{"id":754,"date":"2018-03-30T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T06:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goldenphipress.com\/WayOfTheConcealedCarrier\/?p=754"},"modified":"2018-03-27T11:05:37","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T11:05:37","slug":"are-you-deep-scanning-your-environment-or-just-looking-without-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/goldenphipress.com\/WayOfTheConcealedCarrier\/are-you-deep-scanning-your-environment-or-just-looking-without-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Deep Scanning Your Environment or Just Looking Without Thinking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yes, we’ve talked about situational awareness (SA) in the past and as you know, it is the most important tool that you\u2019ll ever need that can save your life. \u00a0But ask yourself this, are you using it all the time while you’re in a crowd or when no one is around?\u00a0 Are you using SA properly?\u00a0 Has it now become a mechanical movement without thinking about what you\u2019re doing? \u00a0Let\u2019s discuss the deep scanning method to fine tune your SA skills.<\/h4>\n

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I have noticed that when I do situational awareness when I am out and about, I find myself scanning quickly and moving on. \u00a0One day, at the same place that I usually visit, I found a new object I never saw before during my usuaul scans. \u00a0I was curious so I asked my friend \u201cHow long has that been there?\u201d \u00a0They replied \u201cOh, its been there for years\u201d. \u00a0I was perplexed. \u00a0It\u2019s been there for years? \u00a0So this really made me think. \u00a0Am I properly using SA? \u00a0And if so, all the times I have visited that same location, how did I miss this?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like being the driver of the car. \u00a0You drive the same route day after day, the same scene a thousand times over and you notice the same things over and over again. \u00a0But that one day you\u2019re the passenger looking out the window, you discover new things. \u00a0\u201cHey honey, is that something new, I have never seen that before. \u00a0When did they put that up?\u201d \u00a0Her response, \u201coh, its been there for years.\u201d \u00a0What the hell?! \u00a0Have a drilled the same routine in my head that my environment has not changed and I haven\u2019t noticed the actual changes? \u00a0How am I missing it?<\/p>\n

With the car, I am so focused on where I am going that I am missing other things around me. \u00a0But when I sit in a different spot in the vehicle, I get a different view of my environment and my awareness changes. \u00a0Then I start noticing new things. \u00a0So with SA, I just look around my environment and over a period of time I have conditioned myself in seeing the same thing over and over again. \u00a0But if I can heighten my awareness and actually start paying attention, I begin to spot more and more things that have already been in plain view of which my mind hasn\u2019t pick up on. \u00a0So I decided to amp it up. \u00a0I started to do a deep scanning of my surroundings.<\/p>\n

To deep scan your situational awareness while looking around, lock onto an object or person very briefly, take note of what it looks like (color, shape, size, etc) and move onto another object or person. \u00a0This helps you collect more data on the environment you\u2019re in and not Willy Nilly things while just looking around. \u00a0You want to make sure you\u2019re getting the full picture and getting your mind involved to really examin what\u2019s going on around you. I quiz myself after a deep scan and ask myself, what did I see and what details can I remember? \u00a0How many people were in my view? \u00a0Were there pets or children? \u00a0Change it up to keep your mind sharp.<\/p>\n

I now do the same thing while I practice my draw and returning my sidearm to its holster. \u00a0I deeply scan around while my firearm is in the holster and my hand is still on the grip, but I lock on objects around me for a brief millisecond as I look around. \u00a0Then when I feel that it\u2019s safe, I take my hand off my firearm. \u00a0If I don\u2019t feel safe, my hand remains on the pistol grip just in case I have to unholster it right away because of another threat. \u00a0Remember, your criminals usually work in teams. \u00a0The reason why you need to deep scan is to make sure its safe and you don\u2019t get ambushed.<\/p>\n

So try this deep scanning method and quiz yourself on what you saw. \u00a0Do you remember the words on the t-shirt of the person? Do you remember where their hands were? \u00a0Could you give a complete description of them? \u00a0Were they with others and could you also describe them?<\/p>\n

Continue practicing your situational awareness, but try not to do it mechanically, you may miss something important that will help you if you need to defend yourself or become a good witness.<\/p>\n

By the way, how many animals in the picture above had horns? \u00a0How\u2019s your situational awareness?<\/p>\n

Be safe out there, be the responsible firearm owner and always follow the \u201cConcealed Carry Creed\u201d!!!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Yes, we’ve talked about situational awareness (SA) in the past and as you know, it is the most important tool that you\u2019ll ever need that can save your life. \u00a0But ask yourself this, are you using it all the time while you’re in a crowd or when no one is around?\u00a0 Are you using…
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