Situational awareness: head up, eyes open

Most personal safety is not about fighting. It is about noticing things early enough that you never need to. Awareness is a calm habit, not a state of fear.

What situational awareness really means

• Situational awareness simply means knowing what is going on around you: who is near you, where the exits are and whether anything feels out of place.
• Tasmania Police put it plainly: be alert and aware of what is going on around you, especially in an unfamiliar area.
• The goal is not to be suspicious of everyone. It is to stay relaxed while still taking in your surroundings, so you have time to make a good choice if something changes.
• Attackers and thieves generally look for people who seem distracted. Walking with purpose and looking around tells people you are paying attention.

The colour code: a simple mental model

• Many safety trainers use a 'colour code' first described by Jeff Cooper to describe levels of attention.
• White: relaxed and unaware of what is going on around you. Fine at home with the door locked, risky in a car park at night.
• Yellow: still relaxed, but aware of who and what is around you. This is the everyday state to aim for when you are out.
• Orange: you have noticed something specific that may or may not be a threat, such as someone following you for several turns. You focus on it and start planning: where would I go, who would I call?
• Red (as used in this lesson): you have decided something is a real risk, so you act on your plan. Cross the road, walk into a busy shop, call someone, or leave.

Phones and headphones

• Tasmania Police note that wearing headphones, or texting or talking on your phone, can reduce your alertness.
• Avon and Somerset Police (UK) suggest using only one earphone when walking so you can still hear your surroundings.
• Keep your phone, wallet and headphones out of sight when you are not using them, for example in an inside pocket rather than a visible back pocket.
• If you need to check a map or reply to a message, step to the side somewhere safe, such as a shop doorway, look up first, then look down.
• Always carry a charged phone when you go out. A small power bank in your bag is a cheap safety tool.

Exits, routes and busy places

• When you walk into a mall, cinema, restaurant or metro station, take two seconds to notice where the exits are. It becomes automatic after a few weeks.
• Plan your route before you go. Stay in bright, well-lit and busy areas and avoid alleyways and shortcuts through empty spaces, as West Sussex County Council advises young people.
• Try to walk with other people at night and keep to populated areas with lots of activity (Tasmania Police).
• If you walk or run regularly, vary your route now and then so your routine is less predictable (Avon and Somerset Police).

Trusting your gut

• A sense that something is 'off' is often your brain noticing small details before you can explain them. Take it seriously.
• Tasmania Police advise you to trust your instincts when deciding the best way to respond to a threat. West Sussex County Council tells young people it is important to acknowledge your feelings.
• You do not need proof to act. Crossing the road, changing carriages or going back into a shop costs you nothing if you were wrong.
• Do not let politeness keep you in a situation that feels wrong. You can leave without explaining yourself.
• If you feel unsafe, go into a shop or other place with people and tell someone (Avon and Somerset Police).