Author of article: Safety Defense Coach-Amy Washington. ©2017 Brick Street Safety Academy

The original concept of situational awareness or combative mindset was formed by Colonel Jeff Cooper. Colonel Cooper developed Cooper’s Color Codes to educate on the premise that it’s not about how much tactical skills or martial art training that a person has, it’s about the mindset of that individual. If you do not have the combative mindset to be alert or aware your ability to physically defend or protect yourself will not be effective.

Cooper’s Color Codes displays four basic colors: White, Yellow, Orange and Red. Like with most instructors teaching on the topic of awareness we’ve tweaked our version of Cooper’s Color Codes to tailor to our students and safety awareness classes so that the concept and meaning goes hand in hand with the lessons being taught.

We utilize our color codes for everyday living such as: home and job alertness, shopping at stores or malls, ATM safety, walking, jogging etc… We also use it for combative mindset in CPL or BSSA firearm training courses.

Our safety awareness levels chart has six color codes.

BSSA Safety Awareness Levels Definitions:

• White: Unalert, unaware, guard completely down, not paying attention. This stage makes you very vulnerable to threats or attacks or an easy target.

• Yellow: Cautious, watchful, feeling normal or relaxed but paying attention.

• Orange: Heightened state of being alert, recognized a potential threat, aware, engaged, focused, guard is up.

• Red: Fighting for your life!

• Purple: Survival mode, injured but has the will to fight to survive.

• Black: It’s over or lights out!  This stage is not where you want to be if you can avoid it.

After reviewing the chart most students wonder…

If a person is in the yellow stage–the cautious stage, does that mean they will automatically go through the other safety stages of awareness in that moment?

The levels of safety awareness does not function like that for most individuals or for all situations. Bear in mind it will depend on the nature of the threat. In most cases you won’t enter into all of the stages of awareness at once. There will be times where things will cease or diminish in threat. More than likely you’ll find yourself in the yellow stage without the need to escalate to the next levels. If this happens, this is a good thing! Actually, it’s a GREAT thing if you can walk away and survive another day without any confrontations, threats or assaults that could potentially lead to severe injury or death!

Why use the colors purple and black?

The color purple models after survivors who were honored with purple hearts. Individuals who received this honor—the highest honor in the military did not give in or give up. Most of those brave soldiers found the will to fight for their survival in spite of enduring extreme pain, being severely injured or close to death. They chose to live regardless of their circumstances. They chose to fight for their survival.

Before continuing, take a moment to close your eyes. Remain that way for a minute or two, then open your eyes.

When you closed your eyes you saw darkness. Then when you opened your eyes you saw light and resume with your life. Unfortunately, there are no second chances when you’ve reached stage black. Our concept of using black as a visual is to remind our students that if they do not condition their minds to be vigilant at all times—alert or aware and learn some personal defense techniques to fight back they will become an easy target and possibly perish or become gravely injured. No one wants to die or enter into the stage of black. However, if it’s in your control to avoid it, do whatever it takes to survive!!

What happens if there is no warning or you’re not able to see potential threats?

Sadly, there have been times where innocent people did not have any warnings such as the shootings at the Pulse Nightclub in Florida, Emanuel AME Church, Sandy Hook, Bombing at the Boston Marathon and so forth. The ability to use the yellow or orange levels of awareness was cowardly taken away from those innocent individuals. In some instances, the red stage to fight back was also taken away too. However, some people were able to enter into the purple stage of survival. They did what they had to do in order to survive. If you do nothing to survive, panic, freeze or go into a state of shock, you will not live to see another day!  Again, do whatever it takes to survive.

Take a moment to view Adrianne Haslet Davis story of survival. She is one of the Boston’s Marathon Bombing Survivors.

See Adrianne dance again.

Adrianne’s story reminds us that life as you know it can change in an instant. But if you have the intent and the will to survive and fight for your life, you can make it through the worst events of your life! Adrianne chose not to be a victim. Instead, she chose to be victorious and live her life!

Use the levels of awareness color codes to help keep you safe. As always

Be Alert, Aware and most definitely BE SAFE!!

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Author of article: Safety Defense Coach-Amy Washington. ©2017 Brick Street Safety Academy