Don't Make Yourself A Target * Spotlight My Health

PERSONAL SAFETY–NOT A TARGET

Word of advise–don’t make yourself a target. I happen to know a retired police officer that occasionally gives talks to women’s groups on how to stay safe and don’t make yourself a target. I’m going to share some of the information he talks about with some of my own thoughts thrown in.

I think as women, we need to change our thought processes on thinking that nothing bad will happen to “me personally”; why would anyone bother with me. Pssst, here’s a little secret—-attacks can and do happen to other women and girls just like us, who have had this same thought.

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The bad guys don’t care if you ate that last piece of chocolate or your hair has a few strands of gray—they just want what they want. And you have to be aware enough for your spidey sense to kick in when needed. The tricky part is you actually have to listen to it. And being proactive with your safety is one of the best ways of looking out for yourself. Below is a quick outline of ideas I’m going to touch on.

Awareness

Evade and Car Safety

Arm Yourself (not neccesarily with a gun)

Personal Safety

AWARENESS

Most of us have gotten in the habit of going about our day getting the things done that we’ve told ourselves we just have to do. And that’s where our awareness of our surroundings is—on the things to get done. But we really need to be more in tune and mindful of our surroundings. We need to be……

AWARE, BE AWARE, BE AWARE—Let me say that a different way—BE MORE AWARE!!!!!

This is your best defense for your safety. When you step outside, look around, notice those around you and PUT the phone away. You can’t be on the phone, while thinking of the things you need to do and listen to your spidey sense when you wouldn’t even know if it came into play. Being this distracted will keep you from even hearing your intuition telling you that something is seriously wrong.

Train yourself to look around when heading outside. Notice who is on the street or in the parking lot with you even if the kids are screaming and you are stressed. Looking and noticing benefits all of you.

EVADE:

When you are aware of what’s around you, it is easier to evade before anything even happens.

The bad guys are out looking for lone females that are distracted (YOU ON YOUR PHONE). It makes you an easy target and if unaware you won’t see him coming. Instead, walk to your car with purpose and before getting in the car look in the backseat and on the back floor to make sure no one is already in your car. Once in the car, lock the doors and don’t start looking at your check book or pick up your phone and get distracted again. Just start your car and leave.

Flat Tire?

If you get to your car and notice a flat tire, go back to where you just came from and call road side assistance or get someone you know to help you. Don’t get into your car and make the phone call, go back into the building you just came out of.

And don’t start trying to change the tire yourself without first going back into the building to hopefully get someone else to come out and help or just stand by while you change the tire. I know this is very hard for those of us that consider ourselves self-sufficient, but this is not the time to prove that point. That flat tire could have been done by the bad guy wanting to distract you.

If you notice a man sitting in the car next to you on either side of your car, again, turn around and head back in. He may be waiting for you to open your door so he can push his way into your car with a gun or knife.

For more gadgets, read: Safety Gadgets for Your Car

GIVE UP YOUR WALLET

If someone insists on you handing over your purse or wallet, don’t argue. Instead, toss your purse away from you then turn and run as fast as you can in a zigzag pattern in the opposite direction from your attacker while making as much noise as you can. Don’t be afraid the have all attention turned your way—chances are that attention can save your life. There’s a good chance your assailant won’t go after you because he already has your purse and won’t want to bring attention to himself due to the noise you are making.

If an attacker wants you rather than your purse/wallet, you’ve got to act quickly. This is a perfect example of why you need to be aware of who is around you as soon as you step outside. In this situation, fight and fight hard, create as much commotion and noise as you can. Use your elbow, one of the strongest parts of your body and get him in the stomach. It’s vital that you get the heck out of dodge.

HURT?

Yes, you may get hurt; you may get shot or stabbed, but that is better than letting your attacker take you to a second location. It’s this second location that most victims don’t survive. The second location will likely be very private which is good for your attacker; not so good for you. So, fight with all you got and remember that even hurt, at the first location you are more likely to survive and get help much quicker. Know this ahead of time so that you can react much quicker if need be. This is not the time to be a whimpering woman and just roll over and do as you’re told. This is the time to FIGHT like your life depends on it—and KNOW that it does.

ARM YOURSELF

There are several things, just in your purse alone, that you can use to defend yourself. I’m suggesting several things on the market right now that you can purchase to keep handy.

Pepper Spray:

It can be an effective option, but remember you need to get close enough to use it and then have pretty good aim to hit your assailant’s eyes. A container of this spray can comes in all shapes and sizes and can even look like a tube of lipstick.

Stun Gun:

You can now get these online at places like Amazon, that are small enough to carry on your keychain and still packs enough punch for you to get away. Just remember that this should already be ready in your hand so that you can use it if need be; the same with pepper spray.

Personal Sound Alarm:

These come in all shapes and sizes. I got one from Amazon for my daughter that attaches to her keychain. If she needs it, you just push the button and a loud horn type noise, blares out. This should get lots of people to look toward you and hopefully cause your assailant to take off.

Keys:

You have a ready-made weapon with your keys. Put one in between each of your fingers (total 3 keys), point side out with you holding the rest of your keychain in your hand and make a fist. If attacked, hit their face with these keys, as hard as you can. This should hurt enough that you can turn and run!

Gun:

The rabbit in the room; I’m not advocating this as a personal preference. I don’t even want one in my home, but it is an option, if carrying a gun doesn’t bother you. But learn all you can about the gun you choose. Go out and shoot it, get to know what it feels like in your hand before beginning to carry it. Also make sure to abide by the laws of your state.

CAR SAFETY:

If your car breaks down, and there is not a public building nearby, stay in the car with your doors locked. First call for roadside assistance and then your family. When it looks like roadside assistance has shown up, still stay in your car. When the driver comes up to your window, don’t roll it the whole way down, but just enough to ask for their ID. If it seems to check out, you should be OK.

If you do get attacked and you can’t get away and the attacker manages to get you into the trunk of his or your car, locate the tail lights and kick them out. Hopefully someone will see this happen, but you still want to keep yelling out the hole left by the light. If your arms are free, stick them out the hole and wave them around. Somebody should see this. Either side of the car is fine, but preferably the passenger side so your attacker can’t see your arms flailing around in the driver side mirror.

You’re in your car with a gun or knife being held to you as a threat. He wants you to drive off, but DON’T. Your best bet is to gun the engine and run into something to wreck the car. Your objective is to harm him; the airbag should save you. As soon as the car stops, bail out the door and run. You may get hurt in someway, but it is better than your attacker getting you to that second location.

BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU PARK

When you are parking your car, make sure to park in a very lighted part of the lot or garage. You also want to park your car with the driver side door away from anything you can be taken behind and assaulted, including around the corner of a building.

Summary

So, to recap, stay AWARE, fight, make as much noise as you can and don’t let yourself be taken to a second location. Remember that this can happen to anyone of us, so don’t be nonchalant with your safety. There are people that care about you and need you with them, you being gone is not what they want….

To read more about not being a target, check out: What Do Attackers Look For?

Be Aware,