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The Awareness Spectrum
The Awareness Spectrum is described by Remsberg (1986) and outlines a continuum that essentially indicates the range of an individual's state of alertness. One's state of alertness can and does fluctuate and it is important for personal safety to be conscious of one's degree of alertness during potential or actual unsafe situations. One's level of awareness will directly influence one s ability to detect early warning signs and to help prevent and/or minimize threats; to respond quickly and effectively to risks in the environment; and assist in maintaining self-control and a focused presence during an unsafe situation.
Remsberg (1986) describes the colour coded levels of awareness:
Condition White
This is a state of environmental unawareness. You are oblivious to what's going on around you, because you are daydreaming; tired; preoccupied with distractions; or assuming there is no possibility of trouble and thus no cause for alarm. It is important to keep a Condition White level of awareness for when you are at home - in a safe environment where you can relax. Never occupy a Condition White level of awareness when you are "on the street " or working in the community! Brewer (1994) outlines the familiar Condition White level of awareness:
... It is easy to get lulled into a sense of complacency and false security. The day-to-day grind becomes routine and we find ourselves developing a pattern of behaviour that becomes comfortable and familiar to us. We get up at a certain time. We drive to work along a certain route, park in our assigned space. and do our specific job. We go to lunch, return to work, leave work at a certain time, and return home. If there is any time left, we enjoy a social life, then it `s off to bed - only to start all over the next day. It is precisely when they are caught up in the daily routine that people are most likely to mentally relax or at least go into some kind of programmed mode of operation. This is when many citizens fall victim to crime (p. 63).
Condition Yellow
You are relaxed but alert, cautious but not tense. You maintain an easy but steady 360-degree surveillance of the people, places, things and action around you. You are not specifically expecting a hostile act, but you are aware that aggression is possible. Because you are constantly perceiving and evaluating your environment, you are attuned to any signal that may suggest a threat potential. Your alertness is a preliminary step to action. Condition Yellow is the suggested minimum level of awareness to be maintained during your work day.
Condition Orange
This is a state of alarm. You know there is trouble, and you're concentrating on evaluating it further and resolving it. Based upon the specific situation and your individual training and education, experience, common sense, your intuitive "gut" feeling - you begin to formulate a plan. The plan may involve running away/disengaging, calling for back-up/assistance - depending on the situation. You need to begin focusing on deep breathing and slowing your breath to control your physiological arousal. Concurrently, you need to activate problem-solving and coping self-talk to keep yourself centered.
Condition Red
At this point what looks wrong is wrong. Instant reaction is mandatory. At this point it is truly fight or flight. The threat confronting you needs to be contained, controlled, and neutralized OR you need to disengage QUICKLY and IMMEDIATELY in order to preserve your safety! All systems are GO - your adrenaline, heart rate, and associated physiological reactions are now at their peak. Despite this state of urgency, one needs to maintain one's presence of mind. The decisions you make are not "knee- jerk" reactions, but rather, rational decisions based on the unfolding threat.
Condition Black
Without proper training and preparation for crisis situations, an individual runs the risk of moving quickly from a Condition White into Condition Black. This is something to be avoided at all cost! Condition Black is characterized by panic ... misdirected frenzy ... paralysis.
No one can maintain the intensity of Conditions Orange or Red for any prolonged periods of time - it's just too exhausting! However, when working or moving in potentially dangerous environments, one should maintain a Condition Yellow which can be sustained indefinitely without excessive strain.
Remsberg (1986) goes on to say:
Condition Yellow is not a guarantee of protection, but it gives you the best odds for reading danger cues and moving in proper sequence and in a controlled manner up to Orange and on to Red if necessary. Anticipating danger and thinking and planning ahead will reduce your startle response if danger does explode. If an immediate escalation to Red is required, the jump from Yellow is much easier to accommodate than from White, because the springboard of alertness is already there. You can see the problem. decide what to do and then begin doing it - all within a split second (p. 51).
Constantly being self-aware and monitoring ourselves within potentially dangerous environments is vitaI for self- protection and personal safety.
