Be aware of your surroundings. At all times.

Lee Schwartzberg, president and CEO of Peace of Mind Training, in Medford, presented different scenarios and what residents and business owners need to be aware of in an emergency situation, during a recent Sayville Rotary Club community pop-up meeting at Land’s End Restaurant.

Schwartzberg had over 40 attendees in thrall from the Sayville Chamber of Commerce, Land’s End, Sayville Community Ambulance, United Methodist Church of Patchogue, Sayville Ferry, Stein’s Boat Sales, Sayville Ford and the Sayville Rotary Club. The talk was organized by Rotarians Chris Imperato and Tommy Esposito. “We’re going to do more community pop-up talks like this,” Esposito added.

The Medford resident and CEO delved into several situational awareness approaches, including the four-step OODA Loop, created for military guidelines (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). “It all starts with observation,” he said—that is, scoping a building, mall, shop, and parking lot before entering and being cognizant of pivotal details like surroundings, exits, where fire extinguishers are, places to hide.

“We need to know what’s going on around us,” he emphasized, noting that cell phones are big distractors. “Do you know where you want to be if something happens versus where you don’t want to be? When we talk about decisions (as in someone fainting), why did she or he fall, how did she or he fall? Those of us who are nurturers want to help. But if I rush in and don’t know how to help, I can get in the way and become a casualty. (Call 911). Then, finally act, don’t get paralyzed, do it without hesitation.”

Also, he advised, if you have to hide under a table or can walk away, do it.

Schwartzberg also touched on intuition—warnings from our gut—that people need to pay attention to.

“Preparation is not paranoia,” he said. Schwartzberg also discussed active shooter scenarios.

Rare, but they do happen. “Run away from the gunfire, utilize concealment—that is hide—and as a last resort, if ultimately threatened face to face, use violence of action; fight hard. Use anything, knives, forks, chairs, Sharpies. The best weapon, if you can get to it, is a fire extinguisher. You pull the pin, spray and pray.” Then, he said, use the fire extinguisher as a weapon.

Imperato has been friends with Schwartzberg since they were students in Lindenhurst High School, when they were both in Junior R.O.T.C. Schwartzberg became a Marine sergeant and has a martial arts and EMS background; Imperato joined the Army and was recruited by the U.S. Department of State to work for the American Embassy in Beirut, supporting diplomatic security services.

“Emergencies happen all the time,” Imperato said. “The fire in the kitchen, the guy next to you choking—would you know what to do?” Imperato pointed out the recent fight between two men onboard a Southwest Flight 117 to Phoenix. “When I get on a plane, I assess who I can count on if there’s a situation, like someone wearing an EMS hat or sweatshirt, or if there’s indication of a nurse, or who will be their own casualty and where I can get out. I think it’s preparedness.”

Imperato, who owns The Long Island Coin Shop in Sayville, said he teaches coin security traveling to and from hotels as well as hotel security.

“Lee’s talk was about awareness,” Imperato said. “It’s to get people thinking. Keep your head on a swivel. If you stay conscious, your chances of being in a bad situation are reduced dramatically.”

Schwartzberg said he was compelled to start his company after witnessing a tragic incident.

“A 3-year-old kid across the street from me drowned in a pool,” he said. “I was first on the scene to do CPR, then the police and EMS teams came. The look of despair and helplessness on the parents’ faces was heartbreaking.”

His background includes working in EMT for 20 years, including the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance and Exchange Ambulance of the Islips, as well as Northwell Health Center for Emergency Medical Services. He also founded a martial arts school in Bay Shore.

“My talks are based on what a community wants,” he said, adding he was flying to Texas for a training session the next day. “Some want CPR first aid and self-defense or AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) placement and management training. Some want situational awareness training. Others ask for active shooter threat response. We also have pet first aid and disaster response.” His Rotary community talk lasted about an hour, but others can be longer depending on what’s requested.

“As a teenager, I wondered, What was the ripple effect of a critical incident?” he added.

“It’s just the unintended consequences of doing something or not.