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Learn to stay alert, assess risks, and be safe in any environment
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Situational awareness is when you make an effort to be aware of what’s going on around you to recognize potential danger and react before it happens. Increasing situational awareness may allow you to escape or avoid dangerous people or scenarios that could harm you or those around you. We spoke with Life Coach Sandra Possing and Captain of the Mountain View California Police Department Saul Jaeger to learn more about situational awareness and what you can do to improve it in everyday life.
How to Develop Situational Awareness
- Pay attention to the sights, sounds, and smells in your surroundings.
- Keep distractions to a minimum when you’re going about your day.
- Know where entry and exit points are in case of emergencies.
- Pay attention to unusual behavior and how long it’s been happening.
- Stay mentally alert, and don’t settle into comfortable routines.
- Watch potentially threatening behavior from the side of your eye.
- Anticipate threats and trust your intuition.
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References
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/police/situational-awareness-and-personal-safety
- ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview. 21 February 2020.
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avital-zeisler/situational-awareness-a-k_b_4846700.html
- ↑ https://www.hagerstowncc.edu/sites/default/files/2023-03/23-situational-awareness.pdf
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avital-zeisler/situational-awareness-a-k_b_4846700.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue
- ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/400/Situational-Awareness
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avital-zeisler/situational-awareness-a-k_b_4846700.html
- ↑ https://www.miamisprings-fl.gov/police/situational-awareness-and-personal-safety
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/202205/paying-attention-your-gut-feelings
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avital-zeisler/situational-awareness-a-k_b_4846700.html
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Reader Success Stories
- "I am a chapter leader for The Well Armed Women in my area. I was gathering information on situational awareness for our monthly meeting and this brought up good points that I plan on sharing with my group." ..." more
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