Training Results in Everyday Heroics for Security Officers

When an emergency occurs, whether it is a cardiac or first-aid emergency, or a natural disaster or workplace violence incident, the emergency responder who makes the difference between life and death is one who is well trained. 

When we consider those who train for these life-threatening situations as part of their careers, hospital staff, paramedics and police officers are the first to come to mind. But the first responders to many emergencies are not medical staff or law enforcement but security officers. Security officers are around us every day – in our workplaces, schools, banks and stores. And when these individuals are well trained, they are positioned to step in and save lives.

Last year, an off-duty security officer, Mike Garrigues, saved the life of a 3-year old boy when he used CPR after finding him face-down in a puddle of water and sand along a beach. 

Training and expertise in CPR was also critical to the heroic events behind the 2013 Ralph Day Security Officer of the Year award which was presented to Myisha Pullum who saved a child after an incident at a swimming pool. 

Although these Allied Universal security officers are on opposite sides of the country, they have something very specific in common – their training. While these examples highlight the importance of First Aid, AED and CPR training, those are only some of the training possibilities for security teams. Heroic acts by security officers happen every day – whether it is the sensitivity to assist a lost child or the technical ability to track and report on a crime in progress through a CCTV system, training makes a critical difference. 

Read more of my article on the importance of training in Security magazine: How Life Safety Training Turns Security Officers into First Responders.

  About the Author
  Brent O'Bryan is the Vice President of Training and Development for Allied Universal. He leads Allied Universal Academy, which provides a clear learning path for both new and existing employees as they progress in their careers.