Situational Awareness & Staying Safe :: Practical Tips for Parents

We see it in our news feeds everyday. Someone was approached by a sketchy person, someone suspicious was watching someone’s child a little too closely, or someone is missing. It scares us. And it makes us pray that we never have to go through that and these people we are reading about are okay. 

As parents we would do anything to protect our children. And one of the best ways to prevent something from happening is to work on situational awareness. Essentially to be aware of what’s going on around you. This is especially important at times where several things are happening at once and we can become too focused on what’s in front of us. It’s important to practice situational awareness everyday, so that should you be in a distracting situation, you will not be less aware. 

Trust Your Gut

If something doesn’t seem right, it’s probably not. If your gut is telling you something, acknowledge that feeling and don’t dismiss it. For example, if you are walking around a store and get a bad feeling about someone you keep seeing, don’t ignore it.

Always Look Around You

When you are out in public, take in your surroundings. Try not to get tunnel vision and only focus on what is immediately in front of you. Take advantage of your peripheral vision; is someone lingering longer than they should or in a place that is odd?  

Make Eye Contact

As you walk around a store or parking lot or other public place, don’t be afraid to make eye contact with people. If there is someone up to no good they are less likely to target you if you are observing your surroundings and making eye contact with people. That’s because you are more likely to be able to identify them. 

Have A Plan

Think about the points in your normal routine when you could be an easier target. I think one we should all be mindful of is putting groceries or other items into the car in a parking lot. So much is happening for a parent while we try to do this, so it’s easy to become distracted and less aware of our surroundings. Find a system that works for you that includes getting your children in the car, securing your belongings, and loading up your purchases. If you do things the same way each time, you will be able to pay more attention to what’s happening around you.

A good friend of mine has a great way to describe situational awareness, he says you should “become an environmentalist.” In other words, be in tune to your environment, know who is around you and what they are doing.

Know where exits are in case of emergency. Identify and avoid areas in parking lots where someone could avoid being seen until they are right next to you. And don’t become complacent. I’m not saying you have to be paranoid, but I do think as parents we need to be vigilant.