Situational Awareness 101 - Perceiving Risk

Know your Environment and Stay Aware

Another example of situational awareness is perceiving your risk in an environment. 

If you are dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness and see a Bear I'd consider that a threat that I would put tremendous effort into avoiding it.  Similarly, if you are in an unfamiliar city it is very possible that you are in the  wrong area and don't know it.  Here is a story about a family that stopped at a gas station late at night in a part of a city where the crime rate is very high.


Here is a list the mistakes made by the husband and wife who ended up unconscious after beatings.  Their young daughter was punched in the face just for coming over to help them.

1.  Don't refill your gas late at night unless you really know the location.
2.  Pay with a credit card so you don't have to get far away from your car.
3.  Don't wear pink if you are a guy unless you are armed or a trained fighter or your partner/boyfriend is bigger than anyone nearby.
4.  Notice if you aren't a member of indigenous population where you are stopping.
5. Avoid confrontations and never join yourself into a group or line where you are a minority.
6.  If you notice trash everywhere, broken windows, and stripped junk cars you are likely in a high crime environment.
7. If you notice people outside on the streets just loitering and they all seem to notice you then you are out of your element and are being sized up for pouncing.
8.  If the place you intend to purchase anything has a heavy glass barrier between the customer and the attendant then you are in a jungle while the attendant is protecting themselves from the wild beasts that are roaming the environment you are currently moving through.

Two other things to consider when you decide whether to place yourself in an environment.

If you ever have a gut reaction of danger do not ignore it.  You can always laugh at your possible overreaction later but it is often best to make efforts to leave the area.

Finally, if you can't understand what the people around you are saying they could be discussing your fate.