Glasgow Airport Attack and Personal Security

As I am sitting at my computer this morning writing my articles and catching up on correspondence I keep hearing the ongoing news reports about the attack at the Glasgow, Scotland airport. From what the TV audio that I have been hearing from the other room and the reports on Yahoo News, no one seems to have been hurt.

Accounts of disaster and death always catch our attention which is why the news is so full of it. With hundreds cable TV channels broadcasting news 24/7 along with Internet and print news media the competition for viewers and readers is intense. As a result violence and mayhem will make up the majority of the fare offered as that is what will bring in the business. After all, how many people would bother spending an hour or so watching a news program reporting on people safely coming and going from Glasgow or any other airport? But let a couple of shadowy characters crash through security barriers with an SUV apparently loaded with gasoline or other explosives in order to have the car explode in the entrance of the main terminal of the airport and you have a news story. This is news and will hold viewers attention.

However, rather than fixiating on this and living in constant fear we should realize that first, in this instance there appear to have been no apparent injuries, and that while the Glasgow Airport has been closed for the day, hundreds of thousands of people are, at this moment, coming and going without incident at thousands of airports around the world. A few decades ago when in most localities there were only three major TV networks and about as many TV stations broadcasting in each city along with one or two daily newspapers, this incident in Glasgow, Scotland probably would not have made the news outside of Great Britain and if it did it wouldn't have rated more than a paragraph or two buried deep within tomorrow's newspaper in the rest of the world. It would have been big news in Glasgow, but a minor or unreported item elsewhere.

However, just because the world is a lot safer than what's reported on your local cable news channel and favorite Internet news source leads you to believe, there is no need to draw the opposite conclusion that the world is PERFECTLY safe. It's not. Bad people and danger are always present, if only in small quantities. For this reason it is important to use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. You don't have to be paranoid but you shouldn't be blissfully oblivious to your surroundings either.

Since the 911 attacks concern about flight safety has increased significantly. Thanks to increased security we have so far not had a repeat of the type of attacks used on 911. While planes themselves are probably safer now, due to the tight security checks and controls, airports themselves are not as safe due to the larger area involved the greater numbers of people coming and going. While there is security all around an airport, the tight security controls are located inside the terminal where passengers are separated from the general populace milling around outside and inside the terminal. It is this area, outside the passenger security check ring, that now offers the best opportunity for a spectacular attack. However, it is also offers more room for individuals to maneuver and escape than are available to those trapped inside an airplane at 30,000 feet.

Here is where being aware of your surroundings comes in. Again, without being paranoid, this is the time to increase your concentration on your surroundings. Devote at least part of your attention to what is going on around you and look for places where you can run for cover in the event of some type of attack.

You don't have to be fearful and anxious. But it doesn't mean you have to throw caution to the wind either. Get into the habit of being aware of your surroundings, especially when there is the possibility of danger, and be alert for things that are out of the ordinary. A car speeding toward a crowd of people is not ordinary. Neither is a person pointing a gun at a crowd of people ordinary. If you are aware that some degree of danger might exist and are devoting part of your attention to looking for it you are less likely to be surprised and panic when you see something out of the ordinary.

The other thing is to have a plan. Again this can be simple and take only a few seconds to put together. When I am in an airport, I generally relax and let my guard down once I have passed through the security check point. But outside that point, especially on the curb waiting for a cab or shuttle bus I stay more focused. If I have to stand outside I usually look for a large concrete pillar (these are usually common outside and inside airports) or other structure that can provide cover, and try to wait next to it or near it. In that way, if trouble should start, I have cover nearby. Similarly, inside the terminal when waiting for the luggage to come down, I try to avoid standing in front of the plate glass windows or out in the open, but again look for a spot that offers more shelter. When the bags start coming down, I then go over to the conveyor belt to look for mine. Again, you don't have to be paranoid or live in fear of an attack, but given the choice of standing in a wide open area or walking ten or twenty feet off to the side where there is some shelter makes sense, especially when there are security alerts and warnings of possible trouble. Acknowledge the possibility of trouble and have a plan to deal with it.

This is actually no different than when on the plane before takeoff listening to the flight attendant go thorough the safety instructions and taking five seconds to quickly glance at where the emergency exits are in relation to your seat. I don't know about you, but I don't worry about an accident with the plane, but if there is one I do know where each of the exits are located.

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