AWARENESS.

This is the phase where prevention is still possible. You want to make sure that you and your children are not easy targets. The best way to do that is to remain aware of your surroundings. Being aware of your surroundings is not limited to simply your location. You also want to be aware of the people who are near you. 

One of the simplest ways to stay aware is to limit distraction, especially from devices. Keep your eyes up and scan your surroundings instead of looking down at your device. Remove your earbuds or airpods and stay alert.

If you are inside, take note of all entrances and exits. If you are outside, scan for any places that are not well lit or are concealed.

Take note of anything that seems unusual, suspicious, or out of place. Some things worth paying extra attention to are people sitting inside of a car parked next to yours or a van with dark tinted windows parked close to your vehicle. 

Remember to be intentional about choosing parking spaces. Choose spaces that are close to the building and in well-lit parts of the lot or a parking garage. Always trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. 

Assessment

At a certain point in a potentially dangerous situation, you’ll reach the phase where you need to evaluate and assess your risk and decide on your next moves. 

When you hit the assessment stage, you are in a much better position if you follow the tips in the section above and you are aware of your surroundings. You never want to be caught off guard. 

Take time in the moment to evaluate each of your options. You’ll need to fight the fear and stay calm so that you can do this with a level head. Then, pick your battles but do whatever is in your power not to go anywhere with your attacker. 

Action

If you find yourself in a situation where it is necessary to act, you’ve reached the fight or flight phase. I hope for you and myself that we never have to use these tips, but we need to know them, to give ourselves the best chance of survival.