KUSA - Emergency Preparedness Month may be over, but it's never too late to learn how to keep yourself safe.
Ex-CIA officer Jason Hanson can help you do that, providing the knowledge and survival skills he learned in the CIA to everyday Americans.
He is the author of "Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life" and creator of Spy Escape and Evasion, a business featured on ABC's "Shark Tank" that helps people learn spy techniques to keep them safe in any situation.
In basic preparation for an emergency situation, like a tornado or a flood, Hanson said you should be prepared to leave your house in five minutes or less.
That means packing a kit with three days of food, water and clothes.
"So if you have those bags for enough family members, however large your family is, you can grab them, and you can be out of there in five minutes in case of disaster," he said.
As Colorado drivers prepare for the snowy season, Hanson gave us tips on what you should keep in the back of your car, just in case.
"I'd say the absolute minimum: Have the tool kit. Have the 72-hour kit in the back of every car you own," he said.
Hanson says he also keeps kitty litter in his car in case he gets stuck in the snow. He says you can also use your car mats in that situation.
In an emergency, the most important thing to remember is to remain calm and on the move.
"A favorite phrase of mine is, 'Movement saves lives,'" Hanson said. "So a lot of people, because they're not used to it – obviously, it's an emergency – they freak out, and they freeze in place."
He said this, unfortunately, causes a lot of deaths.
So, for example, when a building is burning, get out of there immediately. And in a carjacking, Hanson says you should hit the gas pedal and go left and right.
"Don't freeze, and make sure you're doing some type of movement to make sure you're keeping yourself safe," he said.
In today's age of smart phones, a lot of people are forgetting to maintain situational awareness.
People looking down at their phone not only risk bumping into objects and strangers, but it can lead to more dangerous situations as well.
Of course, there's the risk of being run over in the streets while you're distracted, and Hanson says you can also become a prime target for criminals.
"Most crimes are crimes of opportunity," he said. "So if that criminal sees you with your head down, and sees someone else with their head up who is paying attention, they're going to choose that person with zero situational awareness. And obviously, you don't want to be that easy victim."
Lastly, in true spy fashion, Hanson told us how you can tell if you're being followed.
He said when you're walking or driving, the simplest way to see if someone following you is to go around the block.
If you notice the same person behind you after going in a circle, you're probably being followed.
"We call it a surveillance detection route," Hanson said.
He says to make sure you're in a safe area in that situation, where people can easily find you, and to call the police.
Hanson's spy course includes other cool tips that could potentially save your life, like breaking out of duct tape, breaking a zip tie, picking locks and hot-wiring a car.
If you'd like to know more about the spy course, go to http://spyescapeandevasion.com/.
(© 2015 KUSA)
