b"ADVICE FORmaking choices STAYING SAFEWhenever he goes to a restaurant with his family, Keith Prewitt looks at the entrance and exits. He spots a place where he could potentially hide.Its a habit. He sees it as a precaution, just in case something bad happens.Always be aware of your surroundings, says Mr. Prewitt, a former deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service.Mr. Prewitt has spent nearly 50 years as a safety officer in the government and in private businesses. Today, he is the chief public safety and security officer for Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson Health. Below are other pieces of safety advice he shares to help you make good decisions:Say something if you see something that doesntKEITH PREWITT ON THE LASTING look right. Don't hesitate to bring something toIMPACT OF MAKING DECISIONS:someone's attention. You can speak to a principal, a teacher, a law enforcement officer, or otherHe helped shape my decision to responsible individuals. go into public service . and I am Pay attention to your intuition. You should listen to that voice that tells you that, hmm, this might not beforever indebted to him for that.good.Be a good listener. Youd be surprised. Some of the smartest people in the room are the people who are probably saying the least.Theyre digesting and processing what they are hearing. They are better prepared to make informed decisions.Stay safe on social media. Be careful what you post. If you say something that is inappropriate, it can follow you for years. You could lose a job or miss out on other opportunities because of what you wrote or posted. If strangers reach out to you, ignore them. Pay attention to whats out there before you get caught up in the nonsense.Show respect to others and respect yourself. If you show deference and respect to people you come in contact with, [most of them] are going to show you that same deference and respect.By Jaleb Berkley, Demaj Bazemore, Aniya Tawfiq, David Larochel, and Syid Byrd DePaul Healthy Trailblazer JournalF a l l 2 0 2 5 | H E A L T H Y N E W S W O R K S . O R G9"