How aware are you of your surroundings? Retired law enforcement captain Catherine Trimboli shares decades of experience about personal safety and situational awareness, revealing why our phone-obsessed generation has become sitting ducks for criminals.

This GenXer spent 30+ years in law enforcement, working everything from jails to freeway patrol as a deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Her passion for empowering women and families grew from witnessing how many people lack basic safety awareness and confidence in their daily lives.

The conversation explores generational differences in safety awareness. While Gen X grew up without smartphones constantly demanding attention, today's workers face unprecedented distractions that compromise their situational awareness. Harvard research shows humans operate on autopilot 47% of the time - a dangerous statistic when applied to personal safety.

Catherine emphasizes practical solutions for workplace safety, especially for blue-collar workers who travel between job sites. Simple changes like having three different routes to any destination, parking in well-lit areas, and conducting brief research before visiting new locations can dramatically improve safety outcomes.

The discussion reveals how predictable routines make people vulnerable targets. Taking the same route at the same time every day creates patterns that criminals can exploit. Breaking these patterns while maintaining awareness of body language, posture, and confidence levels helps project strength rather than vulnerability.

Highlights:

• Humans operate on autopilot 47% of the time, creating safety vulnerabilities
• Always have three different routes to any destination for safety and flexibility
• Smartphone distraction makes people easy targets for criminals and pickpockets
• Stance and movement matter - confident posture deters potential threats
• Trust your gut feelings when something doesn't feel right in any situation
• Workplace lighting and buddy systems improve employee safety and morale

Ready to improve your personal safety awareness and protect your team? Don't wait until something happens to start thinking about security.

Subscribe to Blue Collar BS for more conversations about keeping yourself and your workers safe across all generations and industries. Share this episode with anyone who needs a reality check about situational awareness in our distracted world.

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