Avoiding complacency can help increase your perception of your surrounding. This does not just apply to buildings, but can be practiced in cars, public transportation, elevators, and even in outdoor environments. Ignoring warning signs or not being aware of what could lead to accidents can cause massive issues, as was the case when a crane collapsed in Texas, leaving four dead. First, stop talking so you can be aware of your surroundings rather than verbally reacting. First, notice your surroundings. An even better offensive precaution is to keep a perpetual mental image of every potential weapon and attack vector as you about your daily life. Emergencies and mass shootings happen all the time. The reaction of the person following you will help you determine if they are indeed a threat: If they stop or reroute to mirror your actions, then you can confirm that they are following you intentionally. Lacking or not having adequate situation awareness has been identified as one of the primary factors in accidents related to errors or mistakes. First, they should try to find a person in uniform, like a police officer, security guard, or store employee. All these activities might help prevent an attack. When you go shopping, to work, to school, or simply take a walk in nature, you cannot be too careful when it comes to your personal safety. Use your mirrors. Why is this important to a government attorney? Next, breathe deep through your nose. Safety is the key to happy living, A little care can prevent much grieving. For our purposes well focus on situational awareness for self-defense purposes as it is a very important self-defense skill. This article will delve into some of the key health and safety considerations when it comes to plumbing work. This is a state in which you are relaxed but are also watching other cars on the road and looking ahead for potential hazards. Be aware of escape routes for emergencies and post the police and fire department numbers near telephones. We use our situational awareness to make decisions at home and at work. Go to a different store. Reduce your speed. Technology draws us in and makes it harder to observe the vital things around us. Griffith D, and FL Greitzer. This calms the body and declutters the brain so you can react appropriately. Set the headlines of your day, but leave room in your daily schedule for spontaneity without taking hideous risks. Keep an eye out for a flat tire, smoke emerging from underneath the trailer. BY looking with your ears, you simply are following the environment and what it wants you to see, rather than everything else that may matter that is going on simultaneously. Also check your mirrors when you are preparing to turn into a side road or driveway and when you are stopping to pull into a parking space. Slow down gradually or merge into another lane to prevent being hit from behind by the tailgater! Ask yourself if you have the proper tools, training and PPE to perform the task safely. Even listening to music can be a distraction and a safety hazard. Some drivers do not obey traffic signals so before you enter an intersection, look left, right, and ahead for approaching traffic. If you stay calm, you can think, and if you can think, you can make good decisions.. How we read a situation can be influenced by many things such as the type of information we have been given, our own experience and distractions in the workplace. Lt. Murphy has been onsite at several schools during active shooter drills. Vigilance is not paranoia, its just understanding and being able to process whats going on around you its a skill and a habit that takes practice something that shouldnt be ignored. Lt. Murphy. Surroundings -Safety Talk Pay attention to your surroundings, It might prevent an injury. Always remember that inmates listen to every conversation that corrections officers and staff have. So, the question becomes, what can we do to be safer? Blind spots can hide a motorcyclist, a vehicle or a bicyclist. Once your business or organization has a response plan, Guard911 mobile panic button apps offer a convenient place to store it where its immediately available with the touch of an icon on the users phone. Change lanes and allow the tailgater to pass you, or slow down to allow enough cushion between you and the car in front of you. For you to effectively engage in situational awareness, to make logical decisions, and look to the future with a strategic focus, the subconscious must be engaged and assessed. I told him I didnt have any. Back up. Keep your belongings in front of you and hold close to your body with both hands. Everyone that drives a car knows that feeling of forgetting what youre doing after continuously driving a few hours. What about your friends? Situational awareness refers to being aware of what is happening around you, where you are in relation to other people and things, and what potential threats there may be. Respond to medical emergencies properly. To ensure drivers are aware of their surroundings, they should be free from distractions, follow the speed limit, and keep their eyes on the road at all times. Additionally, be sure not to get complacent in familiar environments, such as your workplace or a regularly frequented lunch spot. When beginning work on a new project/contract/customer location. Simply put, in order to have situational awareness you have to be open to a variety of perspectives and insights. When you know your surroundings, you can take better notice of the things that are out of the ordinary. Be aware of your surroundings Your coworkers won't be able to hear your ideas or take you seriously when there is a pile of dirty clothes in the corner behind you. So, go out there, do your job as a government attorney and keep safe. LOOK - At your work area and find the hazards that are present to you and your workmates. Basic Safety Tips for Women: Speak Up. As living conditions get better for everyone around the world, however, we tend to become less aware of our surroundings. The vast majority of communication is done through body language, not spoken language. 