As a young middle-class kid growing up in a church that had an inner city bus ministry, my father, the bus driver, volunteered my services as the official bus greeter, referee and snitch as he guided his passengers through some of Lexington’s worst neighborhoods in the 1970’s.
Many of those kids needed guidance and an opportunity to escape their environment, and I am still friends with many them to this day, thanks to Social Media. Some were among a pretty rough group of kids and I quickly learned that in order to survive the experience, I had to become chameleon-like to blend in, get along and avoid getting beaten up.
Growing up and not fearing some of the dangerous elements of our society allowed me to safely go home with some of the inner city kids in between morning and evening church services. I remember seeing poverty up close, where dysfunctional families, alcoholism, drug addiction, and gang activity was prevalent; something that was more hidden in the comforts of my modest middle class neighborhood.
Those lessons or street-smart skills have always served me well as I navigate through various difficult situations.
As a safety and risk control consultant, I am expected to suit up and address a wide audience: business owners, presidents, CEO’s, and CFO’s as well as custodial staff, union reps and front line employees, all in the effort to achieve the same objective.
Streetwise people usually have good common sense and know how to delicately handle difficult situations in different environments, reading people’s reactions while understanding what’s going in the world around them. They also know how to deal with different types of socio-economic groups, reading between the lines, while being perceptive, resourceful, clever, astute, insightful, and crafty when necessary.
People can be book smart, but even one with an Ivy League education, they can still be street foolish. People just don’t learn how to navigate a dangerous neighborhood in the safety of a classroom. Equally, you won’t become street savvy while sitting behind a computer or by just reading my column.
Once on a business trip to Chicago back in the late 90’s I left the downtown loop area late at night on the last Amtrak train to Juliet for a training session that I was giving the following morning. I was told by my co-workers back at the office at the Sears Tower that despite the time of night, I should be able to catch a cab to the hotel from the train station.
Once arriving I was a little agitated to find myself alone on a cold January night, with a dead cellphone and no cab in sight. Realizing my predicament, I quickly realized that I practically had a target hanging my neck and needed to make a pretty quick decision, as Juliet wasn’t a place you wanted to be late at night wearing a suit and tie with a laptop bag and a suitcase in tow.
Left with no choice, I hid my laptop bag under my raincoat, removed my tie, picked up a broken chair leg from a trash pile that I happened by and walked several blocks to my hotel.
Luckily I had done my homework and knew how to get to the hotel. I had also avoided participating in social drinking that evening and was keenly aware of everything around me as I tried to walk confidently and quickly to my destination.
The lesson I learned from that trip was to always expect the unexpected and be prepared for just about anything. To become more street-smart and survive in such environments, you need to follow the following guidelines regardless if you are in a crime area. Crime can find you in just about any environment.
Maintain Situational Awareness- Stay alert at all times keeping your mind on your surroundings, who’s in front of you and who’s behind you and don’t get distracted. If you’re worried about crime, ask a friend to accompany you when you go out, there is safety in numbers. Avoid walking by vacant lots, alleys, or construction sites. Carry your purse close to your body and keep a firm grip on it. Walk facing traffic so you can see approaching cars and don’t overburden yourself with packages and groceries that make it hard to react.
Project Confidence- Exhibit that you are calm, confident, and know where you’re going. Stand tall, walk purposefully, and make quick eye contact with people around you.
Trust Your Instincts- Listen to that inner voice that is your subconscious telling you something that you haven’t detected as a threat. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave.
Increase Your Odds- Never go into an unfamiliar neighborhood without a full tank of gas. Don’t flaunt expensive jewelry, and clothing and avoid carrying expensive electronics.
Dress to Blend In- Even if you look different, keeping your clothing modest is important. This is not the time to look fashionable or stand out. See what people your age usually wear in the region and copy them.
Know Your Environment- Nothing places a bull’s-eye on you than looking lost and confused. Study maps and pictures online before traveling to an unfamiliar area so that you will know where you’re going. Study the public transportation for that area, because a train, subway, ferry or bus station can be a dangerous place late at night, and not knowing what you’re doing will make the situation more dangerous.
Travel Smart- If traveling by bus sit close to the bus driver. If you are traveling on a train don’t sleep. If driving keep your vehicle in good running condition to avoid breakdowns and keep at least a half tank of gas. Drive with all doors locked, windows rolled up and park in well-lighted areas.
Avoid Contact- This is can be complicated. If you’re walking toward a person or a group who appear to be checking you out, try to walk in a different direction to avoid them. Don’t make it obvious, though—if you cross the street, for example, go into a store on that side. Remember, you want to avoid dangerous situations, but you don’t want to appear paranoid or scared. Don’t stare and when making eye contact with someone, don’t look away suddenly. Keep walking if spoken to and keep conversation to a minimum. Some people are genuinely being friendly, but some have bad intentions. This is not the place to learn the difference.
When Confronted By A Bad Guy Stay Calm- Observe your surroundings, pay attention to their appearance, maintain an escape route and start looking for possible help. If no help is available, flee and be prepared to defend yourself. They may try to take you somewhere less public. Do not follow them into a secluded area even if they are armed.
You have a better chance to survive if you stay put. If they try to take you by force, scream, kick, punch, and bite. If they have a gun and all they want is your wallet or valuables, give it to them.
Don’t try to be a hero; it’s not worth your life.
Be Safe My Friends .
Keven Moore works in risk management services. He has a bachelor’s degree from University of Kentucky, a master’s from Eastern Kentucky University and 25-plus years of experience in the safety and insurance profession. He lives in Lexington with his family and works out of both the Lexington and Northern Kentucky offices. Keven can be reached at kmoore@roeding.com.
