April 11, 2024
Updated May 23, 2025
16 minute read
A Comprehensive Guide to a Career as a Security Guard
A security guard is a professional responsible for protecting people, property, and assets from a variety of risks, including theft, vandalism, and unauthorized access. They maintain a visible presence to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, observe for signs of crime or disorder, and take action to report incidents to their clients and emergency services as necessary. This role is vital across numerous sectors, playing a key part in maintaining safety and order in both public and private spaces.
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Find a path to becoming a Security Guard. Learn more at:
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Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Security Guard.
Widely used textbook providing a broad overview of crime prevention, covering various approaches, from primary to tertiary prevention. It is an excellent resource for gaining a foundational understanding of the topic and is commonly used in academic settings. The book helps solidify understanding by presenting evidence-based practices and evaluations.
This handbook provides an authoritative and comprehensive review of research on crime prevention, bringing together leading scholars. It includes critical reviews of theories, evidence-based assessments of interventions, and essays on implementation and evaluation. It strong reference tool for those seeking a deep understanding of the field's state of the art.
This handbook offers a comprehensive collection of essays on the theory and practice of crime prevention and community safety. It is valuable for both researchers and practitioners and is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The book provides breadth and depth by covering theoretical perspectives, general approaches, specific strategies, and the preventative process.
This manual focuses on Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers, offering a more in-depth understanding of CPR and AED use in a clinical setting. It standard textbook for healthcare training programs and is essential for those seeking professional certification.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of face recognition, covering all aspects of the field. It is suitable for students, researchers, and practitioners who want to learn about the latest advances in face recognition.
Classic text focusing on situational crime prevention, offering numerous case studies demonstrating its effectiveness. It is highly relevant for understanding a key approach to crime prevention and can serve as a valuable reference for practical applications. The case studies help solidify understanding through real-world examples.
This highly influential book examines the U.S. criminal justice system and its impact on communities of color, arguing that mass incarceration functions as a new system of racial control. While not solely focused on prevention, it provides crucial context for understanding the social and systemic factors that contribute to crime and limit the effectiveness of certain prevention efforts. It must-read for a contemporary understanding of crime and justice in the US.
Similar to the ACLS manual but focused on pediatric patients, this book is vital for healthcare providers who may encounter pediatric cardiac emergencies. It covers specific considerations for children and infants in resuscitation. This key textbook for pediatric healthcare providers.
A classic and highly respected textbook in paramedic education, this book offers extensive coverage of emergency care, including advanced concepts related to cardiac arrest and the role of defibrillation. It provides historical context and in-depth knowledge for advanced providers.
Covers a wide range of security topics, including physical security, and provides a deep understanding of the principles of security engineering.
(or likely a key chapter/work by this author) focuses on preventing crime by addressing risk factors early in life and promoting protective factors. It's crucial for understanding long-term prevention strategies that target the root causes of criminal behavior. It is valuable for those interested in the developmental aspects of crime prevention.
This comprehensive textbook provides a broad overview of emergency medical care, including detailed sections on cardiac emergencies, CPR, and AEDs. It widely used textbook for EMT and paramedic programs, offering a solid foundation in prehospital care.
A widely used introductory criminology textbook that provides a broad understanding of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. While not solely focused on prevention, it offers essential foundational knowledge for anyone studying crime prevention. It is commonly used as a textbook in undergraduate programs.
Building on the foundational work in environmental criminology, this book delves into crime pattern theory and its application in crime analysis. It is useful for understanding how the physical environment influences crime and how this understanding can be used for prevention. adds depth by exploring the analytic side of crime prevention.
Covers a wide range of security topics, including physical security, and provides a deep understanding of the principles of security engineering.
Another popular introductory criminology textbook that covers major theories of crime causation and overviews the criminal justice system. provides necessary background information for understanding why crime occurs, which is crucial for effective prevention strategies. It common textbook for undergraduate students.
Focuses specifically on CPTED principles and their application in preventing crime through the design and management of the built environment. It practical guide for understanding how physical spaces can be modified to reduce opportunities for crime. It adds depth to understanding situational crime prevention.
Provides a comprehensive overview of face detection and recognition, covering both the theoretical and practical aspects of the field. It is suitable for students, researchers, and practitioners who want to learn about the latest advances in face detection and recognition.
Provides a practical guide to conducting physical security assessments and developing security plans.
