BOUNTIFUL—Anyone can become a victim of crime. But learning tips on how to stay safe through situational awareness can increase the odds against becoming a statistic. Two local men are combining their programs of healthy kids and defense instruction into a training seminar to teach people how to be alert to dangerous situations and avoid becoming a victim.

Cowboy Ted’s Foundation for Kids is partnering with Bragi Defense to host Refuse to Be A Victim at the Joy Foundation Oct. 9 from 1 – 5 p.m.

“I was a law enforcement officer in California for 12 years,” said Kaysville resident Shane Higgins who founded Bragi Defense. “They taught us to be hyper vigilant and have a heightened sense of threats. My family and friends would ask me questions about how they could stay safe. I realized there weren’t a whole lot of resources for private citizens.”

Higgins eventually ended up resigning from law enforcement to do instructional programs. “I saw the NRA had a Refuse to Be A Victim program of situational awareness,” he said. “It was specifically for women but they quickly realized it could help everybody. You could teach children up to the elderly, soccer moms and police officers, tips and techniques to keep safe and lower your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.”

Cowboy Ted’s Foundation for Kids is a wellness program for kids. “It’s designed to help them find their happy place,” said (Cowboy) Ted Hallisey. “We teach suicide prevention, resiliency and wellness.”

Hallisey takes his program into schools, libraries and holds cowboy day camps. When he saw what Refuse to Be A Victim taught, he thought the two programs had similar objectives. 

“It has the same kind of attitude,” Hallisey said. “It shows awareness. This teaches kids how to be safe at school. I watch many people walking out of the store looking at their phones and they’re not even aware of what’s going on around them.”

Hallisey’s program is centered around eight steps for a healthy lifestyle which are symbolic of the 8-second ride in a rodeo. He combines those with the fun part of being a cowboy like roping a bull. “I thought this would be appealing to kids,” he said. “It works for kindergarten through about fourth grade and then they start thinking it’s not cool. But if I’m in third grade my hand is going up, I don’t care.”

Higgins said Hallisey’s healthy tips combine well with his safety program. “His core beliefs of staying healthy, etc. go hand in hand with mine. In a crime of opportunity they’re less likely to target people who are healthy, more aware and active than somebody who looks weak.”

Higgins emphasized the seminar is not about guns. “Situational safety is what I teach,” he said. “It can help anyone from age 5 to the elderly. We’re just trying to keep people safe.”

 The Joy Foundation is located at 55 N. Main Street (downstairs). Cost for the seminar is $50.