USA Officers Keep Risk and Anxiety Low with Training Recall
Five U.S. Security Associates (USA) security officers are receiving accolades for heroic performance in the line of duty. Like police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, security officers routinely face life-threatening situations in the course of their work. They are often the first responders in times of crisis. U.S. Security Associates puts every officer through a rigorous, award-winning security officer training program, and this summer, that training is paying off.
In Boston, a security officer and fellow employee recently performed lifesaving CPR on a heart attack victim. In a letter of appreciation, a site representative describes the security officer as friendly, knowledgeable, and “constantly smiling.” Like this officer, the best security officers serve as public relations ambassadors on a daily basis, and when emergencies arise, they draw on their professional training to do the right thing.
Another USA officer, stationed at a public agency in Ventura, Calif., was a key player in one man’s survival. The security officer was at her post one evening when she was summoned to assist a visitor complaining of chest pains. She rapidly made her way to the scene, determined that the man appeared to be suffering a heart attack, and coordinated immediate paramedic dispatch. While waiting for emergency services to arrive, the officer distracted the victim from his pain by calmly engaging him in a reassuring exchange. According to an agency representative, the officer “managed the entire incident in a responsive and decisive manner. It was absolutely remarkable how comfortable she made everyone feel.”
Two officers in San Francisco came to the aid of a busload of schoolchildren following a bus accident near the client site where they were on duty. At the driver’s bidding, a group of children called for them to help. One of the officers immediately contacted the Dispatch Center while the other found the bus and reported the incident. The San Francisco Police Department and paramedics arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. The officers continued to provide support as paramedics began treating the children, California Highway Patrol arrived and cordoned off streets, and members of the media appeared to cover the story. As concerned parents arrived on the scene, the two officers provided frequent updates while maintaining communication with the site Dispatch Center, ensuring that emergency response operations were conducted without delay.
Leo Flury, president of USA’s West Coast Business Unit, commends the officers for their focused training recall.
“Our trainers strive to teach security officers to respond with competence, courtesy and professionalism in all situations, especially under duress,” said Flury. “The fact that these officers could handle the distress and pain of these victims calmly and compassionately is a testament to their training and preparation. These incidents demonstrate the importance of effective security officer training.”