We all spend our whole lives trying to stand out in a crowd. In an emergency situation you might want to think about blending in. You might wonder why, the reason is simple. If you look like you are too flashy, or confident or have something someone would want, you become a target. An angry mob of people will act first and think later. Don’t get caught in a an angry mob.

So what do you do to become invisible, first of all you want to blend in and don’t draw attention to yourself.  Wear clothes that are earth tones or neutral colored. Don’t wear anything someone would remember later. If you have a scar or tattoo that someone might recall at a later date you might want to cover it up.  Be as ordinary as you can in all ways. If you dress like you are on a secret combat mission people will remember that. That is not blending in to your surroundings.  You want to become invisible to everyone, including the police and the bad guys.

Know what is happening but don’t look like you do or care. Stay to yourself, don’t look directly at people, avoid eye contact. Move slowly and deliberately don’t do anything that would make someone be able to remember you. 

If you are in your own home town you already know how to act like a local. If you are from a big city and find yourself in a rural area, learn how the locals walk and talk. Remember blending in to your surroundings is what you are trying to achieve.  Stay away from big crowds, learn the streets in your area so you know which areas are safe and which one are not.  Learn where the hospitals, police, gas stations are located in the area you are in. That is one of the first things I do when I go somewhere new. I find out at least where the hospital is, you never know what could happen.

If you are a woman you must be especially diligent. Don’t do anything to stand out, even wearing perfume could cause someone to notice you. Smell is a powerful thing.  Keep your situational awareness, don’t look directly at someone.  Blend in don’t leave any kind of impression on those you might come in contact with.

If you look like you have something to hide or something valuable, people will take notice. They will wonder why you are so paranoid, that will make them want to investigate. You might have something they want or need. You don’t want to walk around oblivious to your surroundings, you just want to look that way.  Pay attention see and listen to everything. Be ready for anything, don’t look prepared but be prepared.

Written by Barbara Conover

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