Let’s Stay Safe ~ Situational Awareness

Psalm 119:154 "Defend my cause and redeem me, preserve my life according to your promise”

Do you know the hand symbol if you are in danger, being trafficked and need help? (see picture)

Women and Girls typically have been taught to be kind and soft-spoken. Well skip all of that when you sense something is wrong. Be assertive and loud! Pay attention to your "spidey" senses; that sixth sense is very real and it’s the Holy Spirit
warning you.

Rule #1 – ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings!

•  Look around, what do you see? When entering a building/restaurant, etc…locate additional exits before starting your venture.
• Look people in the eye while walking. When walking to your car, have keys in hand and don’t be distracted. Don’t be on your phone. Do the head swivel!!!

Rule #2 - AVOID THE SITUATION

AT HOME:
1. Lock your doors after entering the house.
2. If you pull into your garage, close the garage door  first before getting out of your car, make sure no one enters the garage after your car.
3. If possible, get a camera doorbell, and exterior cameras with flood lights.
4. Never open your door to someone you do not know. Delivery people, utility people, etc, ask them to hold up their ID at a window and then call their office to confirm they were sent.
5. If you hear a child or baby crying in the night, do not open your door. Call the police. AI strikes again!
6. Someone bangs on your door - there was an accident and they need help, call the police, do not open your door.
7. Someone is breaking into your home, what is YOUR plan?

CARS and PARKING LOTS:
1. Before you walk to your car, keys are in your hand. Do not be looking at your phone and do not be on your phone while walking to your car. You are looking all around the lot, do the head swivel. Walk confidently.
2. Before you get out of your car, look around. See anyone weird??
3. When approaching your car in a parking lot, if there is a van parked next to the driver’s side enter your car on the passenger side; or go into the store and ask for an employee to escort you to your car.
4. Look around your car, do you see anyone just hanging by another car? Turn around and go back to where you came from.
5. Money, a note, a rose placed on your windshield? Leave it, don’t touch, it may be laced with a drug.
6. When you get into your car, lock the door immediately. Then get your seat belt on, keys in the ignition, etc. If you have kids, get them in their car seats, get in yourself, lock the doors and then harness them in. Try to get someone to go shopping with you if you have little ones, 4 eyes and hands are better than 2.
7. Someone comes up to you in a parking lot and says they need help. Tell them you will call the police for them. Senior citizens and kids are now being used as bait.
8. Don’t leave anything in your car with your name and address showing.
9. Time to get gas, pull up to the pump, get out and lock your doors. Even if kids are in the back seat, lock the doors. Stand with your back to the car while pumping, so you have a 180
degree visual. If there is a paper towel covering the pump handle, don’t touch, once again it may be laced with a drug. If there is a credit card in the pump, don’t touch it. Go to another pump.
10. Someone comes up to you while pumping gas and starts to strongly harass you. If you cannot verbally de-escalate the situation, take the pump out of the car and hose him down with gas.
11. You are driving and hear a noise coming from under your car. DO NOT stop and get out of your car. Find a public place (lots of people) or police station and then pull over.
12. You are driving and a bunch of “kids” egg your windshield. DO NOT put your wipers on, it will smear the egg. Do not stop, keep driving until you get to a safe distance.
13. Think someone is following you? Make 4 left turns, if the car is still there, you are being followed.
14. While driving you see a stroller on the side of the road. Do not stop, call 911

IN A STORE, GYM, THEATER, ETC:
1. Someone comes up to you with a video that your car is being towed and wants you to go outside with them. DON’T!!! You are being watched and it’s easy to make an AI video of your car being towed. Call the police.
2. Someone wants to hand you a pamphlet, a prayer card, a business card you didn’t ask for. Step back and just tell them thank you, no. Once again, the side you will be touching can be laced with a drug. If they get aggressive , you get loud.
3. A kid comes up to you and says they can’t find their parent. Walk the child to a manager, never follow the child outside if that’s where they want you to go.
4. When you are shopping, if you notice someone that happens to always end up in the same aisle as you, but not really shopping, just watching, be alert. Go to a manager and let them know what may be happening. Under no circumstances leave that store, etc without an escort to your car. Call your spouse or a friend to meet you at that place. Safety in numbers.
5. You head to the Ladies Room and see this on the top of the door. (see Picture) Call the police. It’s a locking mechanism from the outside that beeps to let someone know there is a woman inside the bathroom. Target acquired.

