Beyond Your Door: Practical Strategies for Everyday Safety, Pt. 1

My two previous blog posts focused on improving your home’s security. However, no matter how secure your home may be, there are times when you need to leave for work, grocery shopping, or a night out with loved ones, and your personal safety is paramount. This is where situational awareness becomes key.

Humans are social creatures, and we need that physical interaction. 2020 showed that while some of us handled the isolation better than others, we couldn’t wait to hold someone close and have those in-person conversations that had been limited to calls, texts, and video chats. Could you imagine what it would have been like without the Internet? There will be no Internet when the SHTF. It seems it would be easier to ration food and water than to go without the Web!

While I touched upon the dangers we face as women in the two previous blogs and in my special podcast, Men with Microphones, I wanted to dedicate one blog specifically to things we can do to feel safer as we go out. There’s a lot to fear right now, but we can’t rob ourselves of what beauty exists in the world and in our lives based on what-ifs. That may seem contradictory to my blog and podcasts, but ultimately, both aren’t about demise; it’s about living your best life but being ready for the worst.

As women, we still tend not to always be mentally present as we move about, and this can be dangerous. I would love to live in a world where a woman could go and do anything anywhere and not worry about being attacked. Until that world appears, remember, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. And if you must, be aware of what’s happening around you. this requires  “situational awareness”*.  This is defined as:

“Situational awareness is the ability to perceive, understand, and effectively respond to one’s situation. It involves comprehending a given circumstance, gathering relevant information, analyzing it, and making informed decisions to successfully address any potential risks, hazards, or events that might occur. Situational awareness aims to enable quick and safe responses to disasters by informing human decision-making. ” -Blackberry.com

I recall reading a post somewhere where women were asked what it would be like to have a day without men. Just like the guy who asked whether a woman would rather be alone in the woods with a bear or a man (which is my next podcast, Why Women are #TeamBear), the fellow who asked this question was probably disappointed to hear how ecstatic most women were at the thought. Those very things that I mentioned in the previous paragraph were things that they would do. Men cannot appreciate how awesome it would be to go somewhere late at night and not worry about anything. Men haven’t put much thought into the fact that we don’t fear other women – we fear men. 

So, what can we do to incorporate tools to keep us safe in the street but still be able to enjoy life? Just as I requested for you to look at preparedness as something to do out of love as opposed to a chore, I present the same challenge to you in the form of street safety. 

Recognizing a situation you must avoid as quickly as possible is the first step in staying safe. Always pay attention to what’s going on around you! “Reading the room” is an expression that always applies, not just to ensure we don’t say something inappropriate. It’s listening to your gut and allowing yourself to ascertain the vibe of any area you’re entering, and once you’re in there…noticing when the vibe has changed…and maybe it’s time to leave.