Using good Situational Awareness, you should be able to see and avoid a potentially difficult situation. In most cases, you can simply stop, turn around and go the other way or take a path around the trouble. Sometimes, though, try as you might, trouble finds you.

At first, subtlety may be required. Fast or big movements on your part might draw attention to you or could ignite a smoldering situation. Running from an aggressive dog might cause him to chase you, while moving away calmly may allow you to escape.

• Be aware and leave an area if trouble seems to be brewing.
• Walk, don't run, if you only have a "feeling" that things are not right.
• Cross the street; turn and walk the other way; turn down another street, especially if there are non-threatening people there (no, not a dark alley).
• If actual trouble becomes apparent, move away from it quickly but calmly.
• If trouble starts after you, RUN AWAY.
• Cry for help to call attention to your dilemma.

If you cannot move away from a potentially troublesome predicament, you may need to attempt to de-escalate the situation.

• An angry or aggressive person may just want to be heard. While maintaining Condition Red, calmly let the person vent his feelings.
• Listen and try to calm everyone down. Do not take anyone's side, even the angry persons', unless you know the situation. People will see through disingenuous words and this will likely cause even more trouble.
• Never, ever argue with a drunk. Reason goes into the bottle faster than the alcohol comes out of it. Smile, nod, say "Yes" or "No."
• Be sure your body language matches your words. Be alert to move if need be, but not aggressively postured. Do not look like a rabbit ready to run or a wolf ready to pounce. A variation of the basic Krav Maga fighting stance can accomplish this.
• If you are in error about something, admit it. Honesty is a better way to de-escalate than is lying or stubbornly refusing to acknowledge wrong.
• Do not react to merely provocative words or gestures. Ignore them and move on in the discussion.
• Do not insult or embarrass the other person in any way, particularly in public. You don;t like it, neither will an aggressive person
• Threats or aggressive and intimidating actions may need to be acknowledged and even confronted. However, be careful about being imperious or arrogant ("How dare you say/do that?"), or returning a threat unless you can back it up successfully. It may be better to ask the person to stop using that language or making those gestures as a sign of mutual respect.

Review the Color Codes

• Do not walk around like a victim - head down, shuffling, unaware, like you have blinders on. This is known as Condition White, a bad place to be.
• Move with head up, with perception and subtle spirit, scanning casually around, aware of your circumstances. You see who is near you; note the physical layout of the area; note friends and questionable persons or known troublesome characters. This is Condition Yellow; you can stay here all the time.
• Analyze the demeanor and circumstances of people. If they appear upset or aggressive, shifty or deceitful, or if you are simply uncomfortable, move from Condition Yellow to Condition Orange.
• Subtly observe people who seem to be getting caught up in a confrontation. Note any obvious leaders. Try to pick up visual and aural cues as to what the trouble is. However, do not become so fixated or tunnel-visioned on the obvious trouble that you miss other things going on around you.
• If you feel you might become a person of attention for any reason (age, race, gender, religious or ethnic affiliation [i.e. wearing a yarmulke, burka, hajab or turban], political connection [i.e. wearing politically identifiable buttons, clothes, colors]), leave the area. Protest your "right" to be wherever you wish to be without harassment later. Move to Condition Red.
• If you are attacked, go to Condition Black. You have not successfully avoided trouble, but you may be able to get yourself and others out of it. Fight, run!

Stay alert - Stay alive!