Three Code Words That Can Save A Life
Awareness buys you seconds, and seconds buy you lives—master these three critical code words to protect your loved ones.
by TREVOR THRASHER
AUG 18, 2025
Picture this: You're walking downtown with your family when you spot a suspicious guy lingering too close—death stare, baggy clothes hiding who knows what. Your gut (remember the “gift of fear”) says trouble's brewing, but you can't shout without escalating or panicking the kids. What do you do? In my Threat-Proof Family guide and The Tactical Twos e-book, I teach that awareness buys you seconds, and seconds buy you lives. That's where code words come in—simple, powerful signals to alert your family or team without tipping off the threat.
These aren't just fancy tricks; they're battle-tested tools from my 30+ years as a Green Beret, SWAT officer, and counter-terrorism operative, where clear communication meant the difference between survival and disaster. During my more sneaky adventures, code words and duress words were a must, but I’ll show you why a few code words can get you and your loved ones into action and possibly save precious seconds and lives.
Whether you're a soccer mom keeping your kids safe or a high-performer preparing for the worst, these will empower you to act fast. And behind the paywall, I'll share an exclusive hostage scenario code word for paid subscribers.
Code words aren't optional—they're essential. Without them, you might experience confusion and lives may be lost. But with them, you turn your family into a coordinated unit, ready to respond like a well-oiled OSS team.
The three critical code word systems every family needs:
• Overt Red and Orange Alerts for immediate action when you are not concerned about alerting others or causing a scene, leading to immediate decisive action.
• Covert Red and Orange Alerts for getting into action or preparing for it without alarming or alerting others. These can really give you a leg up on a criminal.
• Duress Words and “Bona Fides” these are the sneakiest signals when you are in big trouble and can’t risk letting people know you have created alarm, or a simple way for children to avoid being fooled. Think covert to the next level.
EARLY WARNING VERSUS LATE: EARLY WINS EVERY TIME
During my courses for businesses, schools, and retail stores, I've seen it time and again: they nearly always have a Red Alert system, but the problem is it's often too late—someone's already in trouble. That's why I always suggest an Orange Alert, a surreptitious way to signal potential trouble before it explodes, so you can marshal resources early to prevent it. Banks, schools, retail stores—everywhere should have some surreptitious Orange Alert plan, like a dead dog’s name, saying "Orange Julius," calling "Doctor Orange," or sending someone to the "orange aisle." Something that stands out to your team but blends in for outsiders, and if you can give a location too, you get the right help to the right place. Waiting for a red alert most often means no one was given adequate time to prepare for the crisis and they will be reacting not acting.
The key concepts here come straight from my Threat-Proof Family Alert section and The Tactical Twos e-book. In Threat-Proof Family, we focus on proactive awareness to buy critical seconds, ensuring your loved ones know how to shift focus externally and develop a plan. When it comes to your family, it is typical for kids to not listen to you immediately… most of the time. I know this is the case with mine. So you should give some consideration for letting them know the difference between, ‘please come to dinner,’ and “safe room now!” I have had talks with my kids about a safety command versus a kind request and how they need to follow it immediately. Talks are never enough though, you need to practice and set the example.
INCIDENTAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES (THE I.T.O.)
Look for opportunities to use code words (or execute subdued drills) whenever feasible to enhance communication and safety. I call these incidental training opportunities. They are basically a way to incorporate survival actions in situations that approach being dangerous as a form of what we would call in S.O.F. “confidence target exercises.” They build familiarity, and confidence with frequent repetition in the real world. You want your first experience to be as safe and as real as possible. Waiting until a crisis hits to test yourself is a poor bet.
When walking along a downtown street and seeing someone suspicious, use your family member’s middle name as a covert “Orange Alert” to see if they catch on, get their heads up, and spot the concern. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. I have used this with my wife more than a few times and she has used it to alert me once or twice as well. If we end up anywhere that is the least bit shady, like late at night downtown, or at a less than stellar gas station, we are both ready for the alert. Even driving down the street, I might spot something and see if she catches anything out of the ordinary. Another good opportunity is when a stranger comes to your door. See how everyone reacts. Look we don’t do this daily, but every few weeks, there seems to be an opportunity; more if you are looking for some initial practice.
