by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 31, 2022 | Security Guard
Responsible for protecting companies and businesses and ensuring the safety of both employees and consumers, proprietary security and contract security companies are involved in the same industry, while serving very different needs.
What does a proprietary security company do?
Controlled entirely by a particular company, a proprietary security company is responsible for hiring, firing and managing security personnel.
What does a contract security company do?
Operated by a professional security company, they contract their security services to different companies.
What do they cost?
Costlier because your company is responsible for paying benefits and higher wages for those personnel with more experience, proprietary security is more expensive, but often more appealing since the level of training and ability of the guards, is significantly higher.
When dealing with a contract security company, the salary given to security guards is typically lower due to the cost of uniforms, sick leave and training benefits that are all covered by the service.
Which gives more control?
From the perspective of a proprietary security employee, you may find that they have more feelings of loyalty towards the company, since they may have developed a sense of camaraderie with their fellow employees and experience opportunities for growth and promotions within their career.
When it comes to using the services of a contract security service on the other hand, if your company needs to take on more employees, or lay some off, you might be able to deal with such staffing problems in a more efficient way.
Which service gives more consistency?
For a company needing daily, micromanaged security, then a proprietary security service might offer the best solution to your security needs.
Which is the most effective?
Trained to meet the specific needs of a company, proprietary security personnel often become more familiar with the layout of a building or space, and are able to recognize individuals coming and going, with greater ease and accuracy.
Thanks in part to a high rate of turnover, contract security guards don’t often get the opportunity to establish strong working relationships with employees, which can have a negative impact on how loyal they are to the company, and play a role in determining the level of their performance.
Liability
If you choose to take on a proprietary security service, you’ll be responsible for taking the appropriate measures with respect to background checks and ensuring that the applicant has the right level of training and skills to fulfil their role to the standard required.
Choosing to take on a contract security service on the other hand, means that training, recruitment and background checks are handled by the firm, and not your concern. When deciding which type of security service to hire, there are many factors to take into consideration, and a lot will depend upon your specific needs and the extent of your budget. However, it’s important to remember that security is a significant aspect of any business, and if you want to protect it in the best way possible, make sure your budget is big enough.
by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 31, 2022 | Security Guard
While the specific role of a security guard will depend upon the place where they are appointed to work, there are skills and responsibilities that they must all possess in order to fulfil their role successfully, and some of these are listed below:
- A polite, calm and reasoned approach
- The ability to communicate effectively with all types of people
- Quick thinking and spontaneity
- The ability to solve problems in a quick and efficient manner
- Able to follow instructions to the letter
- A sound technical understanding of security systems
- A high level of physical fitness and strength
The primary role of a security guard is to prevent crimes from occurring, but there are some other responsibilities they should be able to uphold that are significant, too:
Maintaining order and helping to create a safe, secure environment
Whether patrolling the interior and exterior of a premises, or in a stationary guard position, a security guard must routinely check windows, doors and gates to ensure that they’re properly locked, and examine every aspect of the surrounding area to determine whether the environment is safe; this also includes assessing people and preventing any unauthorised or unlawful activities from taking place within the premises.
Identifying suspicious behavior or risks to public safety
A good security guard is exceptionally observant, and has the ability to watch and observe areas within the vicinity, without being unduly distracted. Thanks to their professional training, they are also able to identify suspicious behavior displayed by employees, visitors or customers, and are also trained to identify the signs of potential criminal activity, or any other potentially dangerous incident.
Responding appropriately to emergency situations
In most instances, security guards are the first to respond to any kind of emergency situation, and are trained to keep calm and focus on dealing with the situation appropriately. Specialist security guards may have received training in other areas, such as first aid and CPR, fire watch and crisis management, and may have even more skills in the event of an emergency.
Communicating effectively
An important aspect of maintaining safety and security, communication is a vital responsibility for all security guards, and they must be able to do talk to others in a manner that is calm, polite and respectful. From directing visitors to a site, to warning others about as potential security threat, a good security guard will be able to command a high level of respect and communicate information or instructions in a clear and concise manner.
Monitoring the behavior and activities of people
Security guards must remain alert and watchful at all times, and must monitor activities in and around the premises, along with closely observing the behavior of staff and others inside the area, no matter the time of day, or how quiet and uneventful things may appear to be. If you think you have all of the skills above, and would be able to uphold the responsibilities of a qualified security guard, why not find a local training academy and register with them today?
by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 31, 2022 | Firstaid & CPR, Security Guard
Have you ever been involved in an accident in which other people were hurt, and felt helpless? Do you wish you knew how to try and save a person’s life, should the occasion arise?
