Situational Awareness and Personal Safety

Situational awareness, in the most basic definition, is being aware of your surroundings and the activities going on around you. With more and more distractions in our everyday lives, it is important to have situational awareness. Whether you are driving down the road, at work, on vacation, or even at the mall you need to be aware of what is happening around you. This will allow you to take the necessary actions to avoid potential dangers. Not every situation can be prevented. In those cases, situational awareness may not help you avoid a dangerous situation, but it can increase your reaction time and thus improve the quality of the decisions you make. This information is not meant to create fear but rather to assist you in becoming more aware of the world around you. Situational awareness begins when individuals recognize that threats, hazards, or dangers can and do exist.

We all get distracted by our cell phones, electronic devices, talking with friends, or the like. However, when out in public you must be "present". Remaining present while in public is not always easy but the following tips may help:

* Be focused and remain vigilant

* Allow all your senses to be present

* Take time to look around you periodically

* Do not fixate on your cell phone, tablet, books, or other visuals for a prolonged period

* Do not have headphones or earplugs in both ears

* When on public transportation don't fall asleep during the commute

* Do not become complacent

While practicing good situational awareness, we may fail to focus on the entire environment. Focusing on a greater distance ahead of you will provide you with increased opportunities to move in a new direction or prepare for a potential threat. 

When looking ahead look for the following:

* Make decisions based on your environment

* Look for exit routes

* Look for police or security, or other authorities that may be of help if needed

* Look for suspicious people or others to avoid

* Look for hazards to avoid including any non-criminal elements such as puddles, potholes, vehicles, etc.

A valuable tool you can utilize to help improve your own mindset and awareness in an emergency is the "What If ?" game. As you go about your day pose questions to yourself such as, "What if I feel like I am being followed?", "What if there was someone near my parked car that I don't recognize?, "What if a fire or shooting happens while I am shopping in a store?", These are "bad day" scenarios that can help you prepare should it happen. Hopefully, you will never need to use them.

Don't act like a victim. In no way is this an attempt to blame a victim for their actions. The blame belongs to the criminal who chooses to break the law. However, look at what you do through the eyes of a criminal and see what it is they might see. 

Do you do the following? :

* Walk down the street with your head down as people pass by you

* Pre-occupied with your phone or music playing in your ears you don't notice people walking up behind you

* Go to the bank and withdraw large sums of cash and make several stops before getting to your destination

* Wear expensive jewelry 

* Keep your wallet where it is visible

* Appear to be lost in unfamiliar areas

* Taking out your wallet to give a stranger money

So, can you see yourself in any of the above situations? If so, try walking down the street and being "present". Keep your head up and your ears open. Look around as you walk so the criminals can see you are paying attention. If you need to go to the bank and withdrawal or deposit a large amount of cash go directly to your destination without making any stops in between. Don't leave money or valuables in your vehicle. You may not notice that someone could be watching you as you exit your vehicle. If you have expensive jewelry make sure it is covered if you are walking in public. Keep your wallet close to you and not always in the same location on your person. If you are going to a new location try to see how to get there before you leave the safety of your home or office. If you do get lost wait until you find an open business, police officer, or someone you feel comfortable with asking directions. 

Here are additional tips to help keep you safe when using elevators, parking lots, or an A.T.M.:

* Look inside an elevator to see who is already inside

* Don't enter if someone makes you uncomfortable

* Lock your car door immediately once inside

* Practice patience and avoid road rage incidents

* Avoid leaving your keys in the car or leaving the car running

* Close your windows when parking the vehicle

* If someone approaches you, do not open your window fully

* If you must, put anything of value inside the trunk prior to getting to your destination

* Only go to well-lit and well-populated A.T.M’s

* Visually scan the bank parking lot before going to a walk-up or drive-thru A.T.M.

* Protect your P.I.N. / passcode when entering it

* Keep scanning the area while you are at the A.T.M.

Lastly, don't be a hero when dealing with a potential encounter. Try to avoid them or escape the situation if possible. Call 9-1-1 as soon as it is safe to do so or have others call for you. If you need to give up your belongings do so. Property can be replaced but your life cannot. Remember to practice situational awareness daily so it becomes second nature.

If you have any questions or concerns, we are always available to assist you.

You can call our Community Policing Office Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For emergencies or calls for service, our main station is open 24/7 at 305-888-9711.