Situational Awareness
This is a skill that requires training yourself to be more alert to your surroundings and the environment you place yourself within. It helps if you are confident of your abilities to deal with situations that may arise.
THE BASICS
1
Training yourself to be Situationally Aware helps if you have underlying skills that make you more useful if something should escalate. Fighting Skills. Medical Knowledge. Strong Leadership Qualities. Athletic.
2
The first step to performing effective Situational Awareness is establishing your baseline. The baseline is the equilibrium state of what things look like, sounds like and feels like at any given moment within the normal state of affairs.
3
A geographic area has its own unique baseline. Think of where you live. Think of the types of people that frequent your area, the clothes they wear, the eye contact that is deemed socially acceptable, all without little thought, every day.
This is the baseline for the area you are moving around within. We are then capable of instantly recognising any variations to this baseline.
Example Scenario
Not Situationally Aware
I have arrived at my local coffee shop to meet a couple of friends, going to have a long overdue catchup, something to eat maybe, as long as I can get in, looks busy, and that van parked on the pavement is blocking some natural light.
Situationally Aware
I have arrived at my local coffee shop to meet a couple of friends, going to have a long overdue catchup, something to eat maybe, as long as I can get in, looks busy.
I need to make sure I can get a seat with my back to the wall so I can see what is going on. Perhaps ask the staff why that van is parked so close outside. I did snap a quick photo of it on arrival. Before my friends arrive I will check the location of the toilets and the fire exit.
4
STUFF OUT OF PLACE. UNUSUAL THINGS. NOT USUALLY LIKE THAT.
Challenge Things. Ask Why. Notice Stuff. Raise Awareness to others.
What If. Prepare For. If this happens then I will. Actions. I Am Ready.
5
We train ourselves to live in the Code Yellow State in our everyday lives.
6
Plan ahead before you go out.
Be Observant. Notice - Colours, Directions, Noises, Behaviours, Details.
Attention to detail.
Avoid having your back to entrances and exits.
Check entrances and exits in venues.
Frequently glance back whilst walking.
Identify safe places.
Have an exit strategy.
Why is that ?
What if ?
7
With practice over a period of time you will notice how much more alert and reactive you are. These new skills will make you more confident when you are out and about. You will feel more focused knowing you have control of your surroundings.
​
Take your new alert state further by learning new skills that will aid your reactions to situations. Perhaps Martial Art classes or a First Aid Course. Learn methods of gaining evidence of incidents you may witness, or ways technology can help in situations.
Don't Stop !
Push Yourself
Continual Learning
Be forward thinking
Communicate
Compromise
Be assertive and decisive
Be prepared to justify decisions
Be vigilant and focused
