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Technology is literally destroying soft skills. The amount of conversations that happen over text, direct messaging services, emails, or in comment sections is creating a flat 1 dimensional landscape that everyone has to navigate and assume meaning. Everyday a new meme pops up about how "crippling" it is when certain generations have to have phone conversations. This is because an overreliance on tech. But it gets worse. So much worse. Technology is not evil, and it has uses. Unfortunately, it is becoming the solution to problems that involve people. Customer Service or Client Experience Specialists are becoming scarce due to automation. Press 1 to continue, Press 2 to hang up. The over reliance on technology in the workplace reduces the nuances associated with humanity. Oddly enough, some of us grew up with movies that "warned" us of a dependence on technology. The Terminator being the most relevant example when I think about this concept. Yet here we are, with microphones and cameras learning and listening. Nearly every week A story comes out about some tech firm having a robot attack a technician. For whatever reason, we don't seem to understand that people are unpredictable and therefore there are no absolutes in dealing with them. In other words, there is not an algorithm that can predict human behavior. There was an article about virtual reality simulators for law enforcement training that was to teach de-escalation strategies. I'm sure there are 1000's of options and scenarios, but nothing that generates emotion. Nothing that creates a palpable sense of fear, hostility, or sadness. So we have upgraded to a 3D image that is still flat and expect better results. Scenario training is a great tool, but taking the human element out of the equation creates a void in learning and understanding. We will always do it Better There is no substitution for human connection. The scarcer it becomes, the more we will crave it. Get Safe believes in safety and communication through connection. That means that as cool as technology gets, we will always do it better. We converse, analyze, support, and grow through interpersonal connections. These are things that technology cannot do. What's even better is that we offer Customer Service Training as well as Law Enforcement De-Escalation training. We believe in the human connection and utilize technology as a mechanism to support our efforts by offering training seminars and courses through our online portal. We believe there is no substitute for conversation between people. Although we focused on the more professional concepts of technology, there is a looming threat for personal connection too. Try these 3 things to keep your personal life from becoming empty. Sleep in a different room than your phone Give yourself some time every day to disengage from screens. Try to create as much as you consume Have a conversation with someone and keep your phone off the table and on silent

Buzz words!! Love 'em or hate 'em, they become a normal part of our daily conversations. When the media, politicians, and community stakeholders constantly use the same language, we naturally develop expectations and connotations around that familiar terminology. But you know what doesn’t happen? Nobody develops a common definition or understanding of what the term means. Let’s look at “De-Escalation.” Using the prefix de-, the root word escalate, and the suffix -ion, we can broadly define de-escalation as an action causing the intensity or seriousness to decrease. To help wrap your head around that, let’s break it down. De – used to denote motion or conveyance down from, away, or off (deflect; descend); reversal or undoing of the effects of an action (deflate); extraction or removal of a thing (decaffeinate) Escalate – become or cause to become more intense or serious Ion – to do Where does that leave us? De-escalation, by definition, is basically any action that prevents further escalation. While we want to try to use tactics and strategies to calm things down, the reality is that sometimes force is the appropriate method to stop a spiraling situation from getting worse. Since crises tend to be fluid and rapidly evolving, we must trust that our professionals are making the best decision in that particular moment to keep everyone safe. We would love to hear your feedback, comments, questions or concerns!

A crisis can occur anywhere, at any time, to anyone. It can be caused by an external event or internal conflict. It can be the result of a mental illness, stress, or tragedy. It can be triggered by finances, relationships, expectations, productivity, perceptions, and the unknown. A crisis isn’t always a total meltdown; it can simply be a moment of feeling overwhelmed with nowhere to turn. In the interest of continuity, let’s establish a working definition to use moving forward. Here are a couple of expert definitions. “…an upset in equilibrium at the failure of one’s traditional problem-solving approach which results in disorganization, hopelessness, sadness, confusion, and panic.” (Lillibridge and Klukken, 1978) “…crisis is a perception or experience of an event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds the person’s current resources and coping mechanisms.” (James and Gilliland, 2001) In other words, a crisis occurs when a person’s coping mechanisms become overwhelmed, causing an internal system breakdown. By definition, the person has run out of coping mechanisms and needs help to regain their balance. So, what's the solution to a crisis? That depends. It depends on the situation, the time of day, the person (or persons) involved, location, and the environment around us. There is never one absolute answer because people are unpredictable. Therefore, your best option is to evaluate each situation with the information you have, coupled with your training and experience, to produce the safest outcome. We all experience crises in our lives. Some of us regularly work with people in crisis, but all of us have or will personally experience a crisis. What do you do to help minimize the effects of a crisis, and how do you help someone else experiencing an overload?

It’s not just a catchy name - It is an imperative statement, a mantra, a creed, and a code. It is a solution to a problem, and it is a call to action. We want everyone to be safe in their pursuit of happiness. That's why it's more than our name. S.A.F.E. is an acronym, a mnemonic device to manage nearly every situation. It’s applicability goes beyond avoiding danger. So what is it? S-Scan A-Assess F-Forecast E-Execute Briefly, SCAN the scene and the situation. Who is there? What are they doing? Who is not there but should be? What is around you? What obstacles are in your way? ASSESS the information you acquired from your SCAN. Is there a threat? What do you need? What do you have? What are your exit routes? What do you know based on your own experiences or training? FORECAST what may happen and formulate a plan. Using the information in front of you, your experience, and prior training, estimate what might happen next and how you can get away. Lastly, EXECUTE your plan. Then repeat it until you are safe and back to state of balance emotionally, physically, and mentally. Comment what situations you can or would use this mantra in. Hint: it's nearly every situation!