| Situational awareness could be your best self defense | | | | They would have then become a less obvious target. |
| we open, but it is all too easy to let your guard slip | | | | Secondly to keep a casual eye out for any |
| when you are in a party mood. | | | | approaching cars or groups of people. Even though |
| Last night my son was out celebrating a friend's | | | | the boys weren't drinking they can get totally absorbed |
| birthday. After the meal a few of them were waiting | | | | in their conversation and be oblivious to their |
| outside the restaurant for their parents to collect them. | | | | surroundings. |
| A group of guys drove up and hurled some eggs at | | | | It would have been easy for a group of people to |
| them. Fortunately they didn't have a good throwing | | | | approach them without their knowing. If they were |
| arms and the worse my son received was egg on his | | | | aware they would see this in advance and then they |
| new shoes. | | | | could walk back into the restaurant if they felt uneasy. |
| What he did admit to, was that they were so engaged | | | | On any street you can casually notice who else is |
| in conversation they didn't even notice car approaching. | | | | there, look around occasionally, use widow reflections |
| Ok so this was a low grade annoyance but it could | | | | to further survey the surroundings. If you are |
| have been any kind of random senseless attack. | | | | approaching a parked car with people inside, and if you |
| Someone could have been injured. | | | | feel at all uneasy at all then cross the road. If their |
| So what do you do? You don't want to become so | | | | intentions towards you are not good at least they |
| fearful or vigilant that you have to be on high alert all | | | | have to signal them in advance. |
| the time. However it is in your interest to be aware of | | | | Indoors casually scan the room, notice if anyone is |
| any situation you are in. | | | | behaving out of place and look for exits. All of this can |
| Firstly In this case my advice would have been to | | | | be done quickly and in a calm matter of fact way |
| gather further back from the curb. Closer to the | | | | without being obvious. If you have to leave a group to |
| entrance of the restaurant where there is better | | | | go to the bathroom. Pause briefly to see if anyone has |
| lighting and they are more likely to be seen from inside. | | | | followed. |