This report, while somewhat dated, provides a comprehensive review of crime prevention program evaluations. It foundational text for understanding evidence-based crime prevention and highlights programs that have shown effectiveness. It is more valuable as historical context and a reference for the state of evaluations at the time of publication.
A definitive and comprehensive reference in emergency medicine, this multi-volume set includes detailed chapters on sudden cardiac arrest, resuscitation, and the use of defibrillators in various clinical scenarios. It go-to resource for emergency medicine residents and practitioners.
Explores strategies for preventing crime at the community level, involving residents, local organizations, and the police. It is essential for understanding the social and organizational aspects of crime prevention and how collective action can be mobilized. It deepens understanding of community-based approaches.
Another cornerstone in emergency medicine literature, Rosen's provides extensive coverage of cardiac emergencies and resuscitation. It valuable reference for deepening understanding of the medical principles behind AED use and cardiac arrest management.
For those specializing in pediatric care, a comprehensive textbook on pediatric emergency medicine will offer detailed information on cardiac arrest in children, specific resuscitation guidelines, and the use of AEDs in pediatric patients. This valuable reference for pediatric healthcare professionals.
Delves into the psychological aspects of criminal behavior. While not strictly a prevention book, understanding the psychology of offenders is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. It is relevant for those interested in the psychological dimensions of crime prevention, as indicated by the course list.
A portable reference summarizing the key guidelines and algorithms for emergency cardiovascular care, including CPR and ECC. This handbook practical tool for healthcare providers in clinical settings for quick review of protocols related to AED use and cardiac arrest management.
Offers a concise yet comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating emergency conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. It serves as a practical reference for quick access to information relevant to AED use in an emergency setting.
Offers a theoretical examination of punishment as a social institution. While not strictly a crime prevention book, it provides essential background for understanding the broader context of crime control and the societal responses to crime. It is valuable for graduate-level students and researchers interested in the theoretical underpinnings of criminal justice.
Encourages a broader perspective on community safety beyond traditional crime prevention, incorporating ideas of social justice and well-being. It is useful for those looking to understand contemporary debates and alternative approaches to creating safer communities. It is relevant for deepening understanding and exploring contemporary topics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of physical security, including the identification of threats, risk assessment, and the development and implementation of security measures.
This textbook is designed for Emergency Medical Responders and provides a basic level of emergency medical care knowledge, including immediate care for life-threatening conditions and assistance with medications like nitroglycerin and aspirin. It includes information on AED use at a foundational level.
A foundational philosophical work examining the historical development of punishment and the prison system. provides a critical perspective on social control and power dynamics, offering valuable theoretical context for understanding the evolution of crime prevention strategies. It classic in the fields of sociology and criminology.
While focused on critical care transport, this textbook includes significant content on managing cardiac patients and using advanced equipment like defibrillators in a transport environment. It is relevant for professionals in critical care and transport medicine.
Examines the relationship between the rise of casinos and changes in crime patterns. It serves as a case study in how specific social and economic developments can influence crime and highlights the need to consider such factors in prevention efforts. It is valuable for understanding the broader social context of crime.
Examines the shift in policing towards managing risk in contemporary society. While not solely about crime prevention, it provides important context for understanding the evolving nature of policing and its role in prevention efforts. It is relevant for graduate-level students and researchers interested in the theoretical underpinnings of modern policing and crime control.
Understanding basic electrocardiography is beneficial for comprehending the electrical activity of the heart and how AEDs function. provides a clear introduction to ECG interpretation, which is helpful for those looking to deepen their understanding beyond basic AED operation.
Similar to the BLS instructor manual, this resource is for those who will be teaching ACLS courses. It provides the structure and content necessary to effectively educate healthcare professionals on advanced cardiac life support, including the intricacies of defibrillation in advanced scenarios.
Although primarily focused on trauma, PHTLS includes principles of airway, breathing, and circulation management that are fundamental to emergency care and complement the understanding of AED use in a trauma context. It key text in prehospital trauma care.
For those interested in teaching BLS, this manual provides the curriculum, lesson plans, and guidance for instructing others in CPR and AED use. It offers a different perspective by focusing on the pedagogical aspects of the topic.
Provides a comprehensive overview of face recognition, covering both the theoretical and practical aspects of the field. It is suitable for students, researchers, and practitioners who want to learn about the latest advances in face recognition.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/02xf4q/security