How to Spot Danger Before It Finds You: The Power of Situational Awareness

An important life skill that we must all learn is situational awareness. Experts agree that awareness is 90% of self-defense and begins long before you might face a dangerous situation. Through awareness, many confrontations and/or attacks can be avoided.

Recently, I was leaving the grocery store and walking to my car when I noticed two men on bikes at opposite ends of the parking lot. An elderly lady was returning her cart, and her handbag was hanging on her arm in plain view. I quickly noticed one man signal to the other man. One of the bikes started to approach her at a clipped speed and she had no clue of what was about to happen. That is when I jumped in and asked her if I could take her cart for her. The man bikes by us and calls me a name. How did I notice these men? It’s because I always scan my area when I leave a building, especially in a parking lot.

A common strategy used by predators is to look for people who appear weak in some way, like this woman: frail, lost, distracted, or even totally oblivious to their surroundings. Young people especially are preyed upon when they are alone, or they are too trusting and engage in a conversation with a stranger. Parents have been instructing their children not to talk to strangers, but a better rule is, do not even stop to listen to a stranger!” That is why it is critical to “stay with people” or “go to people.”  We become easy targets when we stray from the group. If you ever feel as though you are being followed, make sure you get yourself to a place with other people.

     Here are five common behaviors that predators look for:

• People who are alone
• People who are distracted
• Body language: do you look like an easy target or a hard target? Walk with confidence.
• People who walk or jog in the same direction as traffic (because you can’t see cars approaching behind you).
• Someone who is intoxicated.

If you need to text or check your phone, make sure your BACK is up against a wall, so you only need to be AWARE of half of your surroundings.

Teach yourself to trust your instincts. We all have this built-in “creep-radar” that goes off when someone or something does not feel right. If a situation feels uncomfortable, you should walk or run away even if you know the person. Since we were children, we have been taught to be friendly and polite. But when it comes to our safety, it is best to PLAY IT SAFE.

Also, learn to spot inappropriate behavior. Ninety percent of reported attacks were from people the victim knew. Be “Aware” of the people in your life. If someone you know seems overly interested in you, overly affectionate or even acts controlling, these should be warning signs!

In conclusion, situational awareness is the ability to read people and situations and to listen to our instincts. Awareness is not about being fearful or paranoid. It is a relaxed state of alertness that you should incorporate into your character.

If you would like more information on our self-defense program or you are passionate about teaching self-defense to children & teens, visit www.Playitsafedefense.com.  We are currently looking for Licensees across America. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.