NOTICE

106 R.J. GODLEWSKI/INERT
Color Code for Personal Awareness (Con’t)
Yellow: Here you’re relaxed but with a nonspecific
alert. No immediate threat exists but you
are still alert eying all possibilities. No one can
approach you without your being aware of them.
You are not anticipating trouble but are
nevertheless prepared for it. You are within this
condition, say, whenever you drive your
automobile; you check your mirrors frequently
looking for obstacles even though they may not be
there and wear your seatbelt even though you do
not anticipate a collision.
Orange: This represents a specific alert.
Something (a person, a vehicle, a situation) has
attracted your attention. There might be a very
simple and innocent reason for your heightened
concerns but you just want to be on your toes
before you shift back down to Condition Yellow.
Red: This is the “fight is on!” mode that you dread
reaching but spend your life preparing for; the
situation where your mental ‘go’ button is pressed.
Someone might be approaching you with a gun, a
raised baseball bat, or wielding a knife. This is
where your “kill or be killed” posture comes into
play even if it might not be exercised. A simple “If
they do X I’ll do Y” algorithm. You’re not 100%
positive as to what they’ll do but you sure as hell
know what you’ll do should the threat warrant.