14. If possible and when safe, make room for vehicles entering freeways even though you have the right-of-way. If you participate in any type of social media, are your settings the most secure they can be? What if the driver of the car in front of you slams on his brakes? Quotes about Awareness of Surroundings 19 Picture Quotes 5 Written Quotes We are gifted with freedom, but with that freedom comes the reality of the unknown and the responsibility to be aware of our surroundings and on guard against those who would do us harm. How can you improve your situational awareness? Most rear end collisions are caused by tailgating. 5 Tips to Stay Safe While Welding. Visualize: Play out scenarios in your head beforehand. Make sure they are away from your vehicle and in full view before moving your vehicle. Engage your workers with modern technology and content that they can easily consume. This does not mean to be provocative and ask for a confrontation. Pay close attention during job training sessions. Be aware of your surroundings. After youve done this you can more easily avoid those threats and avoid a potentially violent situation. When traveling at night always book a taxi or get a lift with someone you trust. endstream endobj 50 0 obj <> endobj 51 0 obj <> endobj 52 0 obj <>stream Our situational awareness can be further reduced in times of high workload or when under pressure to get a job done on time. During off hours, ride as near to the bus operator as possible. Discuss what actions are needed with your customer or supervisor to make the situation safe. Tap your brakes lightly a few times to warn the tailgater you are slowing down. The other driver may not see your vehicle and could change lanes and hit you. To maintain a space cushion on each side of your vehicle: It is very important to check behind you before you: Check traffic behind you often to know if you are being tailgated (another driver is following too closely). Whenever possible, travel with a friend. If you have any questions, problems, or comments about Login, please contact the University Service Desk at (404) 727-7777 or the Emory Healthcare Call Center at (404) 778-HELP. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety. Also be aware: "Familiarity breeds contempt" 1. Are there other factors that can impact the situation? I dont literally mean keeping your eyes wide open, but always keeping a good field of view. Dont be predictable. iPods). Be aware of your surroundings pay attention. Situational awareness, in layman's terms, is your ability to process your surroundings and notice any changes in those surroundings. Our knowledge, experience and education enables us to understand what is going on around us and helps us to determine if it is safe. But, the points that I took away from the training session were that you can protect yourself. (In other words, be just a little paranoid.) That feeling doesnt only happen while driving. Remind them to be aware everywhere they are. Keep a space between your vehicle and parked cars. Safe driving demands more than just staring out the front window. If people inside the temple would have had access to Guard911 technology, which includes the Hero911 officer network, they couldve alerted each other faster and we would have had more officers on the scene sooner., Immediate notification time is a must mere seconds make a world of difference when it comes to saving lives. Know which lanes are clear so you can use them if necessary. Drive far enough behind the car in front of you so you can safely stop; especially in inclement weather, give yourself plenty of reaction time. When your range of vision is limited, get creative about ways to expand it and give yourself an advantage practice utilizing store windows, car windshields, or even other peoples sunglasses to detect threats you wouldnt be able to see otherwise. Following these quick tips can improve your awareness. It can also mean that you ask for help when you know that you need it. Watch yourself when you would be most vulnerable down the hall to the bathroom which is tucked way back in the corner or in the parking lot when no one else is around. Reclaim your calendar, quit searching for your next safety meeting. -Be aware of your surroundings -Keep your cell-phone charged and with you at all times -Use good judgment on social media before publicly sharing information or a location. To avoid last minute moves, scan the road 1015 seconds ahead of your vehicle so you can see hazards early. Being able to communicate with others your perception of the risks is a vital part of the awareness strategy. Keep It All Clean. Consider the building occupants when scheduling your work: you may need to schedule work when there are fewer people in the building/area; Put up barriers and signage to alert building occupants to avoid hazards and stay clear of the immediate work area; Report hazards to Facilities and/or Environmental Health and Safety We hope these tips can be of value to you as 2019 begins, and we wish you a happy (and safe!) The trigger of this habit would be . Electronic Distractions: Whether its staring down at your phone or listening to music, using electronic devices can seriously impair your ability to be aware of what is going on around you. Towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load. Be