How to Avoid Trouble

There are many choices you can make each day that will significantly reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of a violent criminal act. Some are so easy that once you get in the habit, they just become second nature. Others require some forethought and planning. Let’s discuss a few that can improve your personal safety.

Situational awareness is the key to avoiding trouble. Being situationally aware means you are paying attention to what is going on around you and should you see something that “just doesn’t seem right,” taking positive steps to avoid it. It means that when you’re out in public, your eyes should be scanning what is in front (and behind) you, NOT focused on a device, checking the latest tweets. Vision is our primary way of avoiding conflict, and hearing comes in a close second. Unless you are someplace you know you’re safe, wearing headphones or in-ear devices eliminates your ability to hear what could be a warning that could save your life. Save the music for your safe place. When in public, keep your eyes and ears working to keep you safe.

Who believes they will make the best possible decision to handle a potential threat to their safety at the moment that threat occurs? Good luck with that if you do. You’ll be a lot better served if you have run possible scenarios that could occur in your day-to-day life in advance and determined what your actions would be. If you woke up to the sound of breaking glass, what would you do? What would the others in your home do? Having a plan that everyone is aware of significantly improves the chances of doing the right thing should the event ever occur.

Other simple things to do include:

Set your car key fob to only unlock the driver’s door. Usually, a second press of the button will unlock the others. This prevents someone on the passenger side of the car from getting in if you don’t want them to.

Glance in your back seat before you unlock and get in the car, it only takes a second and helps you know that you’re not going to sit down into trouble!

Trust your instincts! If something seems wrong, if your “spidey” senses are alerting, listen to them and alter your behavior or course to reduce your risk.

Don’t be afraid to use your voice. In fact, practice it! Law enforcement and the military both use loud authoritative commands in high-risk situations because it interrupts the thought patterns of the threat. Providing that you don’t threaten harm, there is no law against using your voice.

We live in an ever-changing and unpredictable environment. We don’t have to live our lives in fear IF we take positive steps to ensure we’re not walking into trouble. FBN

By Rob Wilson

Rob Wilson is the owner (with his wife, Elise) of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.