Maintaining awareness

[KBCraig]

The "crowded mall" thread got me to thinking about maintaining awareness. I usually maintain superb situational awareness without even thinking about it. It's part personality, and part curiosity about the world about me, and many years of being surrounded by felons.

I'm especially more aware in riskier situations, like dark mall parking lots during holiday shopping season. Usually, that is...

We've all been playing musical tonsilitis in my house. The 3 year old started it and promptly recovered, but my wife and 15 year old daughter and I have been going around for a week, grimacing every time we swallow, constantly trying to clear our ears, and generally getting sick and tired of being sick and tired.

So, we were at the mall Saturday evening (as a gesture of teenager appeasement), and it slowly dawned on me that we were all walking around in a fog. And while that did cause me to force myself to focus, I knew I wasn't at my best awareness.

I wasn't happy about it, but couldn't do much about it other than do my best until we could get to the safety of home.

Kevin

[MoJo]

Condition Yellow is a terrible thing to waste!

[stevie_d_64]

Kevin...

I lose it on one dose of Nyquil myself...I couldn't hit the ground if I fell when thats working on me...

Ever wonder why they show people taking that stuff when they are in bed...Thats a good indicator...

[KBCraig]

Yeah, nothing but Ibuprofen at that point of the day. I did take a couple of Nyquil gel caps before bed, and I did do some sleepin'!

[rgoldy]

Agree whole heartedly on the appropriate use of Nyquil. It makes me crash, and gives me horrendous nightmares.
They have a new product called Dayquil but have not had occasion to need it so have not looked at ingredients. Almost any product that is high in anti-histamines or alcohols or ibuprofen/acetaminophen would seem to me an impairment to judgement and ability to maintain awareness.
If I have to take them, I stay home, since driving is on the same list as shooting.