Whether seated in a restaurant or some other public place, those in tune with ‘situational awareness’ will consider a set of criteria before settling upon a particular best, safest seat for one’s security.
Why would anyone care about how to choose a so-called ‘safest’ seat?
Answer: Being in a position that better enables your senses to monitor the surroundings will provide an additional layer of security around your person, allowing you to respond appropriately and more quickly if needed.
With that said, here are some considerations while choosing the best place to sit in a restaurant or public place:
Consider these points while choosing the best place to sit in a restaurant for safety:
You can choose a seat with the best line of sight to entrances and exits (especially entrances) without turning your head much while seated.
Please don’t sit in the closest seat to the entrance; it is an immediate focus point.
Being tucked into a booth will be a hindrance, so choosing a table is better.
Avoid choosing a seat out in the middle. It is best to sit closer to a wall, facing out, although not directly up against it, which could hinder movement and options.
It is essential to be seated where you can get to your feet quickly and start moving.
Choose a seat that enables you to see as many people as possible.
You can choose a seat away from the main entrance but closer to a secondary exit.
Once seated, consider these actions:
Always identify where the exits are.
If in a restaurant, identify the pathway to the kitchen.
Watch the bathroom routes.
Pay attention to whatever may appear or sound ‘out of place’ among the murmur of the patrons.
Watch the entrance for uncharacteristic characters…
While the points listed above may appear overly suspicious, in the reality of practiced Situational Awareness, these thoughts occur naturally and rapidly in your mind until you decide where to sit.
Once seated, the rest becomes semi-subconscious without interfering with one’s enjoyment of the event.
NOTE: A restaurant hostess will always try to seat you where she wants, typically to balance out their servers, etc. However, you have the power to proactively request your own (safest) seating location. This approach ensures your dining experience is comfortable, enjoyable, and safer. In most cases, this should not be an issue (although a busy restaurant may not have much of a choice).
[ Read: Situational Awareness Tips ]
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