Situational Awareness at All Times

By: Hilary Rodela, Lead Digital Content Writer for Taction USA

Anything can happen in seconds, and with that your whole life could change. For first responders, this is something to keep at the forefront of your mind. Situational awareness is a concept that anyone no matter what field they are in, can benefit from. Knowing what your surroundings are, what potential dangers there are, and all ways you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe can save your life.

For the crime scene investigator, it can be easy to let your guard down a bit at a scene. This can be for several reasons such as there is always an officer or several posted at a crime scene for security purposes, the suspect is already gone, and you are so focused on the scene and the tasks at hand you forget to look around you. However, CSI’s should never let their guard down just as any other first responder should not. There have been numerous occasions when a suspect returns to a scene of the crime.

Environmental hazards are another area of safety that should never be forgotten. If a building is unsafe, that is just as much of a hazard as a direct threat. Biohazards are often unseen threats that should be considered.

Situational awareness heightens your senses and can bring peace of mind too. The more you know about your surroundings the better the plan of action you can develop should you need it. When you are aware of what is going on around you that keeps others with you safe too.