Have you ever noticed people exiting a grocery store? Their arms are full of grocery bags and their cell phone is between their chin and shoulder. They are totally unaware of their environment or any possible threats. Bad people are on a constant lookout for vulnerable targets such as this. Increasing your situational awareness helps prevent you from becoming a victim.
Situational Awareness is defined as being aware of your surroundings and the environment in which you are in. It allows you to see possible threats before they become reality. Situational Awareness is the number one method for avoiding all types of danger.
Colonial Jeff Cooper developed a concept called Combat Ready. It refers to four distinct levels of awareness. Condition White is where many people live, including the the individual described exiting the grocery store. In Condition White people are unaware of their surroundings. They are oblivious of their environment and have no sense of possible threats.
Condition Yellow is described as being alert, calm and relaxed. This is where we want to exist. We are aware of our surroundings, scanning the environment and looking for possible threats. At the same time we are calm and relaxed. With practice, an individual can live in Condition Yellow very comfortably.
When my daughters were young we would play a game when we were in large parking lots. As we walked to the door of the store I would ask how many people do you see in the parking lot. At first they would have to look around and count. As time went on they were quick to point out how many people they saw as well as where they were located. Today my daughters are grown but they have a very high sense of awareness that can help keep them safe.
The third level of awareness is Condition Orange. At this level you sense that something is wrong. You may not be sure what it is but your gut tells you to pay more attention, to heighten your awareness. It may be something small. It could be someone just acting nervous but there doesn’t appear to be a good reason for it. Someone sitting in a car with the engine running that will turn his face when people look at him. Something just feels out of the norm. It may not prove to be an actual threat but if it had, you would have been aware and ready to act.
The fourth level of awareness is Condition Red. Now the fight is on. Your observations of the environment have proved to be correct. There is a confirmed threat and you are in immediate danger. You are now ready to confront the danger or attempt to escape. In many cases you may be able to escape because the threat was recognized early enough to take quick action.
Situational Awareness can be perfected if you practice the concept on a regular basis. No one can stay in the orange or red level all the time. It is mentally and physically fatiguing. But going about your day in Condition Yellow can help you stay alert to possible threats and may help you avoid dangerous situations.
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