A Typical Day to the Store
What does a typical trip to the store look like when you’re situationally aware?
Here is a sample of a routine that limits your exposure to risk or your and your family members. These simple habits will become second nature over time. Does anyone think about the process of putting on and taking off their seatbelt anymore?
Best Practices!
1. You walk out the front door and scan to see that it is indeed free of anyone that doesn’t belong there.
2. Get everyone into the car and the first thing you do is lock your doors.
3. While driving, leave enough room in front of you so you can change lanes should an emergency develop.
4. When you park the car, can you back it in so that it’s easy to exit? It’s not always the easiest, but it’s an additional step adding to your safety. Better to back in slowly with no pressure than try to back out in a situation where you need to get your family out of the parking area quickly.
5. When you turn off the car, many cars automatically unlock the doors. Lock those doors again until you have everything you need to get and and start walking to the store. Your vehicle is a transitional space and your mobility is extremely limited. Keep yourself safely locked inside until time to exit.
6. As you head out do you have any safety tools with you and accessible in an emergency (someone steps out from between two cars for example)? There are a wide range of options and anything is better than nothing at all. Your simple options include a small flashlight that serves as a solid striking tool, and a preferred non-lethal tool is pepper spray, it can be used at a distance. There are many videos on the safe use of it and we recommend you look into your options further.
7. As you start walking to the store make a sweeping visual scan of the area. Are the other people you see casually walking to and from the store? Are there people just hanging out? Are there any suspiciously looking vehicles (there is a big difference between a Prius whose windows you can see through vs a van with window covers blocking view of the inside).
7. While walking in the public spaces, leave room between yourself and others. Social distancing isn’t just for COIVD-19. Someone approaching from a distance to steal your purse is more visible from a distance than if they walk right alongside you.
Then simply repeat the process in reverse. These habits will become second nature and will reduce the chance of you looking like a soft target. Get home safe everyone!
Next, review our family safety tips for more tips!
