Spot Trouble Before It Spots You
Learn the same awareness tools Gene Petrino has taught to schools, businesses, and families across the country — practical, calm, and immediately actionable.
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Paperback & Kindle · 124 pages
Danger Rarely Comes Without Warning
Most people think violence "comes out of nowhere." In reality, predators leave clues long before they strike. Guardian Awareness gives you the same practical tools Gene has taught to schools, businesses, and families across the country.
With real-world examples, simple drills, and clear frameworks, you'll learn to read your environment, recognize red flags, and move through the world with calm, confident awareness.
- How to identify "baselines" and notice what's out of place
- The predator's playbook — and how to avoid being chosen
- Awareness habits you can build into your daily routine
- Situational red flags in public spaces, workplaces, and travel
- How to trust your intuition without overreacting
- Quick-reference tools and acronyms that work under stress
"Awareness is not paranoia. Awareness is freedom."
The Six Core Skills of Guardian Awareness
This isn't just a book, it's a complete system for proactive safety. You'll learn six foundational skills that build on each other, creating a powerful, intuitive awareness framework.
Baseline Identification
Learn to establish a "normal" for any environment, so you can instantly spot what's out of place.
Anomaly Detection
Recognize the subtle behavioral and environmental red flags that signal potential danger long before it escalates.
Intuition & Instinct
Understand the difference between anxiety and true intuition, and learn how to trust your gut feelings.
Proactive Positioning
How to position yourself in public spaces to maximize your reaction time and minimize your exposure to threats.
Deterrence & De-escalation
Use body language and verbal skills to deter potential aggressors and de-escalate tense situations.
Action & Escape Planning
Develop a simple, repeatable mental framework for taking decisive action when avoidance is no longer an option.
26 Years on the Front Lines
Gene Petrino is a retired SWAT Commander and a Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement. He has dedicated his career to understanding, preventing, and responding to violence.
After retiring, Gene founded Survival Response LLC to bring his real-world knowledge to the private sector. He now works with schools, businesses, and houses of worship to build proactive safety cultures from the ground up.
Real Results from Real People
Gene's framework is unlike anything I've encountered. Within a week of reading Guardian Awareness, I was already noticing things in my environment I had completely ignored before. This book is a game-changer.
We brought Gene in to train our entire staff. The calm, non-fear-based approach made it accessible for everyone — from frontline employees to our executive team. Highly recommend both the book and the training.
As a parent, this book gave me practical tools I could actually use — not scary statistics or worst-case scenarios. Gene's approach is empowering. I feel more confident and capable every single day.
Think You Can Solve The Case? Start The Case Files
The Case Files is a free email series from Gene Petrino — real-world awareness scenarios drawn from 26+ years in law enforcement. Each one puts your situational awareness to the test. Can you spot the threat before it spots you? It's just one email a day for seven days! Each one takes about three minutes to finish.
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Bring Gene to Your Organization
Gene works with HR leaders, corporate teams, schools, and nonprofits to build proactive safety cultures. His programs are practical, relatable, and grounded in real human behavior.
- → Workplace Violence Prevention
- → Situational Awareness Workshops
- → Threat Recognition & Intervention
Book Gene for Your Event
Whether it's a corporate keynote, a school safety workshop, or a leadership summit, Gene brings clarity and competence to this critical topic.
Let's Strengthen Your Safety Culture
Whether you're interested in booking Gene for a speaking engagement, bringing his training to your organization, or simply have a question about the book — reach out. Gene works with organizations of all sizes.