If in pursuit of your goal (to be safe) one of your strategies (relaxed alertness) has helped you identify a possible threat then it is time to determine your best tactics (actions) for responding to a possible problem.  Tactics evaluations can include a series of if-then drills that let you dry rehearse your response to a real emergency. Tactics are affected by many things most importantly the proximity of your family to either an approaching threat and/or their proximity to an ongoing or active threat. In preparation for either of those situations, I like to mentally rehearse four possible responses:
Tactic No. 1 – Swift decisive exit
Tactic No. 2 – Wait then exit
Tactic No. 3 – Wait and watch
Tactic No. 4 – Violent dynamic action
How would you determine which tactic to employ, and when? As an example, consider a what-if situation in an area restaurant. Two individuals enter a diner and all the warning bells go off in your head. If you are alone your obligation to your family is to leave at once. (Tactic No. 1 – Swift decisive exit)  If you are with your family maybe your best tactic would be to send them out to safety first while you cover their exit. Then after they are safely out of the area you promptly exit. (Tactic No. 2 – Wait then exit) If after you have gotten your family out safely the situation degenerates and getting up would draw a dangerous level of attention to yourself, maybe your best (temporary) tactic would be stay and remain an invisible face in the crowd. (Tactic No. 3 – Wait and watch) Finally, if despite all your efforts the problem is about to erupt and engulf you then it may be time to act. (Tactic No. 4 – Violent dynamic action)
