Safety Report
Issue #1
"21 Tips to Keep Any Woman Safe!"
How many times have you walked through a parking deck or parking lot and found yourself alone? Now think of how you felt. The parking deck suddenly seemed intensely quiet. Even though there were lights, there seemed to be more darkness than light. You felt very alone and vulnerable, so you quickened your pace to your car. What can you do if you find yourself confronted or attacked in this situation? Are you prepared?
1. Sometimes the most obvious form of defense is the one that everyone overlooks. The best way to defend against attacks is to avoid placing yourself in those dangerous and frightening situations. When you walk through empty parking lots, be sure to walk to your car with someone else. This person could be a friend, co-worker or even security. If you feel uncomfortable walking to your car from the mall or office, a security officer should always be available to escort you to your car. When you are out walking or running, have an exercise partner. The presence of another person can dissuade an attacker, preventing an attack before it even happens.
2. As you are walking, be aware of your surroundings. Before you exit your car, look around you and make note of anything or anyone that looks out of place or suspicious. If someone looks threatening, do not exit your car.
3. Walk with confidence. Attackers prefer an easy target. Someone who walks with a shuffling gait or appears timid is more vulnerable to attack. People who walk with a purposeful stride can deter an attacker who is looking for an easy target.
4. When you see someone approaching you, tell them to "Go away!" The attacker now knows you are aware he is there and that you can identify him. If he continues to advance towards you, you must decide whether or not you are going to fight.
5. Stay focused. Your adrenaline will be pumping and you will be scared; however, if you want to survive and escape, you must be focused on the situation. You will have to watch for opportunities to strike your attacker, and if you focus on and become overwhelmed by your fear, the opportunity will slip by unnoticed.
6. Stay relaxed. If you can control your emotions and relax as much as possible, you will be more likely to use your muscles for a longer period of time. Tense, tight muscles wear out quickly.
7. Do not talk on your cell phone when walking outside. You see it everyday: people talking on cell phones while they are pushing their baby stroller to fit in their daily walk. As soon as you talk on a cell phone, your attention is focused on the conversation you are having with the other person on the phone. You also cannot hear if anyone approaches you from behind.
8. Running is a great way to stay in shape, and if you are like most people, you have your iPod blasting out great music! Make sure you do not have your iPod playing in both your ears. If you use both earpieces, you block out all surrounding sounds the sounds of someone approaching you and traffic sounds. If you choose to listen to your iPod when you run, use only one earpiece. This will allow you to hear the sounds of your surroundings.
9. When walking to your car or home, make sure you have your keys in your hand before exiting a building. Having your keys ready will give you precious seconds to enter the safety of your home or car if someone approaches you. Your keys can also be used as a weapon when you punch or gouge out the attacker's eyes.
10. If you are attacked, make sure you strike your attacker in strategic areas. This way you injure your attacker and conserve your energy by not flailing ineffectively.
11. Learn how to make a proper fist. This seems basic, but if a fist is made incorrectly you will end up breaking your own thumb or wrist. Learn basic punches such as a jab and a cross, and practice throwing them.
12. Gouge out your attacker's eyes. Some strategic strikes do not have to be powerful, but well-placed.
13. Rip out your attacker's esophagus. The attacker's goal is to hurt you, or worse. If he cannot breathe, he cannot harm you.
14. Kick and knee the attacker hard and fast. Keep your kicks low aim for the attacker's knees, legs and no higher than the chest. Keep going. One kick alone will not finish him off.
15. If you are grabbed from behind, slam the back of your head into the attacker's face. If the attacker does not drop you right away, continue to hit the attacker's face with your head. You can stomp on the foot of or kick the attacker too.
16. Keep moving. If someone is trying to grab you, keep moving. This makes for a harder target to hold onto or to hit. If you are being taken to the ground, continuous movement will make it harder for your attacker to pin you to the ground.
17. Again, be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you do not back yourself against a wall or any other area that will prevent you from escape. If you are running, hiking or bike riding and are miles from other people, remember that. In that instance, running away from an attacker too early may do you more harm than good.
18. Many effective techniques require mobility, balance and power. For example, in order to knee your attacker quickly and effectively without falling into the attacker, you will need the combination of mobility to quickly switch knee strikes, power to knee that person hard and balance to keep your body centered and prevent yourself from falling into the attacker or onto the ground.
19. Health and nutrition play a vital role in your daily life, which affect your self-defense skills as well. The healthier and more in-shape you are, the stronger and quicker you will be. Your stamina can help you outlast your attacker and out run your attacker.
20. Take it upon yourself to attend a self-defense course. Depending upon the course, you will learn effective defensive techniques. If you are a woman, try to find a course that teaches you techniques geared towards a woman's body. Chances are your attacker will be bigger than you, and you will not be able to simply overpower that person.
21. Practice, practice, practice. Once you have learned self-defense techniques, continue to practice them. In order to execute them quickly and effectively, the movements must seem familiar to your body and mind.
There you have it! 21 one tips that if applied today can dramatically change the outcome of a potentially dangerous situation. Although these tips will be helpful in heightening your awareness of situations and people, women are strongly encouraged to enroll in a self-defense course to acquire the proper self-defense training and skills necessary to survive an attack.
"21 Tips to Keep Any Woman Safe!"
