Adam kicks off National Real Estate Agent Safety month by sharing the four keystone concepts of agent (and personal) safety. He has used these concepts as a member of the military, as a law enforcement officer, and now as the leader of thousands of RE/MAX agents.

1. Awareness – This is the primary key to survival in most situations. By paying attention to any physical signs of criminal activity as well as any gut feelings telling you that something is not right, you can avoid entering into danger.
2. Avoidance – Remove yourself from the situation by physically leaving and calling for help. You should have a plan for how you will avoid potential danger and trust your gut when it tells you to follow the plan. In the case of an open house where a person approaches you and makes you feel unsafe, just walk out of the house. You should have already instructed the homeowners to remove any prescription medications, valuables, and weapons from the house, and your safety is more important than possessions. Remember that the best fight won is the fight never fought.
3. De-escalation – Kindness is the first wave of de-escalation and talking your way out of things can help diffuse a potentially dangerous situation. Another tactic of de-escalation is to redirect the person’s attention or the focus of the conversation. If you feel unsafe, it is best to call the police and report what has happened – it is likely that this person’s behavior is a pattern that the authorities need to be aware of.
4. Response – If after following the steps of awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation you still find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, your natural defense system will kick in and you are likely to fight, flight, or freeze. Analyze your surroundings and keep trying to either get out of the situation or choose to do nothing and hope the person moves on. However, if you do find yourself in a fight, fight with all your might by using whatever resources are available to you. You are legally allowed to defend yourself if you feel at risk of bodily harm, and your focus should be to protect, defend, and win.

In addition to these safety concepts, it is also important to be familiar with first aid. Have a first aid kit nearby and be prepared to administer basic first aid if the situation arises, either learned during a CPR/First Aid training class or by watching a few YouTube videos. You can have a positive impact on others by being aware and willing to act.

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