British Columbia Basic Security Training Practice Exam

What is the first and foremost priority when encountering any emergency situation?

1. Preservation of your colleagues life

2. Preservation of public lives

3. Preservation of the sites property

4. Your life

The correct answer is: Your life

The primary principle of personal safety in emergency situations is often summarized as "Your own safety comes first." The reason is that if you become injured or incapacitated, you'd be unable to assist others and may even become an additional burden for other responders. This is particularly important for security guards, who are often on the front lines responding to emergencies. In most emergency response training, the hierarchy of life safety is taught which prioritizes the safety of different groups in the following order: first, the responder (in this case, the security guard); second, any other people at an immediate risk; third, the broader public and, lastly, the protection of property. This hierarchy is taught because it equips responders with a clear decision-making framework during stressful and potentially life-threatening situations. So, while all lives (your own, your colleagues’, and the public’s) and property are important, a security guard must prioritize their own safety first in any emergency situation.