The Library: Training the Spirit: Personal Awareness

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Identifying an inhibited response time may be enough to save yourself from danger.

Code Blue

Many people regard the status of their personal safety with the colorful standby of green, yellow, and red. For example:

In Condition Green, there’s no nearby sign of trouble or danger. You can relax, look the other way, and worry about other things. You usually assume this condition when you’re at home, work, or school, and everything is quiet and normal.
In Condition Yellow, there is a sensible risk ahead. You see two characters up ahead, blocking the way and watching you; you use an ATM; you walk through a parking lot with few people around, and so on. In this condition, you start looking for escape routes, possible set ups, and even consider making a detour.
In Condition Red, you are being attacked and must respond. In this condition, there is no doubt or wondering or consideration: there is only your safety.

This schema lends itself well to everything from personal safety (enjoying a nice walk, someone unusual approaching you with a distracting question, assault and battery) to survival situations (enjoying a quiet hike, detecting an oncoming storm, seeking immediate shelter) to weapons handling (the weapon is safe, a weapon is loaded, the weapon is being fired). Its simplicity makes it effective and adaptable.

For many people, this schema may be too restrictive. After all, there can be a big difference between green and yellow; for instance, what about walking through a crowded event, like a festival, concert, or nightclub? Is that green or yellow? If green, how do I identify the threats? If yellow, how can I have a good time and enjoy myself?

The simple answer is that you adopt Condition Blue. This status indicates “I acknowledge there is increased risk, but sufficient distraction. My reaction time will be slower.” In other words, you realize that you need a lot more time to spot trouble and accept this.

For example, you go to a music concert with friends. The event is crowded, with a variety of people present. When switching to condition blue, you look around a little bit more than you would in green; you watch the show, but maybe avoid the cluster of rougher people over by that lighting tower. When a friend offers to buy drinks, you go with him or her just in case. You have a good time, but keep your eyes open. And, when the show is over and everyone is heading out, you spot some angry pushing and shoving up and to the left. Now you switch to yellow and steer everyone in your group over to a different exit. That’s all there is.

How do you identify when you might adopt condition blue?

Alcohol. If you’re drinking or in a group that drinks, you must acknowledge that you’re going to lose your edge...possibly more than you’re planning. Go ahead and have fun, but remember that trouble can come on more quickly.
Distractions. When you’re at a movie, a sporting event, a swimming pool, and so on, your mind is on the main event. As a result, you may be less attuned to the people around you and what they’re up to. Taking precautions, such as moving a wallet from the back pocket to an inside front jacket pocket, can let you focus on the fun more.
Noise. Shows, concerts, races, home games, etc., can be noisy enough to distract you. Your ears are critical to your ability to sense danger: a noisy event can slow your response time dramatically. Simply look around a little more, and take some precautions about where you position yourself. You’ll be fine.
Crowds. A widespread throng of people is more than any person can truthfully handle. No one can honestly pay attention to every detail or every person. Try to stand off a little from the crowd if you can; move through dense clusters of people quickly, and avoid jostling bystanders. Some events are more fun when you’re part of the crowd, but a dose of common sense should keep you in condition green longer.
Illness. A cold or flu can do more than dampen your spirits: sickness can slow your responsiveness. Give yourself more time, and keep a slightly wider berth around people when you’re ill. If your personal “safe distance” from a stranger is three feet, give yourself five feet. Give yourself extra time to catch your breath, so that you don’t become distracted while you’re walking.
Weather. Cold weather makes us put our hands in our pockets, which slows our ability to respond to a slip and fall or ward off or deploy a weapon. Rainy weather encourages us to look down at our feet, not the road ahead. Hot weather makes us sluggish and bleary. All of these conditions encourage us to let down our guard. When the weather is uncomfortable for you, you should be in condition blue: give yourself more time to respond, and stay more alert.

There’s no reason to miss out on a great time. There’s also no need to be 100% ready: you can safely be only 50% ready if you’re 50% more willing to respond. As you develop an awareness for condition blue situations, you will easily develop precautions and personal readiness to compensate for them.