By Sam DiGiovanna
“Boston, Ricin, West Texas” what’s next? I didn’t think I’d be addressing this as the ‘safety topic’ for the week, however. it’s been very tough last week for most of the Nation. There is something we can do!
“Homeland Security starts with Hometown Security, and all of us play a critical role in keeping our Country and communities safe, says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.” No matter what you do, day to day activities like driving, going to work, or walking down the street include some threat to your personal safety. Either through crime or circumstance, people and events can be unpredictable. This was evident last week in Boston.
There’s a campaign known as “if you see something – say something.” If you see something suspicious taking place then report that behavior or activity to local law enforcement or in the case of emergency call 9-1-1. Factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation alone are not suspicious. For that reason, the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying to break into a restricted area) rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech unrelated to terrorism or other criminal activity.
The bad news is that the hardening of these “hard” targets has increased the appeal of shopping malls, sports arenas, hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, housing complexes and other “soft” targets that remain relatively unprotected against terrorist attacks. Listen to your intuition and follow your instincts for safety says Chief DiGiovanna. Don’t be afraid to be impolite, and never remain in an uncomfortable situation.
REMEMBER: “If you see something, say something!” Pass this along to others…
You are the first line of defense against acts of terrorism on our country – and we need your help.
Go to: http://www.dhs.gov/ for more info.
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
