When you are out in public, shopping, dining, playing with your family at the park, do you know what’s going on around you? When you walk out of your front door, or walk to your car after work, do you know who’s around?
So many times, we walk around with our heads down, faces in our phones, and earbuds in our ears. We are totally clueless about the potential dangers around us. Cooper’s Color Code can help you to remember how alert we should be and how prepared we should be to take action if necessary.
Originally created for law enforcement officers who carry firearms, this chart can help us be aware of our surroundings and help us avoid becoming a target of opportunity for would-be bad actors. By using the color which best represents the current situation in which we find ourselves, we can be appropriately aware and have a plan if our color/situation suddenly changes.
Take some time to review the chart and try to stay in the yellow zone whenever you step outside of your own home. If you find yourself facing a potential threat and have moved to Orange, what are your next steps? Is it an actual threat? If so, can you get to safety before the threat gets too close? If the threat is real and you cannot get to safety, is there a panic button on your key ring, assuming you have your keys in hand? Is there some other way to alert those around you that you need assistance? For example, asking a security officer to walk you to your car. If there is no way to avoid the threat, and you now find yourself in the red zone, do you have a plan? The best way to avoid freezing when you need to act is to have a plan and practice, either in your head or in real life. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it can prevent you from freezing up.
So, the next time you find yourself out and about, think about what color you are in. Stay alert. Stay safe.
Cooper’s Color Code
