SAFETY IN NUMBERS

What is a Squad and Why Do I Need One?

- Nate Gerhart

There's no question that the last two years have been bar-setters for the unexpected. We've seen everything from "murder hornets" that were supposed to wreak havoc on the ecology of the nation and cause immense pain, to thinly veiled power grabs by those who we've entrusted as leaders. Don't forget the massive panic runs on toilet paper, of all things (you know who you are). With no surprise, we've been witness to suicide rates skyrocketing amongst the turmoil and stress, as well as a marked rise in drug abuse, both prescription and scheduled narcotics. Many cities around the country have also experienced record-breaking homicide rates.

Even with what seems like a minute-to-minute deluge of negative information, certain things have highlighted themselves positively as well. Chief among those has been the importance of positive human interaction with like-minded individuals who build you up and make you a better person. That's where the concept of a "squad" comes into play. That term is used to describe a group of people with at least one shared goal and, more importantly, a shared mindset.

Here are a few recent scenarios that serve as prime examples of the ways a united and multi-skilled group of people can be effective when the unexpected presents itself.