Security or something like that

Since every situation is different, only those that were there in front of the threat can be considered "security experts" on the horrible tragedy of the Sydney hostage crisis.

38-year-old barrister Katrina Dawson.

NSW Bar Association president Jane Needham SC announced Ms Dawson’s passing this morning to the NSW Bar.

“Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends at the NSW Bar,” she said.

“She was a devoted mother of three children, and a valued member of her floor and of our bar community. Our thoughts are with her family at this time, including her brother, Sandy Dawson of Banco Chambers.

Tori Johnson, the manager of the Lindt Cafe who died in the siege has been hailed a hero after reportedly attempting to knock the gun out of Man Haron Monis’ hand.

Mr Johnson had been manager of the Lindt Chocolate Cafe for more than two years, and worked previously in hotel and restaurant jobs around Sydney.

He was a porter and assistant concierge at the five-star Observatory Hotel at The Rocks, before working for hotels overseas in the US and the Maldives.

Mr Johnson returned to Sydney as the food and beverage manager at the Rydges Jamison hotel in the city, and moved to the Adria Rybar and Grill at Darling Harbour before taking on the manager role at the flagship Lindt Cafe in October 2012.

Least we forget.

Ms Mikhael, who has previously worked for NSW Police and had earlier run her her own fitness business, posted on her own Facebook page from inside the café yesterday afternoon, documenting the ordeal as gunman Man Haron Monis grew increasingly threatening.

“Dear friends and family,” she began.

“I’m at the Lindt Café at Martin Place being held hostage by a member of the ISI. The man who is keeping us hostage has asked for small and simple requests and none have been met.

“He is now threatening to start killing us. We need help right now. The man wants the world to know that Australia is under attack by the Islamic State.”

So what can any of us learn from this?

When someone walks into the room motivated by a fable and an imaginary deity in the sky, it can be much worse than established pros just there for whatever money can be removed from the site.

Religious wackos vs pros. May you only have to face the pros. I say pros because amateur robbers have a good chance of making things go from bad to worse also.

A few extra tips that may put the odds in your favour (if only by a little bit). Unfortunately the list of things that will get you killed is way bigger than the list of things that may save you.

-Be healthy; exercise. You may have to run for your life or grapple that day.
-Know first aid. Get your recurrent training.
-Take that extra second to peak into the place you want to go. You may get laughed at for doing it, but it is possible you might be that last person lucky enough not walk into a hot zone. Know where the exits are and what you will see if you make it out of an exit.
-Do not dress like combat instructor of the century. If you are already in the hostage situation in this garb, you will only stand out as a potential threat to the bad guys.
-If already in the hot zone, your decisions will be based on if you have a family with you, or one hoping you get home safe and so on. Depending how you see things, this will help or hurt you.
-If the bad guys start walking down the line and asking each person to recite something from their stupid religion, you may be screwed. This will either be it, or your finest hour or both.
-Assume the threat is an expert at using the weapons they are carrying. Assume they are carrying a backup weapon you do not see.
-Consider the possibility of sleepers. This is the mild-mannered person in the crowd that is on the side of the bad guys who is there to help take out any heroes.
-Consider the fact that this may be your last day. If you have to, use everything you have. Make it count.