Situational Awareness

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Pre-Test

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Download the Companion Guide

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Level One

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Level Two

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Level Three

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Level Four

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Tuned Out

This level leaves us unaware of our surroundings. If you are tuned out from what is around you, make sure you are in a safe environment or are with someone who is paying attention to your surroundings. Military and police use the phrase “watching your six” to refer to watching what might be outside of your active sight (just as the 6:00 hour on a traditional clock would be behind you as you face 12:00).

Two women, one of whom is in a wheelchair, talking

Relaxed Awareness

You may be in this state in places where you know the people around you and/or there is an established safety protocol for entry. This may include when you are at a friend’s house with
several people you know well or at a ticketed secure event.

Focused Awareness

In this level, there is no direct threat around you, but you are entering a space that presents a potential danger. This may include driving under adverse conditions, walking in a city you are unfamiliar with, or traveling in a place where a “be on alert” warning has been issued.

High Alert

There is an active threat or dangerous situation close by. Although it might feel safer to be on high alert all the time to reduce potential negative outcomes, there is a physical, cognitive, and emotional cost associated with being on high alert for a continuous period of time. Think of a flashlight in a dark environment. Although it may be useful to leave it on the entire time, there should be some consideration for battery life.

Paralysis

Typically, paralysis occurs in the absence of training. Most people are scared and experience paralysis when they first encounter an actively dangerous situation. These situations are often outside of our experiences and comfort zone. The goal of this training is not to remove fear or panic in reaction to a dangerous situation but rather to learn and train on the correct response until it becomes second nature.

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Risk Factors for Targeted Violence

Case Study: Uvalde

The following documents demonstrate how we might have responded if the shooter had come to the attention of a BIT/CARE team before the attack, including gathering information, completing a risk and threat assessment, and writing up the report with mitigation strategies.

Uvalde Violence Risk Assessment Report PDF

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Practice Awareness and Memory

Notice details about others that you can share with law enforcement if needed.

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A man with long hear, a beard and tattoos leaning against a fence

A woman carrying shopping bags talking on the phone

A man with tattooed arms standing in the street

A woman in a hat and scarf holding a jacket

A man in a hat and overcoat holding a duffle bag and a coffee cup

Cover versus Concealment

Concealment hides us from a potential attacker. This makes it harder for them to aim a weapon at us accurately and gives us an opportunity to run further from the danger. Concealment does not, however, stop bullets or other projectiles. Cover provides us with a barrier that can stop bullets or other projectiles, offering us a wider degree of protection.

Cover

or

Concealment

Thick concrete provides cover from most weapons.