Prevent A Crime By Having A Safety Plan In Place - Part I

Posted on March 22, 2008
Filed Under Fighting back, Safety Plan of Action

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By Susan Bartelstone, Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Specialist

A number of years ago, I read an article written by an FBI instructor which stated that if a person could respond quickly, within 20–30 seconds from the moment they first perceived danger, that encounter could probably be resolved favorably.

Oh boy, did this make sense to me! Over the years up to that point, I’d had six dangerous criminal encounters—and I’m talking being surrounded by a group of guys in an isolated location (twice), having a knife pulled out on me when I intervened between a frightened teenager and some guy trying to pick her up, and confrontations of that nature. In five of those six encounters, I prevented the crime from happening, or defused the situation, and got away without any violence. Only once did I have to fight, and that was because I got jumped by a guy crouched down between two parked cars and was taken by surprise (yes, I prevented the rape).

When I analyzed what I’d done in those five incidents to stop a dangerous situation from escalating, the common factor was simply this:

I was thinking rather than panicking and looking for a way out of the situation instead of acting haphazardly.

􀂨The skill of prevention. My years of self defense and martial arts training had only taught me how to fight, not how to prevent an attack or figure out escape plans; so to fully understand the intuitive processes I’d used, I studied the work of a variety of experts from many different disciplines and also became certified as a crime prevention specialist. The result: I developed a three-part system called Think Fast—Talk Fast—Fight Smart which I’ve been teaching and using personally for over 18 years. This system is a total approach to personal safety—starting from the moment that danger is first perceived right up to the moment before the first punch is thrown—focusing on prevention, verbal de-escalation tactics and “dirty” tricks.

“Prevention” (the Think Fast part of the system) is really a skill and a series of strategies. I named the process I designed to teach this skill the 20-Second Response because it’s a method for getting early warning of danger, analyzing options quickly under pressure and coming up with a viable plan of action within the critical 20–30 seconds that the FBI instructor stressed.

􀂨The 20-Second Response. The five components of the 20-Second Response are:

1. Stay alert
2. Listen to your instincts
3. Remain calm in the face of danger
4. Come up with a plan of action quickly
5. Implement the plan quickly by rehearsing it until it becomes automatic

With practice, they build on each other and work harmoniously together.

Be sure to read Part II of Susan Bartelstone’s article

Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

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Comments

3 Responses to “Prevent A Crime By Having A Safety Plan In Place - Part I”

Monika on March 23rd, 2008 6:29 pm

Safety is crucial. As a REALTOR I am more aware of how vulnerable we are than ever before. 2 Realtor murdered while on showings in less than 2 months…makes it just too close to home for me.
Excellent Blog!
admin on March 23rd, 2008 6:47 pm

Thanks Monika. I think it’s too close for comfort for all women. Definately realtors are more at risk than other type jobs because they meet with complete strangers a majority of the time. Having a safety plan, being aware of your surroundings, carrying personal protection and knowing some self-defense techniques are all good things for overall safety and security protection.
Self-Defense and Safety Scenarios For Realtors | Self-Defense With An Attitude on May 20th, 2008 10:33 am

[…] awareness plan to ensure they are actively following their plan and staying safe 24/7. A Safety Plan can include taking a self-defense class, attending security and safety awareness programs, and/or […]