Do you notice that guy walking around with a winter coat on when it's 95 degrees outside? Do you know what direction your plane is flying when you cross the country? See the person driving in front of you talking on their cell phone and drinking a cup of coffee at the same time? Do you remember which way you went when there was a fork in the trail? These are all examples of situational awareness. The term basically means, knowing what is going on around you and taking notice of the small details. In this post, I will discuss different ways you can have more situational awareness, in both the wilderness and in urban settings.
WILDERNESS:
Terrain: When you're out hiking, take in the surrounding areas, not only for the beauty and scenery, but also for the sake of finding your way back. If you're hiking on trails, make sure you take note of any turns or forks you follow, and also the terrain you are hiking in. Terrain features are areas that stand out like, ravines, valleys, hilltops, cliffs, and even rivers and lakes. Watch for terrain features as you are hiking, that way you have something to
recognize when you return to that spot.
Weather: Anytime you are out in the wild, you want to watch the skies. Bad weather can move in without much warning, and when that happens, you will want to be as prepared as you can. Listening for thunder can also be a life saver. If you hear thunder in the distance, you either want to start heading back to the car, camp, or in the worst case, build yourself a shelter to endure a long wet night. If you are out during the late fall, watch for the first tales of snow falling. Not that hiking or camping in the snow is a serious threat, but if you're not prepared for it, then you need to think about getting out of there.
Animals: I pretty much already covered this area in an earlier post, but just to recap. Watch for animal droppings while you are out and about. If you start seeing alot of bear, moose, cougar, or any other large animal droppings, keep your eyes and ears open for more signs of the animal itself. Also, watch for snakes, bees, and any other creature that you might not want to come across while you and your family are out enjoying the afternoon. A rattlesnake bite can ruin a picnic real quick.
All in all, while you are out enjoying the great outdoors, don't fall short because you wanted to walk and "veg out". Always keep your senses open and even let your imagination run a little bit. You'd be suprised at how many times my imagination actually helped keep me and my family out of danger.
URBAN:
Convenience stores: If you go into the gas station late at night to buy yourself a candy bar and you notice a person wandering around with his hands in his pockets and his eyes are shifting back and forth nervously, take note and watch this person. Or pay as soon as you can and get out. (Sit in your car for a few minutes to watch and see what happens. If the person robs the place, you can call the police. If they buy something and leave, you didn't do any harm by watching the store clerks back.) If you are in the store while it's getting robbed, remain calm and try to stay out of sight. If you are comfortable confronting the suspect, then by all means, use YOUR best judgement and make the move. (I will not be responsible for your actions in these situations.)
ATM's: When you go to your local ATM to withdraw some money, just take a look around and see who's watching you or hanging out around the machine. If you see someone that looks like trouble, then most likely they are trouble. Find another ATM. Your life is not worth risking over the $300 most banks allow for a days worth of withdrawals.
Weather: Again, weather can be a huge factor on what we do everyday. If you want to go out shopping, but the weatherman said there is a possibility of a tornado in your area, you should probably save your money and wait for another day. Most major weather systems are seen before they hit major urban areas (except earthquakes) so when you wake up in the morning, turn on the weather channel or check the weather on the internet before you plan your big day out on the town. If you are already in town and some serious wind and rain come in, just be aware of your surroundings, because this type of weather will affect everybodies patience and judgement.
TRAVELLING:
Airplanes: Whether you are flying from the east coast to the west coast, or flying across the Atlantic Ocean, you should always be aware of the direction of travel. It may seem easy, but the plane does not always fly straight east or straight west. I once flew to South Korea from Seattle, and the plane went north toward Alaska before heading west. Most flights offer a up to date map of where the plane is, which direction it is flying, and when you will reach your destination. If possible, look out the window and watch the ground. See if you are flying over mountains, water, or desert. This way, in the event of a crash, you will know what kind of terrain you will have to deal with in order to find help or survive the long wait until help arrives. Lastly, listen to the flight attendants and pilot. They have been doing their job for awhile and probably know what they are talking about when they tell you to keep your seatbelt on and your trays in the upright position.
Boats: Cruise ships, sailboats, and ski boats all have one thing in common. They can sink. Hopefully you have the proper life vests and signalling equipment, but it still might be awhile before help arrives. As with flying, know which direction you are travelling and which way it is to dry land. If you are the captain of the boat, make sure you watch the water for debris or anything that can damage the hull of your boat. The last thing you want to do is turn your ski boat into the Titanic because you were watching the babes on the jet skis. Also, boating is a very important time to watch the weather. If the weather seems like it's gonna turn foul, by all means, turn back and go out on the water another day. We have all read to many news stories about family members drowning in the lake, because their boat capsized on a windy day. Think safety and think about making home to your family.
Driving: Here's the tricky one. Everybody that drives gets distracted. Distractions can cause accidents. But, here are some tips on keeping situational awareness while travelling by automobile, motorcycle, or even bicycle. If you need to talk on your cell phone, pull over where it's safe to and make/take your call. Don't ever text message while driving your vehicle. Eating food while driving is another major distraction. Try to keep eating in the car down to snacks and not meals. It's alot easier to eat a candy bar then it is to hold and eat a double bacon cheeseburger. Loud music can also be a huge distraction. You may not hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle, or you might get into your music to much and worry more about singing along than paying attention. When you are driving down the highway, watch your mirror for traffic coming up behind you and to the side of you. If you want to change lanes, don't depend on your mirrors alone; you have blind spots. Take that extra second to turn your head and check your blind spot. USE YOUR BLINKERS! They aren't there for looks. They let other drivers know what you intend to do before you do it, whether you're changing lanes or turning onto a side street. And for goodness sakes, don't turn your blinker on while you are turning. Turn it on before you get to the intended turning point. When you approach intersections, check for other vehicles or pedestrians that want to cross that intersection. You don't know what they are thinking, so be prepared for the worst. If that person decides to pull out in front of you, being prepared for that, may be enough to brake and avoid a collision. Watch for any animals that might be on the side of the road. I've avoiding hitting numerous deer, just for the simple reason, I saw them and was prepared for them to jump out in front of me. Same goes for dogs, cats, raccoons, or any other animal that might get in the road. Weather can be the most dangerous to us when mixed with driving. Snow, fog, rain, and even a hot dry day, can affect our driving skills. The best advice I can give here is SLOW DOWN. And, for you SUV and four wheel drive vehicle drivers; all four tires spinning helps you get started, but four wheels locked up on ice is just that. All cars have four wheels, and all cars and brakes on all four wheels. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT HELP YOU STOP! It's a proven fact that fog makes drivers go faster. It has to do with depth perception, so watch your speedometer and keep it slow. As far as the hot days go, keep hydrated and well rested. Heat has a tendancy to make you more tired, and long driving trips can wear you down quickly. Whatever situation you find yourself in while driving, remember that it's always better to show up late, then it is to never show up at all.
I know I've just barely scratched the surface of situational awareness, but I hope that this gives you a small idea on how you can watch your surrounding to help you and your family live to see tomorrow.
Don't forget, moral is a huge part of living to see tomorrow. 
