Even before a threat materializes, personal protection should be built in to your lifestyle choices.  I will be discussing individual tips to help control risk in subsequent postings but one thing should be clear from the outset:  You control your own life and your choices will expose you to more (or less) risk.  Examples of these choices (which are *not* relevant to personal protection) are the type of car you drive, whether or not you speed, etc.  To practice personal protection requires thought–I have nothing against taking risks.  I object to taking unconsidered risks.  If you know you are risking something you can prepare for it. If you don’t even know about the risk, well …