Survival Triangle Fundamentals Quiz

Survival Triangle Fundamentals

• Mental and Physical Preparation form the foundation of the survival triangle.
• Mental preparedness is crucial; a prepared mind can be a potent tool against adversity.
• Physical fitness is equally important for stress response.

Stress and Responses

• Stress is the strain on your system caused by any demand or disturbance.
• Stress Responses:
  • Startle Response: Involuntary movement in reaction to sudden threats.
  • Thought Distraction: Unwanted thoughts disrupting concentration.
  • Physical Distress: Physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, nausea, etc.
  • Sensory Distortion: Altered perception during high-stress situations like tunnel vision or hearing distortions.
  • Awareness Lapse: Temporarily blocking out stressful events.

Stress Management Techniques

• Tactical Breathing: A controlled breathing technique to manage stress.
• Positive Self-Talk: Encouraging and supportive internal dialogue during stressful situations.
• Crisis Rehearsal: Practicing responses to potential crises to improve response.

Awareness Levels

• Condition White: Unprepared and unready to act
• Condition Yellow: Prepared, alert and relaxed.
• Condition Orange: Aware of potential danger, ready to act.
• Condition Red: Active action mode, focused on the emergency.
• Condition Black: Panic, mental/physical breakdown, unable to react.

Fatal Errors

• Poor attitude and Tombstone Courage
• Insufficient rest
• Poor positioning
• Ignoring danger signs
• Failure to observe suspect hand movements.
• Relaxing too quickly
• Inadequate or incorrect handcuffing techniques.
• Insufficient or poor security search procedures
• An inoperable or dirty weapon.

Tactical Thinking Steps

• Analyze the situation (what you are facing)
• Anticipate potential problems.
• Decide on a plan of action
• Maintain control of breathing and composure.

Principle of Triangulation

• This principle considers the environment and officer position to minimize crossfire.

Officer Roles

• Contact Officer: Primary officer conducting communication, warrant checks, radio transmissions, directions, frisks, surroundings Awareness.
• Cover Officer: Secondary officer, maintaining triangulation, observing suspect's actions, preventing escapes and following directions, surroundings Awareness.
• Roles are interchangeable.
• Distance depends on the situation.

Threat Assessment

• Outer Circle: Problem areas demanding consideration.
• Middle Circle: The area immediately around a threat.
• Inner Circle: The imminent threat needing immediate control (suspect).
• Triangulation: Positioning officers to control the area around the suspect.

Suspect Interactions

• Threshold Inquiry: Keeping the suspect in the triangle during an interview.
• Suspect + 1 Theory: Backing up a suspect interaction
• Gun + 1 Theory: Being aware of weapon presence.
• Strength in Numbers: Using back-up.
• Interview Stance: Interview position in front of suspect at distance.

Positioning

• Position 0: In front of.
• Position 1: In front of / at an angle for interviews.
• Position 2: Side of suspect
• Position 2.5: Behind and slightly angled for handcuffing.
• Position 3: Directly behind suspect

Positioning & Movement

• Position 1 is for interview stance.
• Moving in shuffles, sidesteps and pivots in suspect interaction.
• Contact and Cover for two officer interactions.

Basic & Defensive Stance

• Basic Stance: Shoulder width apart, slight knee bend
• Defensive Stance: Stance used for reacting to suspect attacks.

Cover & Concealment

• Cover: Protection from attack.
• Concealment: Hides an officer, doesn't protect.
• On-Cover: Body directly against cover, weapon near cover
• Off-Cover: Body slightly away from cover.

Tactical Considerations

• Tactics should be simple, controlled and practiced for muscle memory.