ELECTRONICS, ETC…
1. Earbuds – when wearing earbuds or headphones, only cover one ear or use one earbud. You need to be alert to what is happening around you at all times.
2. Are you or a child being tracked? Air trackers are primarily used when targeting a victim. Download a tracker app to your phone. For Android, I use AirGuard. For Apple, use Apple's built-in Find My app, which comes pre-installed on your iPhone and is essential for locating AirTags. Open the app, tap the "Items" tab, select your AirTag, and use the map, "Play Sound," or "Find Nearby" (for Precision Finding on newer iPhones) to pinpoint its exact location by following distance and directional cues.

SOCIAL MEDIA, APPS and KIDS
Social media is not your friend, it’s a huge distraction. Apps and games kids are using are being targeted against them.
1. Do not post your location on FB or IN when you are not home.
2. Do not post pics of your vacation while on vacation.
3. I know everyone is proud of their kids and grandkids, but NEVER post pictures of them, their first day of school, soccer practice etc on social media. Too much information for a trafficker to obtain.
4. It has been alleged that the owner of Lifetouch school photos who also owns Shutterfly had/has ties to
Epstein.
5. If you get a “friend” request and don’t know the person, delete it. Traffickers will often send a “friend” request to you. He looks harmless in his photo, but if you click on to find out who he is, there’s nothing there. There’s just that one picture of him. He’s going to scan your photos then hop onto your friends list and go through to see if he can find his next victim.
6. Kids are bullied on SM all the time. Look at what they are looking at, and what Acronyms they are posting. Acronyms to be aware of on your kid’s social media:
GNRN – get naked right now
NPFNP – naked picture for naked picture
LMIRL – let’s meet in real life
TDTM – talk dirty to me

7. What music are you and your kids listening to???
8. With AI, it’s possible to imitate someone’s voice. Be aware if you get a call from someone you know claiming they have been arrested and/or need money. Call them directly to see if they are OK. Don’t panic.
9. Chat GPT, Grok (AI’s), Roblox, Fortnite (video games) are not kid friendly. Some AI’s are making “friends” with kids and instructing them on suicide methods. Roblox, kids are
interacting with other individuals online. Many are adults looking for victims.
10. My kids grew up with Stranger Danger, but many abusers are known to kids. They are not strangers. Do you have a safe word with your kids? Do they know to come to you if they feel
uncomfortable around someone? If your teen is out and in an uncomfortable situation, there should be a code word they text you which means you call them. Tell them there’s an emergency and you need to pick them up right away.
11. YouTube Kids – there is a program/show called Hangman. It teaches kids how to hang themselves.

ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION:

Run (Evacuate) If you have an accessible escape path, the top priority is to evacuate the premises immediately.

• Have an escape plan in mind before the need arises. Identify two nearest exits in any place you visit.
• Leave your belongings behind and move quickly away from the sound of the gunfire.
• Help others escape, if possible, but do not stay behind if others will not go.
• Prevent individuals from entering an area where the shooter may be.
• Keep your hands visible to law enforcement so they know you are not a threat.
• Call 911 when you are in a safe location. Do not assume someone else has already called.

Hide (Secure in place) If evacuation is not possible, the next option is to find a secure hiding place out of the shooter 's view.

• Find a secure room or area, if possible, that can be locked or barricaded.
•  Lock the door and use heavy furniture, desks, or file cabinets to block entry.
• Turn off all lights and sources of noise, including silencing your cell phone.
• Hide behind large, solid objects (e.g., concrete walls, large machines) that may offer protection from bullets, and stay low to the floor.
• Stay in place until law enforcement gives an "all clear" or specifically instructs you to evacuate. Do not respond to voice commands until you can verify they are from a police officer.

Fight (Last resort) As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger and you cannot run or hide, attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter.

• Act with physical aggression and make a total commitment to your actions.
• Improvise weapons using everyday items like fire extinguishers, chairs, scissors, or heavy books.
• Yell, scream, and throw items at the shooter to distract and disarm them.
•  Recruit others nearby to work as a team to ambush the attacker.

When Law Enforcement Arrives
The first arriving officers' priority is to stop the threat; they will not stop to help the injured immediately.

• Remain calm and follow all instructions from the officers.
• Keep your hands visible and raised with fingers spread.
• Put down any items you are carrying.
• Avoid quick movements towards the officers, pointing, screaming, or yelling.
• Do not stop officers to ask for help or direction when evacuating; proceed in the direction they are entering from.

GUYS:
Men – take a few minutes when you are in a parking lot, look for the mom with kids trying to corral them into the car. Just keep an eye on them, make sure they are safe.