Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks: By Brian A. Jackson – Reviewer: Hugh J. Martin, the director of public safety/chief of police for the City of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

            These days, any book with “terrorism” in its title seems to be guaranteed readers.  But many of these works are merely histories or intellectual meanderings.  More valuable is this RAND offering on protecting first responders.

          This book came about after the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health enlisted the RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute to conduct a conference on the new risks and roles of first responders.  Among those present were public safety officers, construction workers and government agents.  The thoughts of these parties on training needs, protective equipment, event management, health and safety, and other critical topics are assembled in this succinct primer.  The authors have done an excellent job of collecting information from responders to four of the most recent incidents of domestic terrorism (Oklahoma City, the World Trade Center (2001), the Pentagon, and the anthrax letters). Lessons learned in the rescue and recovery efforts are diligently enumerated.    

          For those who must not only think about the unthinkable but also prepare for it, this is a helpful text.

Security Management – July 2003

Food for Thoughts

          Do to others what you would have them do to you. The source of the famous “Golden Rule,” Many famous lines were variations on this theme.

Bible, Mathew 7.12

 ***

           Whatever our creed, we feel that no good deed can by any possibility go unrewarded, no evil deed unpunished. 

Orison Swett Marden