Enhancing Your Situational Awareness

If you’re already analyzing your environment everywhere you go or read our previous blog about situational awareness, you’re steps ahead. Situational awareness is using your gut instincts and keen observation skills to judge a situation. However, there are more specific things to remember when practicing your skills—something you may not have considered.

 

Different environments require you to evaluate your awareness level. We should always be on our guard in every situation. Cities are known for higher crime levels due to population increase, and cities also have lots of foot traffic. This article will focus on increasing situational awareness while walking in a city.

If you think someone is following you…

Stop walking. Pretend you went the wrong way. Turn sharply and go in a different direction. Don’t be afraid to look your possible stalker in the eye. Bad people prey on the weak. Looking someone directly in the eye asserts dominance. If the person continues to follow you, prepare to take action. Ideally, have a rough plan in mind before you find yourself in this situation. Quickly locate a business you can pop into. In the best-case scenario, this would be a place with many people. Tell an employee that you think you’re being followed. Then, call the police and a person you trust.

 

Use your surroundings to your benefit.

Utilize walls or other barriers to protect your back and sides. Walk along a wall or building while staying mindful of any doors or windows you pass. When seated inside a restaurant, sit with your back to the wall and face the door. By minimizing the places you need to be aware of, you can shift most of your attention to what is in front of you.

 

Take advantage of store and car windows to see what’s behind you. You can even use other people’s sunglasses to see what they see by looking at what’s reflected as they walk by. Depending on the time of day, look down at your shadow to see where it is casting. If your shadow is in front of you, you can see someone’s shadow approaching you from behind.

 

Keep a five-foot distance from any person that gives you pause. Not remaining close allows you more time to react should a situation become unsafe.

Practice using all five senses when you’re in a safe place. Look around and take note of what you see. Are there lots of people, or are you alone? What do the people around you look like? Do you see anyone behaving strangely? Do you see any suspicious items? What sounds do you hear? Do you hear vehicles passing by, people talking, or dogs barking? What can you touch that’s around you? Can you use anything to your advantage should a dangerous situation arise? What do you smell? Do you smell food cooking, car exhaust, or someone’s perfume? What you taste may not always be relevant when considering safety, but considering all five senses is good practice for becoming more aware.

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