BE ON ALERT

The Chisholm Trail Technology Center’s free Situational Awareness seminar was held on the morning of October 2nd by Tim Crawford, the Local Emergency Response Coordinator for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Twenty-five individuals attended the seminar, some of whom belong to groups like law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency management, medical professions, practical nursing students, and interested community members.

For those who missed it, here are some do’s, do not, tips, and tricks. 

DO’S & DO NOT’S

• DO trust your gut. Do NOT downplay or ignore a warning sign that may be legitimate. 

• DO be aware of people’s behavior.

– Are they verbally making threats? Boasting about prior violence?  Bragging about losing control?

– Are they making nonverbal threats? Finger pointing? Violating your personal space, etc.?

• DO recognize substance use and abuse. 

– loss of coordination, stumbling, swaying?

– flushing of the face?

– bloodshot eyes?

– slurred or louder speech than usual?

• DO manage physical aggression. 

– Time, distance, and barriers are important advantages

– Expand your personal bubble

– Distance equals reaction time

– Everyone’s needed distance is different

TIPS:

• Train yourself to notice as much as possible

• Make slowing down your default setting

• Take mental notes of the evolving event

• Use Your Peripheral Vision – A critical skill for dynamic environment comprehension

• Focus on one feature while monitoring the edges of your vision

TRICKS

• Use the 4 different levels of situational awareness. 

– Perception, comprehension, projection & visualization. 

• Perception

– Scan the environment

– Pinpoint the most relevant features

– Compare those features to your memory and knowledge

– Process the findings

• Comprehension

– Create a mental picture in 360 degrees

– Compare observations with experience to develop a more accurate mental picture

– Update the mental picture with current information

• Projection

– Think ahead based on gathered data.

– Allows for more accurate decision-making.

– Stay ahead of the curve.

• Visualization

– See scenarios mentally.

– Determine action steps for potential situations: Crowd approaching, Traffic backing up, Dark alley or hallway

– Take a small step to control the situation now.

– These premeditated responses allow for more effective responses.

REMEMBER

•Slow Down

– Buy yourself some time to properly address what is occurring

• Seek Assistance

– Invite other perspectives

• Recreate the 360-degree mental picture

– Where are you in the big picture

• Manage Distractions

– Stressors and interruptions

By AAK Maitland Pickle

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