Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan: The Complete Guide to Personal Security [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ (Author), Sue Kovach (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Being prepared means being in control. Here is hard-won advice from a veteran security expert for people who want to protect themselves and their families in any situation. Whether you're letting the kids out to play, making an ATM withdrawal, driving through a strange city, or leaving your home for a weeklong vacation, the threat of danger-unlikely as you hope it might be-is real.

Rather than focusing on fixing problems after they've occurred, Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan shows how to prevent them in the first place. You don't need a personal bodyguard, rigorous training, or a fortified living space to live safely, points out Neal Rawls. What you do need is a sense of security that will lead to good habits that in turn will keep you safe.

Rawls, a veteran police sergeant and a former director of security for a major corporation, shows how to develop the right security instincts. He provides answers to such questions as:

How secure is my workplace?

How do I stay safe while out in public?

Can I travel safely?

Can anything be done to protect myself in a chemical or biological attack?

Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan will allow you to develop a foundation that can be expanded to serve you in even the worst circumstances. Profusely peppered throughout are anecdotes, lists, and quizzes to keep the reader on the right track to personal safety.

There is simply nothing like it available. Travel safely on foot; teach your kids to protect themselves; hire a babysitter; avoid being followed; prevent muggings; protect your home from burglary; stop credit card fraud; deal with phone solicitations; counter road rage; avoid car theft and carjackings; react to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; stay secure in a hotel or motel; prevent stalking; use the Internet safely; react to chemical spills and other biological hazards and much, much more. (5 x 7, 196 pages)

About the Author

Neal Rawls is a former police officer and security chief of an international corporation, responsible for worldwide security for his company.

Sue Kovach is a freelance journalist, author, and photographer whose work has appeared in major publications worldwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585745774
• ISBN-13: 978-1585745777
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #399,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Book, September 30, 2002

By A Customer

This book is a real eye-opener. It quickly made me aware of how completely unaware I've been! And, according to author Neal Rawls, a former cop, being unaware is what makes people victims of crime.
I also learned fascinating facts I didn't know before. One in 12 women are stalked at some time in their lives, and most violent crimes begin with stalking; more than 35,000 children are forcibly abducted each year -- the author presents these statistics not to scare people, but to show the reality of today's world and to impress upon people that they must learn to take care of themselves. The book teaches simple techniques to help you avoid crime and stay safe by being alert and aware, and having a plan to deal with whatever might happen.
The book is an easy and entertaining read, and a great reference that you'll really use. If you liked "The Gift of Fear," you'll really like "Be Alert." It covers a lot of the same psychological aspects, but unlike DeBecker's book, "Be Alert" gives you straight forward tips to stay safe using what the author learned by being a street cop with a master's degree.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book -- What everyone must know to stay safe., July 30, 2002

By	Jim Medler (Washington, D.C. USA) - See all my reviews

I heard the author on the G.Gordon Liddy radio show and was impressed, so I got the book. I found it to be an easy read, packed with useful tips and advice on many subjects, such as protecting children, dealing with stalkers (men and women), violence in the workplace and travel safety, as well as popular security topics like home and car security. The author is a former police officer and corporate security director, and he uses fascinating, sometimes humorous anecdotes throughout the book to illustrate important points. The book is well organized by topic, but before getting into specifics, Rawls discusses the psychology of criminals and how they choose their victims. Like Gavin De Becker's "The Gift of Fear," this book also covers the importance of developing and using your own instincts to stay safe. But unlike De Becker, Rawls offers succinct, easy-to-remember tips for staying safe, many that I'd not heard of before. A very good book that's timely and answers a lot of the personal security questions we all have on our minds these days.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better get this book!, March 21, 2003

By A Customer

I live and work close to an urban area where crime is becoming a problem. I also have my own personal stalker (I am not a victim!). I've been reading quite a few books on personal security and THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST! It is broken down into chapters focusing on becoming "streetwise," security in the home, at work, in your car, traveling, meeting and dating people and protecting our children. It also covers natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The author, Neal Rawls, writes from experience, having been a police officer and now a corporate security director. He provides examples of how people are conned, threatened and just plain unaware of what is going on around them within each chapter, THEN, he provides concise and practical advice on how to protect yourself and those you care for. It's a great kick in the pants to remind ourselves to be just as it says.
Big print, so fast reading and some drawings to show examples. Better get this book!