About the Book
We have all witnessed media reports of the aftermath of mass victim attacks. We see the carnage, and we know that attackers do not show mercy. Victims were innocent and were targeted simply for being a part of a small or large group of people. Whether a bomb, semi-automatic weapon, knife, or vehicle, the attacker strikes quickly and without mercy. Victims may have been dining in a restaurant, relaxing at a bar, participating in school classes, attending a workplace activity, or simply walking on the street. Because of the horrific and effective nature of such attacks, we are often left fearing that little to nothing can be done if the unthinkable happens, and we are caught in such a merciless attack.
Surviving Mass Victim Attacks presents specific and valuable strategies for survival if the unthinkable happens, and serves as a practical guide to anyone who wishes to be more knowledgeable and better prepared if caught in an attack themselves. Gary Jackson is a behavioral psychologist threat expert with operational experience who analyzes how victims have managed to survive past mass victim attacks committed by international terrorists, domestic terrorists, self-radicalized terrorists, those with mental health issues, and those driven by hate and bias to present strategies that anyone can use to increase their chances of survival if the unthinkable happen.
Throughout, different types of mass victim attackers, their methods, how and what they target, and how to use characteristics of the location to increase survival are addressed. The book uses real life examples to illustrate survival; the strategies presented are easily understood and do not require special skills to execute. By reading Surviving Mass Victim Attacks, you will be better able to know what to expect, how to prepare proactively, and how to respond in a way that will save your life.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Part I: The Top Three Things You Can Do to Stay Alive
Chapter 1: Understanding Past Attacks to Know How to Survive
Chapter 2: Recognize Warning Signs
Chapter 3: Know How to React When Caught in an Actual Attack
Part II: Escape, Hide, Stay in Place, or Attack the Attacker?
Chapter 4: Surviving by Escaping
Chapter 5: Surviving by Hiding and Staying in Place
Chapter 6: Surviving by Attacking the Attacker: A Last Resort?
Part III: How to Set Up Your Personal Protection Plan
Chapter 7: The Need for a Personal Protection Plan
Chapter 8: Your Personal Security Plan: Generic Information
Chapter 9: Your Personal Security Plan: Specific Tips
Chapter 10: Surviving with Psychological Trauma
Chapter 11: How to Prevent Mass Victim Attacks
Chapter 12: Successful Prevention
About the Author
About the Author :
Gary M. Jackson, PhD,is a behavioral psychologist who is currently President and CEO of ANBECO, LLC. Dr. Jackson’s career has spanned academia as a professor, director of R&D and treatment development in various clinical settings, research psychologist within the U.S. Secret Service Intelligence Division, operational Intelligence Officer and Chief of three advanced technology branches within the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president and director of research and development for a major psychological test development company, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Intelligent Systems (CAIS) for the American Institutes for Research and, the founding president and CEO of Psynapse Technologies in Washington, DC. He has also authored several books, including Predicting Malicious Behavior: Tools and Techniques to Ensure Global Security (2012). You can visit his website at massvictim.com, or follow him on twitter at @DrJacksongm.
Review :
Sadly, mass victim attacks are becoming more commonplace here at home and abroad. Jackson, having worked as a research psychologist for the U.S. Secret Service and as a CIA intelligence officer and chief, illustrates a number of ways to heighten our consciousness and be more aware of our surroundings, increasing our chance for survival should the unthinkable occur. He discusses recent and past mass killings, recognizing warning signs, and how to react in different scenarios, such as whether to hide, stay in place, or fight the assailant. Chapters include developing a personal security plan by location, type of assault, and other characteristics specific to the event.
With the epidemic of mass casualty attacks at places such as houses of worship, nightclubs, outdoor concerts, offices, schools and even city streets, how can potential victims protect themselves to increase their likelihood of survival? A solution can be found in Gary M. Jackson’s Surviving Mass Victim Attacks, which is a practical guide to prepare for survival if one happens to face such horrific attacks, as it is written by a behavioral psychologist threat expert with extensive operational experience in the U.S. government and the private sector. . . . Throughout the book, the author’s well-informed recommendations are illustrated by numerous examples of past “mass victim attacks,” making this book an indispensable guide to understanding how to prepare to effectively respond to a surprising violent attack in one’s vicinity.
Gary M. Jackson has combined his skills in behavior analysis, his life experiences and his desire that innocent people survive mass victim attacks and to create this survival training guide for today's world. We as individuals can become our own first line of defense by knowing what to look for and how to react if we become a target. The motives and means may vary but no matter if it is 1949 or 2049 the attacker's goal is always to kill as many innocents as possible. Only intelligent, advance preparation can maximize our individual chances once confronted by that horrific reality. Dr. Jackson's guide is a great start.
A terrific book explaining the motivation of attackers balanced with practical advice for surviving an active shooter situation. Jackson combines elements of situational awareness, physical security, and the psychological impact of mass attacks in a digestible manner. The content is timely, provides contemporary examples of violent incidents and is a recommended read for everyone.
