Ever have that feeling that something’s not quite right – a gut instinct kicks in? That’s your brain trying to keep you safe and it’s a good idea to listen. Paying attention to that inner warning is part of situational awareness.
What is situational awareness? It is a critical skill that can significantly impact safety, decision-making and overall well-being. It involves being fully aware of your surroundings, understanding what’s happening around you and anticipating potential risks or changes in the environment. It’s about staying present and observant, recognizing both normal and abnormal events and making informed decisions based on that information. In simpler terms, it’s knowing what’s going on so you can act accordingly.
Statistics say that an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Women ages 18-24 are at an elevated risk of sexual violence. Nearly 26% of women and 15% of men say they experienced dating violence before the age of 18. Age and gender are not the only factors when it comes to safety, and statistics only tell part of the story as incidents are often not reported.
Enter Cheri DeMaria, retired local business owner and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. After being approached about establishing a self-defense program for women, she saw a greater need and expanded the scope. Cheri became certified in Situational Awareness and developed a comprehensive program called S.A.F.E. – Situational Awareness For Empowerment. The one-time, two-hour program focuses heavily on prevention and informs how to be more situationally aware of surroundings by:
- Navigating and recognizing potentially dangerous situations and people.
- Listening to gut instincts before there is an issue.
- Strengthening confidence to act on instincts and critical thinking skills to help stay safe.
S.A.F.E. content and techniques are geared to the audience – teens, young adults, women, seniors, etc. While martial arts are not part of the program, basic and effective hands-on self-defense techniques are included, focusing on how to escape grabs and holds to gain valuable seconds to get away. The program can benefit anyone of any age and no previous experience is required.
Since the program launch, Cheri has worked with the towns of Enfield, Windsor Locks and Suffield to strengthen situational awareness in their communities and students. In Suffield specifically, Cheri’s program was sponsored by Suffield Parks & Recreation and Youth Services. Per Donna Carney-Bastrzycki, Director of Special Programs – Parks & Recreation Department, the program was very well received and there are plans to offer other self-defense programs in the future. For a full listing of all the upcoming Suffield Parks and Recreation programs visit suffieldrec.com.
Those interested in learning more about this valuable program can contact Cheri via email at Thinksafenow@gmail.com or phone at 413-271-7887.