When my older son was about 2 we were traveling a lot for my investment business, and I tried to take the family along as often as possible. Jonny was a busy kid who loved to experience life on high volume. Ironically, he's like that as an adult too.
We were in a hotel in Williamsburg, VA, on a trip and Jonny and I had gone somewhere and were heading back to the room. He saw the elevator door open and took off for the door. Before I could get there, he was in the elevator and the door closed. I hit the button, but it didn't open. The second elevator did. So, I jumped in pushed the #2 and jumped out.
The second elevator took off, and I hit the up button again and Jonny's elevator opened. He
was standing there a bit confused, but fine. It all happened in less than a minute. I don't know if was all of the years working in prisons that made me think quickly, or what, but it taught me a good lesson. Where we fail in a crisis is when we lose focus.
I've been in some of the toughest prisons in the US, and I've traveled through some dangerous countries around the world. You've got to pay attention all the time to make sure you are safe. The people who end up victims or injured are those who aren't aware of their surroundings and the potential dangers that lurk nearby.
That doesn't mean that you should develop a paranoid mindset. It only means that you need to pay attention. You become aware of your surroundings. You become aware of the people around you, and you pay attention to movements around you. The bottom line to your personal safety in the mall, overseas or in your classroom is to pay attention and always see a path of retreat in the event something happens. You never want to be in a position where you are boxed in. The safest person in the world is the person who is always ready to respond to a situation.
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