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1. So let's talk about a topic that's become increasingly important these days - personal security and situational awareness.
We know these terms, but what do they mean? How can you develop your skills to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in places where that's not so easy?
We know these terms, but what do they mean? How can you develop your skills to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in places where that's not so easy?
2. Situational Awareness is more of a concept, one than can be developed. It means understanding that how you likely view the world around you lets many things "blend" into the background that you ought to be paying attention to.
Conversely, understanding this helps you blend.
Conversely, understanding this helps you blend.
3. Our minds naturally let us down in this area. It focuses on only what seems out of the norm. And that opens you up to significant risk vectors.
To train yourself to escape this, you have to force yourself to pay attention.
To train yourself to escape this, you have to force yourself to pay attention.
4. For example, the next time you go to a restaurant, scan the restaurant for 30 seconds when you sit down.
Then, quiz yourself with your eyes closed - how many people wore neckties? And what color were they?
Train yourself to scan your surroundings, always scan.
Then, quiz yourself with your eyes closed - how many people wore neckties? And what color were they?
Train yourself to scan your surroundings, always scan.
5. Train yourself to keep your eyes moving, see as much detail as you can, as quickly as you can.
Begin asking yourself - who looks nervous? Happy? Anybody doing anything odd? Build for yourself a checklist of sorts when you enter any new space.
Begin asking yourself - who looks nervous? Happy? Anybody doing anything odd? Build for yourself a checklist of sorts when you enter any new space.
6. Once you can raise your awareness of your surroundings and never drop attention, you can employ reasonable safety steps.
For example - yes, this is a Godfather trope - I never sit with my back to an entrance, nor a bathroom. And I scan anyone coming in or out of either.
For example - yes, this is a Godfather trope - I never sit with my back to an entrance, nor a bathroom. And I scan anyone coming in or out of either.
7. Entrances are obvious dangers, but bathrooms are worse - many bombings have occurred that way, as have many attacks. Trust me on this.
In any situation where you will be stationary in a public place for a time, you have to scan and force your "baseline" to adapt.
In any situation where you will be stationary in a public place for a time, you have to scan and force your "baseline" to adapt.
8. Crowds are another story. A crowd can turn fast in the wrong situation, to deadly effect.
Try and stay on the fringes if you can, and never go into an area that you have no identified every possible exit from. If you cannot immediately do so, do not go.
Try and stay on the fringes if you can, and never go into an area that you have no identified every possible exit from. If you cannot immediately do so, do not go.
9. Move on the fringes if you can, and never let anyone loiter behind you. People moving with you repeatedly mean you no good.
A stairway or ladder where you can get up above the crown quickly is a great asset - spot these where you can.
A stairway or ladder where you can get up above the crown quickly is a great asset - spot these where you can.
10. Make sure you have a plan worked out with anybody you are with. Make sure you set a place to rally if you are separated, well outside the area. Make sure everyone's cell phones are charged. And make sure you have alternate means to communicate with them.
11. Ensure everyone you are with has some form of weapon and some basic training with that weapon. You all need something to defend yourselves and assist in the defense of others.
And get your Concealed Carry licenses if you haven't already.
And get your Concealed Carry licenses if you haven't already.
12. Any time something happens in your area, focus on getting clear first with anyone near you, and get to your rally point as long as it's safe to do so.
If it isn't, you need to get somewhere safe and gather your people. Keep your avenues of escape flexible.
If it isn't, you need to get somewhere safe and gather your people. Keep your avenues of escape flexible.
13. Try and stay away from windows, and as I said, if you can get to a second level with good mobility and shelter, do so. Hotels and office buildings are great for this. Worry about trespassing laws later.
14. And should you find yourself in a life or death situation here? Never hesitate in the least. Put down anybody coming at you as brutally as possible, to dissuade their friends. You can settle up later.
Hopefully this gives you a few tools to sharpen your skills.
Hopefully this gives you a few tools to sharpen your skills.
