Not knowing what to do in a difficult situation is a terrible feeling, a feeling of powerlessness. It’s even worse in an emergency, when you don’t have the skills to cope. We often rely on emergency responders to be there when we need them most, but in some crises you may instead have to rely on yourself and the people around you to handle the situation. The skills and gear explored in this section will help you be better prepared to handle a variety of challenging situations, from the everyday to the catastrophic.
1 GET THE RIGHT MINDSET
Before you end up in the middle of an accident or disaster, before you ever need a plan, you need to develop the habit of being tuned in at all times to your immediate surroundings. This is called situational awareness, and it’s used by emergency responders and people working in complex—or sometimes hazardous—environments.
It’s a kind of relaxed awareness that allows you to recognize any unusual circumstances, hazards, and early stages of problems before they end up evolving into big trouble. Like any other skill, it requires practice, and the best time to use these skills is before problems emerge. When done right, this awareness can change the way that you view the world every day and, in the process, save your life or prevent both large and small issues from catching you by surprise.
2 PRACTICE YOUR AWARENESS
Safety begins with awareness of your environment, but it doesn’t end there. Be ready to act at a moment’s notice. Practice all of the following concepts, regardless of the environment you’re in, and eventually they will become second nature.
BE OBSERVANT Pay attention to the sights and sounds you notice when you are alert and aware.
NOTE THE UNUSUAL Determine any threats based on your own observations, experience, and the feeling that “something’s not right.”
CONSIDER OPTIONS Make your decision based on your training, experience, and circumstances.
TAKE ACTION Let your actions drive the situation and your safety; don’t let the actions of others end up compromising your safety.
KEEP MOVING Don’t panic or fail to ad. Mental paralysis could mean the death of you or a loved one.
4 SHARPEN YOUR SENSES
Awareness is best practiced daily and supported by training or exercises—the same way that you would develop any other skill. You will never run out of opportunities to practice, either. Any environment could contain threats to your safety, thus making situational awareness a high priority everywhere you go. You can enhance your own natural powers of observation with these simple actions.
ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS Chatting on your cell phone or listening to music through headphones may seem harmless enough, but they are bad for situational awareness. These and other distractions are likely to rob you of the attention you should be paying to your surroundings. Turn off your music or get off the phone if you sense a need to increase your level of awareness. If you’re on the phone, tell the other party your location and ask them to send help there if you don’t call back in a few minutes. Then hang up and pay attention.
CHECK YOUR SURROUNDINGS Whether downtown or in the suburbs, pay attention to where you are, where you’re going, and alternative routes. Also assess any possible dangers. Remember to look up above as well as around you. A dark alley or a well-lit park can both be dangerous to an unwary person.
WATCH PEOPLE Don’t make excessive eye contact with strangers, who may perceive your stare as a threat. On the other hand, looking down too much can make you look vulnerable. Project confidence with your body language. CheC out those around you wherever you go. Categorize individuals simply (e.g., soccer mom, business guy, creepy lurker, possib]i criminal), as any of these labels will help you to pay attention to the body language and actions of people representing the biggest danger around you.
USE ALL YOUR SENSES Make use of every one of your senses to maintain 36o-degree awareness. Smell and hearing can both significantly contribute to situational awareness, especially in a situation that can come from behind or just outside of visual range.
Trust your instincts, and if your sixth sense makes you wary, trust that feeling until proven otherwise. Assume that if something seems out of place, it is. visual range. Trust your instincts, and if your sixth sense makes you wary, trust that feeling until proven otherwise. Assume that if something seems out of place, it is.
15 RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF STRESS
People handle stress in many different ways. Even with support and resources, some individuals find themselves unable to cope. Knowing the signs of overwhelming stress can help you decide when to get assistance. People under significant stress can experience physical reactions including fatigue, unexpected or prolonged cold- or flu-like symptoms, tunnel vision or muffled hearing, headache or stomach problems, or loss of appetite. They may report feeling confused or overwhelmed, with trouble communicating or paying attention.
Their emotions may range from sadness, guilt, or frustration to fear, anger, outright denial, or emotional detachment. Conversely, they might also exhibit hyperactivity or hypervigilance, have nightmares or trouble sleeping, wild mood swings, or emotional outbursts. They may feel isolated, afraid of crowds or of being alone. If you observe someone exhibiting these signs, they may need crisis counseling or stress management support.
