Definition

Anxiety - The feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.

Broken Window Theory - an academic theory proposed by James Q. Wilson and George Kelling in 1982 that used broken windows as a metaphor for disorder within neighborhoods. Their theory links disorder and incivility within a community to subsequent occurrences of serious crime. Britannca.com

Byrna Gun - The Byrna Gun is an incredibly powerful and effective non-lethal self-defense weapon that can be taken virtually anywhere. The Byrna Gun comes in an SD and an HD version.

Byrna Sd - The Byrna SD (Self Defense) is the successor of the Byrna HD. It has been re-engineered for optimal performance. Powered by compressed air (CO2), the Byrna SD shoots .68 caliber round kinetic and/or chemical irritant projectiles that can disable a threat from up to 60-feet away.

Byrna Hd - Pronounced bur-nah, the Byrna HD (Home Defense) is the best-in-class CO2 powered hand held personal security device. The Byrna HD fires 68 caliber chemical irritant projectiles filled with a highly potent cocktail of OC (pepper spray) and CS (tear gas) all in one shot.

Car Takeover - A car takeover is a term closely related to street takeovers, where participants use their vehicles to dominate a public space, often performing stunts like drifting or doughnuts. While the term may sometimes overlap with street takeovers, it specifically emphasizes the use of cars as the central focus of the activity.

Why It Matters:
Car takeovers often result in dangerous driving conditions, jeopardizing the safety of participants, onlookers, and the general public. Awareness and community collaboration are essential in mitigating these reckless gatherings.

Cardiovascular Disease - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. Blood flow to the heart, brain or body can be reduced because of a: blood clot (thrombosis) build-up of fatty deposits inside an artery, leading to the artery hardening and narrowing (atherosclerosis).

Chronic Stress - A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time. Symptoms include aches and pains, insomnia or weakness, less socialization, unfocused thinking.

Criminal Intent - Criminal intent is the conscious decision someone makes to deliberately engage in an unlawful or negligent act or to harm someone else. There are four specific examples of criminal intent: purposeful, reckless, knowing, and negligent. An act becomes criminal when taking into account the intent of the person who carries it out. www.legaldictionary.com

 Critical Incident - Critical incident stress management is an adaptive, short-term psychological helping process that focuses solely on an immediate and identifiable problem. It can include pre-incident preparedness to acute crisis management to post-crisis follow-up. Wikipedia

Civil Unrest Definition - Civil disorder, also known as a civil disturbance, civil unrest, or social unrest is an activity arising from a mass act of civil disobedience (such as a demonstration, riot, strike, or ignoring laws) in which the participants become hostile toward authority, and authorities incur difficulties in maintaining public safety and order, over the disorderly crowd. It is, in any form, prejudicial to public law and order. Wikipedia

Core values - traits or qualities that are not just worthwhile, they represent an individual's or an organization's highest priorities, deeply held beliefs, and core, fundamental driving forces. They are the heart of what your organization and its employees stand for in the world.

Debrief - is a structured review or de-brief (debriefing) process for analyzing what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better by the participants and those responsible for the project or event

Demeaning - Damaging or lowering the character, status, or reputation of someone or something. Merriam-Webster

Depression - A common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from the disorder. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite. Tiredness and poor concentration are common

Duty To Retreat - (Connecticut) - This means that a person is not justified in using deadly force if (1) they know they can avoid the necessity of deadly force with (2) complete safety by retreating.

Home Invasion - (Connecticut) - the illegal entry of an occupied home either with the intention of committing a felony or while carrying a deadly weapon. Under the new Connecticut home invasion law, home invasions are considered a Class A felony and they are punishable by a minimum prison sentence of 10 years.

Pepper Spray - Made with oleoresin capsicum, or OC for short an ingredient derived from the chemical in peppers that gives that give the spray its “heat.” When used against an attacker, pepper sprays can cause temporary blindness and difficulty breathing. The idea is to temporarily disable the assailant so you can get away and summon help.

Pepper Gel - Like pepper spray, pepper gel is made with oleoresin capsicum, or OC for short. This is an ingredient derived from the chemical in peppers that gives them their searing heat. When used against an attacker, pepper sprays and gels can cause temporary blindness and difficulty breathing. sabre.com

Perpetuate - to cause something to be remembered or continued.

Personal Values - Personal values are those beliefs that motivate our actions and guide us through our lives. They weave into our personalities and define who we are. They even become a part of us and influence our decisions and actions. Our lives are shaped by what values we choose to prioritize and adapt

Progress Learning - Progress Learning is a structured approach to personal and professional growth, where individuals build knowledge, skills, and habits through small, incremental steps. It emphasizes continuous improvement over time, allowing users to learn through action and reflection. Rather than focusing on immediate results, Progress Learning fosters long-term success by encouraging a mindset of growth, resilience, and adaptability. It applies to various fields, including self-defense, business safety, and personal development.

Reasonable Physical Force - A person is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person to defend themselves or a third person from what they reasonably believe to be the use or imminent use of physical force against themselves or another, and they may use such degree of force which they reasonably believe to be necessary.

Risk Mitigation - Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Wikipedia

Scrubs & Beyond - This is a mission launched by Prepare To Act to shed light on the fact that underneath scrubs, the uniform that protects our healthcare workers, is in fact a person. A person that feels stress, trauma, and loss of life like every other human. It’s our mission to strengthen them, keep them safe and create a community of safety for them.

Self-Confidence - Is the feeling sure of yourself and your abilities — not in an arrogant way, but in a realistic, secure way. Confidence isn't about feeling superior to others. It's a quiet inner knowledge that you're capable.

Shift Strategy - The Shift Strategy is a structured approach to personal and professional growth, built on the principles of Progress Learning. It focuses on identifying areas of stagnation, making small, strategic actions, and building habits that promote long-term resilience and transformation. The strategy empowers individuals to break free from routine and achieve sustainable progress through continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation.

Stand Your Ground Law - A stand-your-ground law, sometimes called "line in the sand" or "no duty to retreat" law, provides that people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against certain violent crimes.

**Connecticut does not have a stand your ground law. State law explicitly imposes a duty to retreat before resorting to deadly force outside the home.**

Street Takeover - A street takeover refers to an unauthorized gathering where participants block public roads or intersections to engage in dangerous activities such as stunt driving, racing, or reckless vehicle maneuvers. These events often attract large crowds and are typically organized through social media, escalating risks to public safety and disrupting community order.

Why It Matters:
Street takeovers pose significant risks, including vehicular accidents, damage to property, and strain on law enforcement resources. Understanding this phenomenon helps communities take steps to prevent and address the safety hazards associated with these illegal events.