CCW Safe: Situational Awareness Video Series
CCW Safe is the self-defense legal coverage membership program that connects members with a criminal defense attorney and helps pay for legal expenses involved in a court case following a self-defense incident. It also provides educational resources on topics pertaining to self-defense.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, CCW Safe Lessons: How, When, and Why to Use a Firearm Lawfully ]
One such resource is its Situational Awareness: Stay Ready, Stay Safe 9-part short video series presented by retired Oklahoma City police officer Cris Cunningham, CCW Safe Critical Response Specialist. During her 31-year career, she spent 17 years in the Homicide Unit as an investigator.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, CCW Safe Lessons: Medical Series ]
The topics of the 9 episodes are as follows:
Part 1: What is Situational Awareness?
Part 2: Situational Awareness Basics
Part 3: What Role Does Intuition Play?
Part 4: Safety Tips while Traveling
Part 5: Parking Lots/Garages and Large Gatherings
Part 6: Public Event Safety Tips and Confrontations
Part 7: Improve Your Situational Awareness
Part 8: Simple Daily Habits
Part 9: Final Thoughts
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Situational Awareness: 14 Ways to Walk Like You Drive ]
Situational awareness is the ability to perceive and understand your surroundings, use observable bearings to predict future events, and make informed decisions to ensure safety and success. It involves actively paying attention to your environment, interpreting what is happening, and projecting what might happen next.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Personal Defense World EDC Video Series: Vehicle Situational Awareness ]
Improving situational awareness involves minimizing distractions, identifying potential threats and hazards, and consciously processing the environment to take appropriate action.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, 4 Common Ways Predators Test You ]
Elements of Situational Awareness
Perception: The ability to observe and gather information from your environment using your senses, and recognizing relevant details and changes.
Understanding: The ability to comprehend the meaning of the perceived information and how it integrates with your own experience to form a complete picture.
Projection: The ability to anticipate what might happen next based on the current situation, which is critical for making informed decisions.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, WHCA Dinner Shooter: Is Your Situational Awareness Keen Enough? ]
Examples of Situational Awareness
Personal safety: Being aware of people around you, identifying potential escape routes, and noticing if someone seems to be following you.
Workplace: A construction worker noticing a co-worker has missed a safety step or a manager anticipating a risk in a project before it becomes a problem.
Emergency response: A firefighter assessing the stability of a burning building or a pilot being aware of air traffic and weather conditions.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Terrorist Preoperational Surveillance Tactics ]
How to Practice Situational Awareness
Minimize distractions: Put away your cell phone and take out your earbuds to allow your senses to fully take in your surroundings.
Scan your environment: Make a conscious effort to look at people and objects around you when you enter a new space. This helps you identify exits, potential obstacles, or anything that seems out of place.
Vary your routine: To avoid becoming predictable, try changing your route or timing for regular activities like commuting to work.
Use the SLAM method: When starting a task, use the following steps to promote awareness: Stop, Look, Assess, and Manage.
Be unpredictable: If you are concerned about potential threats, try to be unpredictable by varying your routine.
Display confidence: Appearing confident can make you a less likely target.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ]
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