Accidents can happen any time, and anywhere, and you never know when someone might collapse from a heart attack, or any other medical emergency, in your presence. If you could help save that person’s life by performing CPR, wouldn’t you want to?
With CPR training available to so many more people than ever before, there really are no excuses, or barriers, to learning the skills required to help save someone’s life. If you’re still not convinced that you need to learn such a skill, or even whether you want to, perhaps the following 5 reasons might help make up your mind:
- Come on…you could save someone’s life!
There really is no more important reason to learn CPR than the fact that you could save someone’s life, and wouldn’t that be a wonderful feeling? With heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States, and responsible for more than 60,000 deaths every year, the chances are that one day, you might well be in a position to administer CPR to a heart attack victim, and dramatically improve their chances of survival.
- You could save the life of a loved one
While being able to save the life of a complete stranger is without doubt, hugely rewarding, imagine if you were able to save the life of someone you hold dear? Statistics show that as many as 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home, and without someone to perform CPR while waiting for emergency services to arrive, they could lose their life.
- CPR can prevent brain death
Once the heart stops beating, it can take as little as 4 minutes for brain death to occur. With intervention from someone trained in CPR, however, the blood could be kept flowing and oxygen could continue to be provided to the brain and other important organs. In many instances, CPR has given such victims a significantly improved recovery.
Did you know that if CPR is administered within the first 2 minutes of a cardiac arrest, the patients’ chances of survival double? In its simplest terms, this means that CPR can help keep a heart attack victim alive until an ambulance arrives, or they reach the hospital, and reduce the toll the attack takes on their body. As if that wasn’t positive enough, the more you can reduce the body’s level of suffering during a cardiac arrest by administering CPR, the more you can reduce the chance of them suffering another cardiac arrest, either at the time, or in the future.
- You get to use life-saving technology
Nowadays, CPR training also includes learning how to operate an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED), such as those you might have seen at airports, shopping malls and many other public spaces. With the majority of states making access to an AED mandatory in public places, if someone collapses and needs CPR, you may be the only person present who knows how to correctly use the equipment, and be able to save someone’s life. It doesn’t get much better than being able to save someone’s life, and who knows when that might become a reality for you. Be ready to save a life should you need to, and schedule your CPR training today.
by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 31, 2022 | Security Guard
While some security guards might like to think they have the same powers as the police, in reality, that isn’t the case. That said, security guards do hold a certain level of authority in some circumstances, and undoubtedly play a significant role in helping to protect the public, individuals and even buildings from the threat of attack.
To know what a security guard does have the power to do, read on:
While it’s worth noting that some individual state laws vary, the following actions are ones that most security guards are permitted (and often required) to carry out:
Protect property
With responsibilities having been delegated to them, security guards help protect both the location in question, and any on-site personnel. They are permitted to request that people refrain from loitering there, that they leave a premises if their behavior isn’t desirable or they don’t have permission to be there, and can even detail an individual if they have probable cause to suspect that a crime may have been committed.
In the case of a retail security guard, for example, they may have spotted someone shoplifting within the premises, and detain them until the police arrive.
Detain individuals
As mentioned above, if a security guard suspects an individual (or individuals) of carrying out an offence on or around the property they’ve been employed to protect, they can detain them in a reasonable manner. They may use handcuffs, if necessary, initiate a pat-down to determine if they are carrying a weapon, and stop the person from leaving the scene until law enforcement arrives.
In some states, a security guard may even be permitted to detain a person in any public area if they believe a crime has been committed, and hold them until law enforcement arrive. However, additional training may be required in order for a security guard to carry this out legally.
Make a citizen’s arrest
If a crime has been witnessed, and to ensure public safety, a security guard can arrest a person using the same rights that we are all entitled to. The security guard who has made the arrest must call the police as soon as they can, and if the person they’ve detained is carrying a weapon, the guard is within their rights to do so.
Use reasonable force
While a security guard is permitted to use force against a person to ensure the safety of others and of property, they must do so with reasonable force, and it must be justified. Just as a police officer would be expected to use non-violent methods to resolve an issue first, they may resort to a certain level of force if those methods have proved unsuccessful.
Below are some actions security guards are not permitted to carry out:
Detain people for an unlimited amount of time
While they can detain an individual for a certain degree of time, such as for how long it takes the police to arrive, they can’t hold them indefinitely.
