Way back in the 1900s, I was a relatively carefree and social college student. While at an Auburn University fraternity party, a nice guy brought me a Diet Coke in a red Solo cup. I wasn’t an alcohol drinker in college, but I was a Diet Coke addict. I don’t doubt it was my favorite soft drink, but I chose not to drink it. I held the cup, talked and laughed with our group for a few minutes, then set the drink on a table. Shortly after, I went and got my own Diet Coke. I did this for my mother.
My mom was a cautious person who loved me to the moon and back. I would tease her about the plethora of advice she gave me, but I often listened. She told me to never accept a drink from anyone at a party. Even if a nice guy brought me a water, she asked me to promise I wouldn’t drink it. She told me to get my own drinks and pay attention to those pouring them, as she was concerned about someone drugging my drink and wanted to protect me. I honored her request.
We live in an exceedingly chaotic world. School shootings, terrorist bombings, human trafficking, and sexual deviancy stories are part of the regular news cycle. It’s difficult to consistently stress situational awareness with my kids without feeling I’m scaring them to death, but it needs to be explicitly taught and consistently practiced.
My husband is a former Marine, and since we married over two decades ago, he has taught me a great deal about improving my situational awareness. Early in our marriage, when we would go to a restaurant, he would encourage me to identify the exits. He told me not to sit with my back to the door when eating out with friends. We have worked on some practical self-defense skills, as well as identifying objects that could be weaponized if necessary. He has helped me observe behavior cues more closely.
The recent tragedy in Barcelona, Spain, where University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey died while visiting friends during spring break has reignited my determination to educate my boys on the importance of alertness in social settings. It’s difficult for anyone, especially carefree, fun-loving young people, to foster this mindset. But the world in which we live can be volatile. By all accounts, Gracey was a stellar young man – the chaplain of a prestigious University of Alabama fraternity – whose drink was possibly spiked with a sedation drug. That can happen to any of our kids, which makes developing this proactive mentality crucial.
According to the Better Protectors organization, situational awareness means being acutely aware of one’s surroundings. It involves understanding contextual clues in social situations, while also anticipating threats or opportunities. According to the site, it’s all about being watchful without necessarily feeling anxious or fearful.
Instilling this keen observation eventually produces confidence, not cowardice. Having an exit strategy or staying with a group of trusted friends may be the very thing keeping our children alive and well in unfamiliar territory.
Teaching this survival mindset will also add to a person’s ability to solve problems if they find themselves lost in a crowd or frightened by a stranger, Better Protectors explains. Handling unexpected circumstances is how kids develop emotional independence. You can also find practical ways to increase situational awareness on trusted-brain.com. Here are some examples:
Practice mindful walking. Whether walking through your neighborhood or downtown, notice landmarks. Watch people who share your vicinity. Observe body language, clothing, and movement. Keep your phone in your pocket or easily accessible in a purse. Don’t text or surf the Internet while walking to your car.
Conduct daily observation exercises. Try to notice details you might normally overlook. You can even play a game with your kids to help them develop better awareness of their surroundings. According to the site, children should observe a room in your house and then close their eyes. Ask them to tell you as many details about the room as they can, including information about pictures, pieces of furniture, and colors of upholstery. Afterwards, they should look around to see what they missed.
Use your five senses. Train your brain to pay attention to background noises. Things like quiet conversations (okay, eavesdropping), footsteps, or traffic noise can give you a clue as to what is happening around you. Obviously, certain smells can alert you to danger. Smoke may mean fire, while strong chemical smells serve as a warning to stay away from a particular area. Of course, tastes indicate whether food or drinks are safe to consume. And as mentioned earlier, it is safest to get your own drink and literally watch it being made if you’re in a bar setting. It doesn’t matter whether the bar is local or you’re traveling abroad. Keep an eye on your drinks.
Scan your environment. I remember being at Cracker Barrel with our whole family one summer when two guys in trench coats walked in. Trench coats and 90-degree weather just don’t mix. My husband didn’t take his eyes off those young men. Turns out it was just a fashion statement, but my husband is trained to observe his surroundings, naturally noticing people or items that appear out of place or suspicious.
Practicing situational awareness is key for anyone living in 2026. Developing these habits will increase alertness, confidence and safety in whatever environment you find yourself.
Kristin Landers is a substitute teacher and freelance writer. Landers’ previous work includes serving as Communications Director for the Alabama Policy Institute and working for Citizens Against a Legalized Lottery (CALL) to defeat legalized gambling in the state of Alabama.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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