Emergency Response

"Are you ready?"

This is the first question J.L. Domingo asks all potential clients of Emergency Resource Center, a company specializing in security. ERC is affiliated with US-based Federal Management Agency, which teaches people how to quickly respond to terrorism, and Germany-based TüV, a security expert.

"Our expertise lies in giving clients quality education so they will not be put on the spot when the different forms of terrorism hit," said Domingo, a vice-president at ERC.

In the security business, there are eight basic forms of terrorism which make up the acronym, BAKE ICE T. These are B for biological, A for assassination, K for kidnapping, E for extortion, I for incendiary (arson); C for chemical, E for explosives and T for technological (cybercrimes).

Greater awareness

The security business has been identified by economic watchers as the growth industry of the moment. ERC, for one, has received more inquiries from individuals and corporations since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in the United States.

"People now realize that even the safest places may not be safe at all," said Domingo, who added that New York has one of the best emergency or safety plans in the world. All of New York’s emergency response plans, however, have centered on a ground floor attack.

"Institutions are now realigning their contingency policies. It’s no longer enough to complying with fire safety; it’s important to prepare for a bigger picture —the what ifs," he said.

For many, knowledge is the first step to leading safer lives. A case in point is the current anthrax scare.

"Many people are buying gas masks, thinking that anthrax is a dangerous chemical," Domingo said. "Anthrax is a bacteria that does not immediately kill those that it infects. It can be cured with penicillin or other medicines if the symptoms have not yet set in."

Safety and survival

Worldwide, the most common form of terrorism is kidnapping. Days or weeks before they make their move, professional kidnappers research the daily routine of their intended prey. They know what time their victim leaves the house, what route he or she takes and how many stops he or she makes along the way.

The standard advice given to a potential kidnap victim is to avoid getting into a "kill zone", where he or she will be trapped. To reduce the chances of being in such a zone, the car driver must be constantly aware of his or her surroundings and must be able to detect suspicious movements.

"Your car is your best protection. If you have a plan and know how to maneuver your car correctly, if you have an idea how many foxes are moving around trying to catch their rabbit (which is you), then your chances of being trapped is greatly reduced," he said.

To increase their chances of safety and survival, ERC asks clients to identify safe havens like police stations and hospital emergency rooms in case of car accidents.

For drivers, ERC regularly conducts a TuV-certified vehicles operations program, which is not only a practicum of the driver ability road test but also helps participants identify vital signs of being followed and improve visual acuity, peripheral vision, color perception, reflexes and hearing.

For car owners, ERC offers courses on personal protection; weapons such as long arms, side arms; shot guns, sub-machine guns, carbines and edged weapons; and Kali, a form of martial arts with a weapon which has steps similar to the "maglalatik" dance of coconut-growing regions.

Neighborhood

"Safety shouldn’t be confined to the rich; it should be for everybody," Domingo said.

As such, ERC has set up program like the neighborhood emergency services team (NEST), which teaches residents how to spot suspicious looking characters in their area, unusual movements and the correct responses to accidents. NEST is currently being taught in Los Banos, Laguna and in Palawan.

NEST is tailored to the resources of the neighborhood. For example, a jeepney may be more effective than an ambulance in going through small alleys. Bancas equipped with emergency kits may be faster among islands.

ERC also keeps busy with anti-rape courses for women, which are regularly held at the Olympian Taekwondo Training Center, and more recently, with readiness for emergency courses in elementary schools.

"Knowing what to do if something bad happens does not detract from our enjoying life. Because we are more prepared to face emergencies, we can do the things we want to do with less fear. We wouldn’t be held hostage by those who practice BAKE ICE T," Domingo said.