How Professional Security Guards Prepare for and Respond to Emergencies

Understanding the Scope of Emergencies and Disasters

Crime deterrence is the main association that most people likely have with security guards, but the reality is that they are trained to help with more than just theft and vandalism. 

One of the biggest responsibilities of security guards is helping manage emergencies and disasters. These can take a wide range of forms, including human-made and natural disasters. 

Whether it’s industrial explosions, structural failures, earthquakes, or droughts, disasters such as these can take a serious human toll, leading to all kinds of injuries and even many fatalities.

The best way to limit the negative consequences of such disasters is by effectively preparing for and responding to them. Although emergencies often happen when they are least expected, if there is an established plan to get people to safety, this will be a significant advantage.

For security guards at a Vancouver security guard company, this is a major component of the training that they must undergo, as the actions they take in the immediate moments after a crisis begins could mean the difference between life and death for many.

Specialized Training for Security Personnel

Since emergencies can arise at any time and without warning, security personnel must be equipped to respond to whatever the situation calls for. This is why they must partake in specialized training to prepare for such scenarios.

While a major component of security guard training typically focuses on things such as situational awareness and de-escalation methods, the portion of the training that relates to emergency response is primarily focused on first-aid responses and CPR. 

After all, it is never certain how long it will take for paramedics to arrive at the scene of an emergency when someone has been injured. However, with the right first-aid training, security guards can provide temporary medical assistance until that time.

Because they are specially trained in this area, security guards can jump in right away to start performing necessary measures to assist someone who is hurt or in bad condition. Such actions often greatly increase that person’s chances of survival. 

CPR is an especially important skill for security guards to learn because if someone has a heart attack or experiences another cardiac emergency, every second counts. If someone experiencing cardiac arrest does not receive CPR immediately, they could die. Thus, having security guards on hand with CPR training is of great importance.

The Equipment and Tools Security Companies Use for Emergencies

When security guards need to respond to emergencies, having access to the right equipment and tools can help them do this most effectively, which is why they must keep these items with them at all times.

The following are some of the most important examples of equipment that every security officer should have:

A Flashlight

In the event of an emergency, it is not uncommon for electricity to be affected, which means that the lights could go out. To see what is happening around them in such scenarios and to guide people during these circumstances, security guards must always carry at least one powerful flashlight.

Cell Phone/Walkie Talkie

Another thing that security guards should always have with them is a cell phone or a walkie-talkie so that they can communicate with both their managers and law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

Being able to communicate with these authorities can help security guards facilitate their response efforts, as they may receive specific instructions depending on the nature of the emergency.

Keys

Security guards must have keys to all of the different parts of the building where they are employed. This will allow them to access areas where people may be trapped or may need assistance in the event of an emergency.

A Uniform

Although wearing a uniform may seem like a mere formality for security guards, it is quite important. If an emergency unfolds, it is crucial that people in need of assistance can quickly and easily identify a security guard so that they know who to go to for help.

Collaborative Efforts With Local Authorities

One of the main responsibilities of a security guard is to contact and inform local authorities, such as firefighters, paramedics, and police officers when an emergency arises that requires their assistance. 

During the time from that call, until they arrive on the scene, it is up to the security guard to collaborate with the local authorities and to ensure they are kept up to date on the situation as it unfolds.

This line of communication allows the local authorities to best prepare themselves to provide the most effective response possible. Without knowing critical information, like what is taking place at the scene and whether things are escalating or de-escalating, such preparation becomes much more difficult. 

Security guards can inform emergency responders of exactly where they must go when they arrive on site, facilitating a faster and more efficient response, saving more lives, and minimizing damage.

They may also receive direct instructions from local authorities about measures that need to be taken. Once the local authorities arrive, security guards often continue to assist and collaborate with these figures either directly or indirectly.

Real-Time Monitoring and Situation Assessment

When security guards are on duty, a major component of their job involves monitoring their surroundings to conduct constant situational assessments. This involves physically observing their surroundings and also includes monitoring surveillance footage so they can keep an eye on all of the crucial parts of a building at all times.

Security guards are trained to look for signs of suspicion, but also signs that may indicate something else is wrong, such as the early warnings of an emergency or disaster scenario.

Having a trained eye for these kinds of signals helps security guards respond quickly and effectively as soon as the situation begins. This is critical, as it prevents a delayed response to the emergency. Indeed, when they enact their emergency response protocols immediately, it increases the chances of more people making it to safety.

It is also necessary that a security guard can accurately assess any kind of situation they encounter, as certain scenarios will require a full-on emergency response, whereas others may not.

The Importance of Security Guards in Emergency Situations

Security guards have an incredibly important role to play when emergencies and disasters unfold, as they are often the first on the scene to help out. It is thus the responsibility of security guards to take immediate emergency response measures, including contacting and collaborating with local authorities, helping evacuate people from a dangerous area, providing first-aid or CPR, and monitoring the situation as it progresses.

Through all of these efforts, security guards are generally able to help minimize the disastrous effects of emergencies, thus limiting their negative impacts on the populace.