A Self-Defense Guide to Situational Awareness

Do you know what to do in an emergency situation? Do you know what you would do if someone grabbed you or if your safety was in danger? A lot of people think about these questions on a daily basis, especially women, but don’t have a lot of answers to.

Even though the world can be a scary place at times, you can’t live your life in fear. Situational awareness promotes ways to identify, process and comprehend the world around you and help you determine the best way to react to emergency situations. The following is a self-defense guide to situational awareness:

Be Observant

Situational awareness relies on your observations. When you’re walking down the street, you should keep your head up (not buried in your phone) so you can see who and what are around you. Notice buildings, doorways, side streets, people walking by, what people are doing and everything else around you. A great way to practice being observant is to people watch. Take some time to sit on a bench and watch people as they walk by. Notice what they’re doing, who they’re with and what their behavior is like. You also should use all five sense, not just your eyes. Listen to what people are saying and the sounds around you. Pay attention to odd smells or if something doesn’t feel right.

Trust Your Feelings

Sometimes your brain can get in the way of situational awareness. You may be trying to absorb too many details or you may have something else on your mind that distracts you from the situation at hand. However, you often can feel when something is wrong before your brain has the chance to process the information. Pay attention to these feelings. If you feel afraid or nervous, stop what you’re doing to think about why you’re experiencing those feelings. Turn your attention to what’s around you and get yourself to a safe place.

Have the Right Tools

Being aware of your surrounding is a huge first step to protecting yourself; however, you need to have the right tools to take the next steps. If you’re in a dangerous situation, one of the most effective ways to defend yourself is to change your location and put as much distance between you and the danger. Make sure you have a charged cellphone and an unlimited data plan so you can call 9-1-1 or have someone pick you up if you’re in trouble. If you’re nervous walking home by yourself, have a cellphone buddy that you can call to talk to until you reach your destination. You also should invest in protection equipment, such as pepper spray or a personal safety alarm. Our new defendme® personal safety alarm comes with a piercing 120 dB siren that can be heard up to 300 feet, which is the size of a football field. If you’re confronted by a stranger, you can use the alarm to alert others around you that you’re in danger and need help.

Know How to React

Situational awareness helps you know how to react in an emergency situation. For example, if you need to run away from a stranger, you would be aware of side streets, open stores or restaurants and other possible escape routes. You also can call for help immediately or change your location before anything happens. Situational awareness could even help you recognize an attacker’s weakness or ways to identify them later on. The more you notice, the more opportunities you have to react quickly and efficiently.

And even if it might look a little bit intimidating, getting into a martial art is a great idea. Learning self-defense is more than a simple exercise. Some martial arts styles are quite physically demanding and “hands on” than others, which means you’ll be training and sparring with an opponent right from the start. You can find some help to pick the best martial arts for you here. And as a high heels wearer, you might even be able to use your stilettos as self-defense tools!

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