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By Melonie Kennedy
In plain terms, situational awareness (or SA) simply means being aware of what is going on around us and whether someone or something is a potential threat to our safety. Having a good idea of what’s going on around us at any given time, in any given location, can help us be proactive in responding to many situations.
Clearly SA is something we should be thinking about all year – so why would it matter more during the holidays? Starting in late fall, many of us have calendars full of events and trips. More people are out shopping, cash and credit cards in hand and packed into huge crowds. We face more traffic, longer lines, and stressed out fellow travelers who may act out inappropriately. We also see an uptick of those who prey upon others in such target-rich environments.
Expanding our situational awareness during the holidays can generally be broken down into two major needs: time at home and time away from home.
HOLIDAYS AT HOME:
Many of us already make an effort to practice the basics of home safety and security, such as locking doors and windows, and analyzing our home for entry points bad guys could use against us. Come holiday time, though, we need to amp things up, as criminals know families are stacking up goodies worth stealing.
Consider these holiday tips for home security:
- Don’t display gifts in view of windows where passersby, including burglars, can see them.
- Consider having purchases sent to your office or placed in a parcel locker so package thieves can’t scoop things up before you get home.
- Don’t discuss holiday events and travel when strangers may be listening. If someone must know your plans, share information via email or when you’re not in public.
- Don’t share plans online, especially if you’re traveling. Save the pictures from your events and share them on your socials after you’re done with all the holiday adventures. Your followers will be excited to help you relive the fun later!
- Deal appropriately with boxes from big ticket purchases; piles of boxes from expensive items are a dead giveaway when they are stacked outside your home waiting for trash day! Consider keeping them indoors until pickup day, taking them to work for disposal, or carrying them to the local refuse center for recycling instead.
- Watch the neighborhood. An unfamiliar SUV full of giggling folks in festive “ugly sweaters” in your neighbor’s driveway is expected this time of year; a truck full of burglars will stand out if you know that neighbor mentioned thawing out in Bermuda over Chanukah.
- Watch for the mail carrier or delivery driver – the real ones and the fakes! While these folks are super busy during the holidays and may have some very late deliveries, it’s important to be aware of what you have ordered and when it is due to arrive. If the doorbell rings at 9 PM and you know you don’t have a package on the way, safety dictates leaving the door locked and assessing the situation.
Since so many of us host guests and do lots of cooking this time of year, our safety plan also needs account for common causes of injury and illness. Chimneys can develop creosote build-up – schedule a cleaning before cold weather hits. Test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to make sure they are in good working order. Follow industry standards for extension cords and chaining Christmas tree lighting to prevent electrical fires.
Ask your local fire department or utility company to do an assessment for you or work through a checklist yourself. There are great lists for holiday and year-round safety assessments through the National Fire Protection Association (http://www.NFPA.org), the Electrical Safety Foundation International (http://www.esfi.org), and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (http://www.nachi.org).
SHOPPING:
Each year, millions of people head out into the infamous Black Friday retail chaos. Obviously, one great option for personal safety and security is to simply shop holiday sales online. Just research good cybersecurity practices first; your bank and local police department will likely have some great insights. However, if a big part of your holiday fun is to get out and about to do your shopping, stay aware and safe with the following habits:
- Gear up. Whether your everyday carry is a firearm, a TASER, or something else, have it on you and make sure you’ve practiced accessing it while wearing winter layers.
- Go shopping with a buddy. Even if you split up to shop, meet up before heading to the parking lot and approach your vehicle together. Communicate with loved ones where you are going and when you should be back, as well as at what point “late” turns into “I need help”.
- Consider a babysitter if you have young children. This keeps them safe from the crowds and allows you to focus more on your surroundings. If a sitter isn’t an option, make a plan with your shopping buddy for keeping an eye on the kids together. This is particularly important in transitional spaces like parking lots; one of you can load the car while the other buckles up the children.
- Map out your route to/from the stores and plan for alternate routes in case of bad weather, horrible traffic, or other issues. Know the layout of the store(s) you are going to; look for emergency exits as you shop in case you need to leave quickly.
