Lesson 6 of 7 · 3 min read
Emergencies, safety and professional conduct
Know the plan before something happens, look after your own safety, and act like a professional every shift.
Know the site's emergency plan
On your first shift, find out: the exits and assembly points, where fire alarm pulls and extinguishers are, who you call for each kind of emergency, the exact street address to give 911, and what your role is in an evacuation.
Common emergencies
- Fire or alarm: follow the site plan, help people out, don't go back in, and meet firefighters with what you know.
- Medical: call 911 first. Give first aid only if you are trained. Send someone to meet the ambulance.
- Suspicious package: don't touch or move it. Move people away, call 911 from a safe distance, and note what you saw.
- Threats or violence: get yourself and others to safety and call 911. Unarmed officers are not expected to confront an armed person.
Your own safety
- Stay alert, keep your phone or radio charged, and know where help is.
- Don't confront people alone if you can wait for backup or police.
- Use calm words and distance. Our De-escalation Basics course covers this in detail.
Professional conduct
- Be reliable. Arrive early, stay for the whole shift, and never leave a post unless your relief arrives or your supervisor says so.
- Be alert. No sleeping, no personal phone scrolling, no headphones on post.
- Look the part. Clean uniform, ID visible, neat appearance.
- Treat everyone with respect, and judge behavior, never appearance.
- Keep confidences. Don't post about your site, clients or incidents on social media.
- Be honest. Accurate logs, honest checkpoint scans and truthful reports.
Key points
- Learn exits, alarms, extinguishers, the street address and your role on the first shift.
- Medical: call 911 first; give first aid only if trained. Suspicious package: don't touch, move people, call.
- Don't confront alone; use distance and calm words.
- Be reliable, alert, respectful, discreet and honest.
Picture it
A busy hotel lobby, 6 PM. The fire alarm goes off and guests start asking you what to do.
Follow the plan you learned on day one: direct people to the nearest exits and the assembly point, keep them out of the elevators, check that the areas you're assigned to are clear, and report to the person in charge. Tell arriving firefighters what you know, such as where the alarm panel shows the fire.
Resources
- CISA De-escalation Series
Free federal fact sheets on recognizing, assessing and calming tense situations, and when to report.
- FEMA IS-907.A: Active Shooter: What You Can Do
A free online federal course on warning signs and responding to an active shooter, with a FEMA certificate.
- American Red Cross: Take a Class
Find accredited CPR, AED and first aid classes near you (in person or blended). Useful on almost any security post.
- American Heart Association: CPR and First Aid course finder
Find AHA CPR and first aid courses (Heartsaver, BLS) and training centers near you.