alert to pickpocketers on crowded buses; check your purse or wallet if someone is jostling, crowding or pushing you. At least half of the crimes in the Unites States go unreported, either because people don't think the police can do anything about it, or because people don't want to get involved. Your email address will not be published. When people are in an area where there is potential danger (which, in reality, is almost anywhere), they should go through most of the day in a state of relaxed awareness. Keep your head on a swivel looking for potential hazards. The owner of this website, ZCS Ventures, LLC, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking defensiveplanet.com reviews to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Situational awareness is the ability to identify, process, and understand what is happening around you, while thinking ahead to prevent or mitigate potential safety incidents. If you live anywhere in the world, then its probably just about everyone you see. OFFICE 4114 E BROADWAY AVE | SPOKANE, WA 99202, 1145 BROADWAY PLAZA, STE 1340 | TACOMA, WA 98402. Drive down a long or steep hill. hb```f``R``b`ag@ ~081g I +&& , @;PM R;4Hl_Ww`g6aKXN1YH3q20% rD- You also want to avoid looking like you work from the inside of a cave because of bad lighting. This principle can also be applied to travel routes, and being conscious of obstacles, choke points, alternate routes, and so on. Proprioception refers to your awareness of your body and limbs in your surrounding space. Don't stop to aid motorists by the side of the road. Here are some of my take-aways (expanded with some of my own thoughts and comments) that may be useful to you: 1. Does everyone have a copy of the response plan readily available if an event were to occur? Defensive precautions includes avoiding walking alone at night, not letting people follow you, and avoiding any form of intoxication from drugs or alcohol while in public. Report all unsafe conditions and near-miss incidents to your supervisor. In the same vein as minimizing distractions, you want to identify threats before they become threats. ASSESS - The effects that the hazards will have upon you, the people you work with, equipment, procedures, pressures and the environment around you. When you know your surroundings, you can take better notice of the things that are out of the ordinary. Constantly staring at the road just in front of your vehicle is dangerous. Watch Your Back. Because of the way forklifts work, overloading can cause the rear wheels to rise off the ground and can make the whole machine fall over. While wearing headphones, can you hear foot steps behind you? 1. Recognizing hazards is an important part of keeping you and your co-workers safe . Do you think these people are likely to notice the pre-attack cues of a potentially dangerous situation? Many of these situations can involve your health, your safety, and your job performance. Senses: Practice engaging all your senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) to their fullest extent to increase your personal safety. Situational awareness may protect us. Your email address will not be published. Environmental Health and Safety provides services and support for efficient, effective, and compliant work practices, while promoting a culture of shared responsibility by students, faculty, staff and visitors for a healthy, safe, and environmentally soun You should be able to communicate at each stage of a risk assessment or the potential hazards with everyone that is involved. If you are being tailgated, be careful! What about someone screaming for help? Dont presume changes in your surroundings are innocent or fine. So put the phone down. Thankfully for us, most people already do a very good job reading body language and have a good understanding of potentially dangerous body language. Not playing on your phone might improve your chances of thwarting an attack. You can, and should, carry all the tools and weapons you need. Facebook can wait. Consider these tips: Keep your distance. However, when was the last time there was a drill to ensure every person in the establishment knows what to do? Allow room in front of your vehicle so the driver will have space to move in front of you. You should allow a four-second or more cushion when: If you follow too closely and another driver cuts in front of you, just take your foot off the gas. One of the best ways to become more aware of your surroundings is to practice identifying the objects around you. Staying safe goes hand-in-hand with being observant. Motorcyclists can fall more easily on these surfaces. If you spot a situation in your immediate vicinity that could pose a threat, such as a blind corner on a sidewalk, ask yourself, If there was a threat behind that corner, how would I react? Second, if anything does happen, you'll know where you can run for help. If your team sees you doing it then they are likely to follow. Login. Situational awareness is often discussed, but it's acknowledged how so few people know what it truly represents and why it's tremendously important. Avoid situations that could force you to suddenly use your brakes. Before complacency has set in-it can be a silent killer! If you suspect you are being followed, go into an open store or a Public Safety Safe Haven and have the clerk call the Police or Public Safety right-away. U.S. Pat. It serves two useful purposes. By being mentally prepared, you can have the upper hand. 10,433,143. Reflective Surfaces: One of your biggest advantages in a dangerous situation is being able to see the danger coming with enough time to react appropriately.

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