SAFETY & SURVIVAL RULES

(For Hazardous Areas)

In general terms, the following rules create the foundation for volunteer safety and survival in areas with high rates of armed conflict:

1. Know everything possible about your operational area; e.g.  roads, trails, streams, topography, plants, animals, villages, etc.

2. Study the customs, culture, traditions, habits, religion, and usual practices of all local (indigenous) populations. 

3. Develop friendships and rapport with those people you seek to assist. 

4. Avoid frequent travel using the same means, routes, and times of the day or week.

5. From a distance, you should appear to be one of the local villagers.

6. To avoid becoming an easy or obvious target, frequently change your transportation, housing, and activity patterns.

7. Study, and constantly update, the modus operandi, target selection process, and motivation of local terrorists, insurgents, and any other hostile forces.

8. Train and utilize indigenous personnel to sustain your work in areas with unacceptable security risks for you. 

9. Use radio schools to provide essential, regular instruction for villages and urban locations considered too insecure for your regular, direct contact. (See the Radio School section for details.)

10. Screen & test indigenous translators and technicians for loyalty --- then provide for their operational and personal security.

11. If possible, use concealed GPS-type tracking beacons to constantly determine the location of “key” personnel.

12. Develop, plan, and perfect adequate personal/personnel rescue capabilities for every high-risk project.

13. Establish rapport, communications, and rescue agreements with friendly police and military forces with sufficient motivation along with armed capabilities to come to your rescue.

14. Maintain primary and secondary communications systems with alternative power systems such as a hand-crank generator.

15. To sustain effective security, most communications should be protected by using simple, effective codes.

16. When exposed to very high risk of attack, easily concealed soft body-armor should be worn.

17. To help provide protection during an ambush, vehicles may be better protected using bulletproof Lexan under seats, and on the inside of doors/ windows.

N.B. The above suggestions are based on the certain fact that many volunteers no longer have immunity from armed attack(s).