- Keep your head up and your eyes sharp! Many of us are working from lists for gift buying, but being aware of your surroundings means not burying your nose in your phone. Find a spot where you can put your back to a wall while you mark items off your list and scan the area to be aware of others who might be keeping an eye on your purchases.
- Keep your hands free as much as possible. If you carry a purse, consider using a sling or cross body style versus something you have to hold while shopping. This also allows access to self-defense tools should you need them. And remember, NEVER leave your purse sitting in a shopping cart!
- When leaving a store with multiple packages, use a cart. This saves your back and shoulders from overload and keeps hands free should you need them. If you’re approached by someone with ill intent, the cart provides a bit of a barrier and even gives you something to ram them with, if need be.
- Check out your vehicle as you approach, load purchases quickly, then get into your vehicle and lock the doors as soon as possible. Listen to your intuition when it says someone isn’t just waiting for a fellow shopper or trying to find their car keys. Going back into a store for assistance can be a good call.
- Check your mirrors! This busy time of year means more cars in parking lots, more runaway shopping carts, and more little ones potentially running around vehicles. Make sure the area is free of hazards before leaving your parking spot. Being aware in parking lots also helps you notice if thieves are following you from one shop to another or home from the mall.
ATTENDING HOLIDAY EVENTS:
Celebrations are the perfect time to incorporate some of the above ideas! If you are going to a holiday parade, you now know to learn as much as possible about the routes to and from the parade venue, where the safe parking is, and where your emergency exits are. If attending with a group, choose a meeting point should you be separated. If the event is far from home, wear or pack sturdy shoes and socks in case you need to walk to safety in an emergency. Designate a driver if you drink alcohol and never leave any type of drinks unattended. (If you carry a firearm, stay sober. It’ll help you stay aware and eliminate a potential legal issue should you be forced to defend yourself.) Keep with your group and listen to gut feelings about any activity that throws up a warning flag. Communicate your planned schedule to loved ones and stick to it.
EXTENDED HOLIDAY TRAVEL:
Traveling further from home by car? Safety dictates checking the weather report, planning your route, wearing your seatbelt, and staying off the phone (particularly texting) while driving. Keeping your eyes on the road means you’ll know when traffic on the freeway slows, when a herd of deer are edging toward the road, and when that snowfall changes and you should take the next exit to find a hotel for the night. Consider shipping gifts to your final location; this leaves room in your vehicle for emergency supplies and makes it less tempting if you don’t have a fully covered storage space to keep gifts out of sight.
Flying or taking other public transport? Consider the following:
- Remember: head up, eyes sharp! People watching is fun and very common at locations such as airports and train stations, so it’s the perfect place to practice your situational awareness skills. Who is leaving their bag behind to go fill their water bottle – is that really all they are doing? Now is a good time to work through a plan for yourself; if they leave behind a suspicious package, how should you react?
- Never leave belongings unattended; doing so could mean a theft of your valuables, but it could also lead to legal issues if someone reports your behavior as suspicious.
- If traveling out of the USA, know embassy locations and how to be a good guest. Try to learn as much as you can to communicate effectively, blend in, and dress/act appropriately so as to not offend or create legal problems. Know what behavior is common for the region you plan to visit, so you can better recognize potentially dangerous situations, such as carjackings, muggings, abductions, or terrorist activity.
- Research the weather and natural disaster risks of your destination and watch for warning signs. Situational awareness means being aware of what is going on around you, and it’s not limited to the behavior of human beings. There are many resources available on the subjects of situational awareness and personal safety. Kelly Sayre’s Sharp Women and Gavin deBecker’s The Gift of Fear will give you a great start. Check with local law enforcement, colleges, or outdoors stores for NRA Refuse to Be a Victim classes and similar personal safety courses. A huge part of self-protection is knowing what is going on around us and having a plan in place for how to deal with it. Keep researching and learning throughout the year so that you continue to be a hard target!
About the Author:
Melonie Kennedy is a leader of the Armed Women of America – Anywhere Virtual Online (AVO) Chapter. She can be contacted via taprac.app/meloniek .