Use unreasonable force
Using unreasonable force to detain someone or remove them from the premises can include applying pain, choking, discrimination and improper use of handcuffs, among others. While a security guard does not have the same powers as the police, they do still play an incredibly important role in protecting people and property, and if you think you’re suited to a career in security, reach out to a local training facility today, and start learning the skills required to professionally protect.
by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 30, 2022 | Security Guard
If you’re considering training to become a security guard, but everyone and their mother has weighed in with reasons as to why you shouldn’t, you might find some of them listed below. Check out the following 7 reasons why becoming a security guard isn’t a good idea, along with the reasons why they are misconceptions, and not facts:
- You’ll be bored to tears!
If being constantly alert and ready to protect the public, individuals or employees sounds boring to you, then you probably don’t have the right idea about being a security guard.
The role of a security guard is a vital one, and there is often precious little opportunity for being bored, even on quieter days.
Provided you’ve undergone the appropriate training and have the right skills to fulfil your role, being a security guard doesn’t have to be as dangerous as some may think it to be.
While it’s true to say that some security jobs pay very low wages, if you train and gain a legitimate licence, you’ll be able to gain the kind of qualifications that employees are willing to pay more for.
- Security guards garner no respect
There are people in this world who will disrespect others for a variety of reasons, and no matter what profession you choose, you can never guarantee to be respected by others, all of the time. Most law abiding citizens however, have a lot of respect for security guards, and appreciate the fact that without them, the world would be a far more dangerous place.
- There’s no room for growth in the industry
Totally false! There are, in fact, ample opportunities for growth within the security personnel industry, because it’s such a sought after skill, especially in light of the increasing threat from terrorism and other kinds of crimes. If you choose to pursue a career in security, you can advance your training and gain skills and qualifications in the following areas:
- Bodyguard
- Security response team management
- Police
- CCTV specialist
- Mall security management
- Residential security
- Security guards work long hours
In the majority of instances, security guards are expected to work long hours, but they are entitled to the same breaks as anyone else in any other industry, and if they are assigned a night shift, they simply manage their time and sleep patterns appropriately, so that they can cope and live their life as they want to.
Many jobs aren’t fun, and if they were, well, wouldn’t going to work be a real blessing! However, if you throw yourself into your role and look for opportunities to work within exciting and interesting industries, there’s no reason why you can’t have fun while still taking your role seriously. Misconceptions about the security industry as a whole, are rife, but you should always be openminded when it comes to choosing a career path, and be prepared to see beyond what others may think. Just imagine what the world would be like if we didn’t have security guards? It really doesn’t bear thinking about. To pursue a worthwhile career in the security industry, get yourself trained and qualified and start smashing those misconceptions out of the ballpark!
by Code 4 Training Center | Mar 30, 2022 | Security Guard
Baton training is one of the most important skills that a security guard should learn to become well-rounded and proficient in his or her job. However, many security guards do not receive proper baton training. If a security guard does not know how to properly use a baton, he or she could easily be injured or even killed.
By receiving proper baton training, you can ensure that you will be able to protect yourself and your clients as well as perform your job effectively and safely.
Security guards may be called upon to enforce peace in potentially violent situations. A security guard who is properly trained in the use of a baton can be much more effective than one who is not.
Baton training for a security guard should include practice with two types of batons: impact and expandable. An impact baton is made from wood or metal, which provides more control over how hard it can hit something and makes it safer for the user. An expandable baton allows the user to adjust its length for more reach.
A security guard must also practice with different grips on his baton, including holding it by the tip, by the body, and at the balance point between tip and body. He must know how to hold it in both hands, either straight up or at different angles depending on which way he plans on swinging it.
One of the major benefits of baton training is that it helps you develop self-discipline. During your baton training course, you will learn how to control yourself even when you feel like giving in to your emotions; this skill is useful for all areas of life. Security guards must be able to keep a cool head at all times because they are constantly exposed to dangerous situations. Baton training will not only teach you how to better manage your emotions but also how to remain focused at all times. This type of self-discipline will benefit you in both your professional and private lives.
Tasers vs. Baton Training
According to the New York Times, the use of tasers has been recorded since the 1960s, when electronic stun guns were introduced. Police departments began using tasers in the 1990s and 2000s for self-defense purposes and to protect against deadly force. However, tasers are not always an option for police officers or other professionals who work in security. Baton training is a crucial element in building a secure guard’s skill set, especially if they’re going to be working on their own.
The primary difference between a taser and baton training is that a taser will incapacitate someone from a distance of about 15 feet. A baton is used for close combat in order to subdue an individual who is causing harm or attempting to flee from a situation. Baton training allows guards to fight off opponents and handle dangerous situations.
