Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness 

Disclaimer: If you do something or anything that I say in this post and get hurt, killed or someone else gets hurt it's not my fault. I did not tell you to do any of this and I am not responsible for your actions.

 Recently I was pumping gas in my truck late at night in a not so good part of town and I found myself putting my phone away, using the glass on the pump to look behind me and tighten my shoe laces.

 I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to looking at my phone in public or getting in a daze while walking down the street or standing in line at the store. I'm no Jason Bourne or James Bond but I've had some training in situational awareness and accessing threats. Here are some things I do and think about when I'm in public and how I try to avoid danger. After reading this you will probably think I'm paranoid and maybe I am a little. I've never been a fan of crowds or crowded areas, it's just something that has always made me cautious in public.

What I do to stay safe:

-Stay off phone while pumping gas, standing in line or anytime you are in a public area. This is the easiest way to be caught off guard.

- Use the reflections you see in glass, mirrors or shiny metal to look behind you without turning your head. This is great way to look around without anyone else knowing where you are looking. You can see if someone is following you down the street or across the parking lot by using this trick.

-If you have a choice sit with your back to a wall. If I can seat myself at a Bar or Restaurant I always look for a seat that has it's back to the wall and no doors behind it and with a good view of the main door. 

-Look for abnormal behavior, there's a rule of three I was taught when accessing a situational. If you spot three abnormalities then you must act. By act I mean questions, control or leave. Questions means question the person or persons that is abnormal. Control means to not confront the problem or object but keep your distance never touching an object but maintaining visual contact at a safe distance then call for help. Lastly leave which means get up and get out of the area.

-No where the exits are when you enter a foreign area, you never know when you might have to leave quickly. Knowing where the exits are will get you ahead of the rest of the people around you. A lot of people have died from being trampled while trying to exit a building for a fire or even Fire alarm. You want to exit first and get out while other people are still looking for the door.

-Park so you can pull out immediately. I don't always do this but it's very handy when you are in a hurry. Rather then having to back up and then turning out of a parking spot you can pull out immediately. 

-Keep people at a distance and never turn your back on people. If someone is acting strange or aggressive create a barrier and distance between them and you. Always keep at least a two arm length distance between them and you. If you're pumping gas into your car at 11pm and strange person starts walking toward you keep the car between them and you. If you're in a bar or restaurant use a table or chair as a barrier. If you are going to walk away from that person walk sideways keeping an eye on them until you are safe.

-Put wallet in front pocket, this is a trick that I used in Europe. It's easier to keep positive control on something if it's in your front pocket as apposed to your back pocket. It's just tougher for someone to pick your wallet when it's in the front. Tight jeans are actually helpful.

-I don't wear sandals if I'm going to be in public. I always figure if I was going to have to fight or run in a public area I don't want to do it barefoot or have my toes exposed. You don't know what is on the ground and having to run barefoot across a parking lot or pavement is not the best scenario.

- If you are put into a dangerous situation leave, run get out. If someone wants your wallet, watch or your car give it to them(unless your kid is in the car) money or property is never worth your life. There's a saying in the Fire Service about risk and I think it also goes well for dangerous situations.

Risk nothing to save nothing - This mugger wants my truck keys, go for it you can have my truck I just filled up the tank, enjoy.

Risk a lot to save a lot - I'm getting car jacked with the kids in the car and the criminal wants me to leave my kids in the car, bad day for the both of us. I personally am not giving him the car with my kids in it with out a fight.

- If you do find yourself in a bad situation and there's no way to avoid it be absolutely aggressive and don't stop till the threat is neutralized. And if you have to talk to the Police about the incident be respectful and tell them you " I used the least amount of force to subdue the attacker".

Once again use the tips to stay out of a fight or dangerous situations. Your biggest protector is your situational awareness and your feet(run, walk or just leave). Even if you think you can beat your attacker there's a lot that can go wrong. You could hurt/kill the other person and they or their family could sue you. You could get hurt bad yourself tear a muscle, break a bone, get knocked unconscious, get shot, paralyzed or even be killed. It's not worth it. If you have no choice and you can't run, walk or leave then fight, scratch, claw, kick, bite, punch harder then you have have before and don't stop till you are safe. - Rock n Roll-