Means of egress: know multiple ways to get out quickly
Security cameras are everywhere in today’s world and unfortunately, many people are under the mistaken belief that these cameras will protect them and keep them safe. We’re told cameras are a deterrent to threats. But those cameras—at least the cameras that are real and not just decoys—will only record a robbery, a murder, a rape, a shooting, an arson, or some other act of violence. A camera will not protect you or stop a determined criminal. This is just one example of how we’ve been lulled into a false sense of security.
This false sense of safety means many people go about their day in a permanent state of normalcy bias, heads buried in their phone. People move from point A to point B without a second thought under the illusion there are no threats. “It can’t happen to me.” “Nothing bad is going to happen.” “I live in a safe neighborhood.” They feel comfortable and secure, when there are, in fact, risks and dangers.
We abdicate safety to the police, to a minimum wage security guard who may not even be armed or properly trained, to a dummy security camera, to a sign on a wall that tells trespassers they will be fined, to a fire department. The responsibility for safety is someone else’s. And it’s always after the fact. We’ve been lured into a dangerous place.
To overcome complacency about safety, the best place to begin is to practice situational awareness. Pay attention to your surroundings and do some mental planning to help you respond to threats and to keep you out of harm’s way. And with some effort, it will become habit, possibly making the difference between getting home safe and sound, or not.
Let’s start with a situation you will encounter every day, sometimes numerous times a day—entering a building. Do you know how you can get out quickly if the way you came in is no longer an option?
Two alternate means of egress, along with the front door, are easily spotted before entering. Once inside the store, take note of stock room location and any other side or rear exits.
In a former life, multiple means of egress were very high on my priority list because there was a significant probability that the way I came in may not be available for me to get out. The ability to quickly assess and take note of all possible means of egress before entering any structure became second nature. It's an important skill that I've tried to hold onto to this day because experience has taught me that things can go from bad to horrifying in just a few minutes.
If you encounter danger or risk, knowledge and a plan will help guide you through it while keeping you and those with you calm. Scrambling for solutions or a way out of an unfamiliar building while amid a panicked crowd is not where you want to be. Having a formulated plan and practice visualizing it—being able to quickly collect whoever you're with and lead them out—can be all the difference.
This is not limited to any one risk or situation. It could be an active shooter or a fast-moving fire with heavy smoke. A panicked crowd will likely respond with a stampede for the front door because that's what 99% of people know and all they pay attention to. This will most likely lead to a bottleneck at the main entrance. People will be crushed, wedged and unable to move in the doorway. The implications of this, using an active shooter as an example, is that the main entrance is widely visible to everyone including the person trying to take your life and the life of your family.
An alternate means of egress, like the stockroom, is not widely visible. It is never located in the same spot, has an exit to the rear of the building, is like a maze inside with plenty of places to hide if need be and can be much better defended if you're cornered. Most importantly, it is less likely to be found and/or entered because it's not a target rich environment. If you carry every day—which you should be doing—taking the fight to this person would be a judgement call based on many factors. Retreat and escape may be the better option if kids are in tow.
Larger big box stores will have multiple entrances, meaning multiple forms of egress, like large stockroom areas with loading docks and other random employee exits. Smaller stores in strip malls will, at a minimum, all have rear exits leading to the parking lot. Most people know this, however, when asked, they get turned around and have difficulty orienting themselves to be able to answer quickly. This is under a zero-stress scenario. This will be an almost impossible question if under extreme duress. Being aware that alternate exits exist in a building is not the same as having specific knowledge of where they are in relation to your location while in the building.
This should be something you add to your situational awareness exercises. It’s easy to do, gets you thinking and is simple enough to format as a game to involve children. Some questions you can begin to answer:
How many entrances/exits do you see from the parking lot?
How many entrances to the stockroom can you find in the store?
While in the store, what is the closest to furthest exit from your location?
Which exit is closest to where your vehicle is parked?
Are there any landmarks in the store to help orient yourself?
If shopping separately with family, do you have a rally point if something bad begins to happen?
Is there a discussion on how you will move with each other?
Who’s responsible for security, children, and route selection to get out?
Before leaving, take a ride around to the rear of the store to see where those exits lead. Were they close to your vehicle? Is there a better option?
These are just a few things to start training yourself to think differently.
Remember—first to know, first to act.
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