FROM THE PLAYBOOK
Alerting others to danger is a critical first step in managing any crisis. Effective communication can prevent harm and prompt immediate action. Here are some tips from The Threat-Proof Family and Tactical Two Guides to ensure you can alert those around you:
ONE IS NONE; TWO IS ONE
• Primary Communication: At close range, this will be your voice, or maybe a hand signal or the use of a flashlight in a crowd. This is your first line of communication. Out of sight, it will be using your cell phone to call or text. Hint: establish a group text or call early for complex outings.
• Secondary Communication: This is your back-up plan in case either you don't have your primary phone or you have no service. It may involve using social media messaging, landlines, a small radio, or an old cell phone that can still make 911 calls left in your car. Again, the flashlight works as well. Leave the red star clusters at home… unless you are really in the boonies.
MORE ON THE ALERTS YOU NEED
• Overt Alerts: Yell "Orange Alert" or Red Alert three times to signal the need for immediate action. Orange Alert indicates a potential threat, such as a stranger at the door, prompting precautionary measures. Red Alert signals an immediate and active threat, requiring you to execute your run, hide, fight, and alert plan. You can be more subtle depending on the situation. Imagine a stranger at your door at night. You might want to tell family members to go to Orange Alert, put the video games down, pause Netflix, and pay attention for a moment by saying, "Anyone want an Orange?" You can also just yell exactly what you want them to do “Safe room! Safe Room! Safe Room,” or “Drive! Drive! Drive!”
• Covert Alerts: Use subtle signals, such as code words or specific phrases, to indicate danger without drawing attention. For example, asking a family member about a non-existent dog or my previous example using someone's middle name can discreetly communicate trouble. Covert alerts are used when someone is present whom you don't want to alarm. Imagine being held hostage as you walk through the front door of your house and tell your family you are home. It could also be a less sinister event, as simple as a teenager at a party looking for a ride home from mom without wanting to say so in front of peers.
• Duress words and Bona Fides: Duress alerts are used when someone is present whom you don't want to alarm. Imagine being held hostage as you walk through the front door of your house and tell your family you are home. It could also be a less sinister event, as simple as a teenager at a party looking for a ride home from mom without wanting to say so in front of peers. You should make sure you have two different ones without complicating. Due to scams, potential child snatching, and even the scary use of AI to imitate voices and faces, it is a good idea to develop a secret family password that everyone can use when there is any doubt about who you are talking to. If your kid is really in jail and needs gift card numbers for bail, you might want to ask about the family password. By the way, anyone contacting you and asking for gift card numbers to pay for anything is a scammer. Don't be fooled by voices or even faces anymore; technology will soon leave us all wondering what is real.
CRTITICAL TASK EXERCISE: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
REAL WORLD EXAMPLES:
Code Word Saves 10-year-old girl from kidnapping: https://abc13.com/post/girl-explains-how-she-used-code-word-to-outsmart-kidnapper/4679654/
Lucky Victims Could Have Used Duress Word:
Start practicing these today:
Review the above incidents with family or friends
Red Alert: Choose a command like “Safe Room!” and drill it with your family.
Orange Alert: Pick a covert phrase like “Orange Julius” and test it in a public setting when you see something suspect (ITO)
Covert Code Word: Agree on a secret word with your spouse or kids (e.g., “Blueberry”) for duress and possibly a seperate one for a “bona fides” check
Optional: practice the hostage drill below.
P.S. If this resonates, become a paid subscriber to The Threat-Proof Newsletter for more on awareness, mindset, and real-world drills and receive the Threat-Proof Family guide and more free! Or book an OSS Masterclass call for personalized coaching. Host a Street S.M.A.A.R.T.S. seminar for your team—let's build that protector edge at highthreatsystems.com