Danger Lurks Everywhere: Do You Have a Plan?

I must admit, I pride myself on being a know-it all. So when a new client approached the agency I work at, saying he was holding a rally for women on situational awareness, I didn't think I'd learn anything new. I went to Georgia State downtown and lived in a sketchy part of midtown for awhile and always prided myself on being alert and observant. I thought I knew enough to keep myself safe. Oh, I was so wrong.

Today I went to Terry Vaughan's rally and was amazed from the beginning. The first thing he asked of us was to describe the car we parked next to in the parking lot; make, model, color. I had no idea. Then he asked us to describe the four men in the room; physical characteristics, demeanor, were they friendly. Besides my co-worker Mike and Terry's friend Tim, who I had met previously, I wasn't even aware there were other men in the room.

Then we learned the physiological effects of panicking. When your heartbeat is elevated and adrenaline pumping, you lose fine motor skills, such as the ability to press 9-1-1 on your cell phone. Think if you've had to dial 9-1-1 after a car accident with fumbling fingers. Then after you call 9-1-1, Atlanta's average response time for police response is 11 minutes. And that's if you get to an operator and not merely a machine. Yes, if you haven't called 9-1-1 lately, the odds are great you'll get an answering machine. This has happened to me in both Fulton and Paulding counties.

The whole point of Terry's rallies is to make women aware enough of their surroundings that they don't have to get close enough for self-defense. The two hours was packed with useful information that challenges the way I think about my surroundings. Women strive to be polite, but if we are approached in the parking lot by a stranger, polite can be a sign of weakness. The whole point is to make yourself a difficult target for crime, because if you appear difficult, the criminal will set off in search of a weaker victim.

If you want to read more about Terry's tips and lessons, go visit his blog. He's quite a funny guy, and when you read his posts, read them with a British accent (he's a former British Commando). He was also on Good Day Atlanta Friday to share his top 10 tips: