Situational Awareness
Situational awareness for beginners it's realizing the places where you might be most vulnerable. Situational awareness is the foundation for critical decision making across different situations. You have to be mindful of your surroundings and everyone in it. Lets start with some simple questions
Think about these questions in terms of your daily routine.
1) Do you have an alternate route to your destination in case there are road closures or danger on the way?
2) Think about the building you enter frequently. Do you know where all of the exits are?
3) If there's an armed threat do you know how to reach the exits?
4)Do you know what in your area can be used as cover? (Things that can stop or significantly slow down bullets).
5) Think about where you normally sit or stand when you go out. Can you see the entrances and exits? Is there a lot of foot traffic where people can come up behind you?
6) Do you have a first aid? and the knowledge of how to use it? (Tourniquet, chest seal, compression bandage)
7) Do you have a security system and/or your residence under surveillance?
8) When you're out walking or in public spaces are you checking to see who or what is behind and around you?
9) Are you constantly looking down or checking your phone while you're out in public?
10) Are you armed?
Think through your routine and what you would do if there was danger or an armed threat present in your space. Think of the places and situations where you would be most vulnerable; in transit, at your destination and in your home. Start to develop a plan and think about what training you would need to be effective in that situation.
PS: Some of you might be wondering why I asked "Are you armed?' last. I put that question at the end because if you cant adequately answer the first 9, being armed might not be all that useful to you. Also some people have professions or visit places that require them to be unarmed for example medical facilities, schools, government buildings ect. Through training you'll develop the skills and mindset to be prepared in these situations.
Stay Safe, Stay Ready, Stay Dangerous Out There!