Published September 10, 2018
Protect Yourself with These 10 Safety Tips
No matter how safe you think you are, it’s important to be prepared for a potential attack. Someone could appear and within seconds, you could be in danger. It’s important to keep yourself safe by committing some simple self-defense and safety tips to memory. Hopefully you’ll never need to use them, but in an emergency they could save your life.
1. Be aware- Keep an eye on every corner of the areas you’re in. Whether it’s daytime or night, note anything that feels off or unsafe.
2. Put down your phone- Most of us walk and talk or text on our devices. Talking on your phone takes you out of the moment and could make you a target. In order to be aware of your surroundings, you should limit these distractions as much as possible. If you’re in an unsafe area and have no other options, call a friend before you leave. Alert your friend to your location. Make sure to check in once you’re in a safer place. This is a good way to have someone checking in on you.
3. Cross the street- if you see someone acting strange or following you, cross the street. Many times, this alerts the attacker that you are aware of their presence. It could also get you to a safer location in many cases.
4. Don’t hold on, let go- Much of the time, an attacker only wants what you’re carrying. Cash, purses, wallets, devices, are the only things they’re interested in. It may be human nature to hold on to our bags when someone tries to grab it, but it’s not smart. A criminal is more likely to leave you alone after grabbing your valuables. Credit cards and purses are replaceable, you are not.
5. YELL! Yes, yell. Screaming out will alert anyone who’s nearby of the danger you’re in. In many cases, criminals who don’t want to be discovered will run away when their target gets loud. This is also a great way to show that you are willing and able to fight back.
6. Hold your head high- It’s important to walk with an air of power and self-confidence. Criminals often target those who look like they’re weak. Whether or not you’re strong, walk like you are. This is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself.
7. Carry your keys- Keeping your keys handy is a great self-defense tool. Keep your keys between your fingers to use in addition to other techniques. You could poke at or jab an attacker if nothing else works. It’s also a great idea to keep a finger on your car’s panic alarm in parking lots and garages. This could scare away an attacker and bring attention to you if in distress.
8. Run if you can- If someone approaches you, it’s best to run. If you can avoid ever making contact with them, you’re bound to be safer. Run to a well-lit populated area. Getting away is much better than any fighting technique you could use.
9. Carpool- Being with a buddy makes you safer to begin with. Along with savings on gas, parking fees, and providing great conversation, a buddy system is a great defense.
10. Learn how to fight if needed- There are hundreds of options for self-defense training. Sign up for a class or work with a trainer. Watch video tutorials and read up on self-defense tactics. Then practice, practice, practice. The more prepared you are, the safer you’ll be.
We hope you never need to use these tips, but we want you to be prepared for the unthinkable. Let us know your favorite self-defense tactics. We always love to hear feedback from our clients.
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