “Why not prepare yourself for the worst in a workplace violence situation?”
• For those who choose to have guns, Rodriguez recommended training. “Know how your gun works. Criminals are not the smartest people in the world,” he explained. “You can have the upper hand.”
Be aware that the “criminal thinks his gun scares you,” Rodriguez said. “He thinks he controls you.” Rodriguez then demonstrated to the SFA conference in Houston multiple ways to take control of a criminal’s hand holding a gun.
Rodriguez said in the 2014 Sandy Hook Elementary School situation where 20 students and six adults were shot to death, “they did everything right.” School doors had been locked and Adam Lanza had to shoot a door open with an assault rifle to enter. Upon gunfire police were immediately called and children were ushered into planned safety spots. The death toll could have been worse, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez suggested fastener facilities may be relatively safe. “Statistically the worst place to be is a Walmart parking lot,” he said. Web: awattclass.com and thefastco.com
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