How do you stay safe..alone?

[Python]

Also they taught us to slam the rear of our heads into their face as it is disorienting to the attacker.

The benefit of learning how to protect yourself and working through scenarios is that it gives you confidence that you can take care of yourself and that confidence in turn makes you less likely to be a target.

Anne

Only snag with that is if you are like me, 5ft zilch and the would-be attacker is 6ft 6in...ain't goin' to reach so I tend to aim low. Another good place to get someone if you can is down the inside of the thigh. Nerve runs down there. Good hard kick can drop an assailant. That's where I kicked one of my assailants when I was a taxi driver and followed it up with another kick to the back of the same leg. He limped off down an alleyway and disappeared. Helped that I'd steel toe-cap shoes on too

I think that confidence does make you less likely to be a target. Most attackers/muggers will pick on people who either are vulnerable or look vulnerable.

Over here in the UK we're not allowed to carry mace sprays or anything that could be interpreted as an "offensive weapon". Our laws are completely useless, thanks to the present government and their hangers-on who favour the criminal above the victim. Here, if someone breaks into your house and you catch them, if you hit them you will be arrested and charged with assault That then lets the criminal sue you for damages! There have been many cases of that happening in recent years.

There is a policy at the moment of not jailing criminals - even those with a criminal record longer than your arm so criminals are sticking two fingers up at the law (and everyone else) and getting away with it. Life imprisonment here doesn't mean life. It means getting out after 4, 5 years or whatever some do-gooder decides. Criminals know they can do what they want and get away with it - even committing murder.

Law and Order in the UK is a farce at the moment

[Dianyla]

I highly recommend that you read The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin De Becker. He talks a lot about the power dynamic that comes into play as attackers select their victim, and how to spot some early warning signs. Also, how to use your fear as positive motivation to avoid/escape a dangerous situation, as opposed to being paralyzed by it. It should be required reading for men and women alike.

[Starfish]

I do not want to start a firestorm here, but I am curious if anyone carries any weapons aside from mace or pepper spray?

[RolliePollie]

I do not want to start a firestorm here, but I am curious if anyone carries any weapons aside from mace or pepper spray?

No, but my friend jokes around about carrying a handgun...kept in plain sight on the left hip, of course!

[Aggie_Ama]

No, but my friend jokes around about carrying a handgun...kept in plain sight on the left hip, of course!

I keep teasing DH if these Ford F250s (the big trucks) keep running up on me I am getting a concealed handgun license!!! That might level the playing field.

[margo49]

I actually feel safer alone when there is noone around.
I mean there is noone around, geddit.

[Jenn]

I actually feel safer alone when there is noone around.
I mean there is noone around, geddit.

EXACTLY...there is NO ONE around. You are running 25 with a tailwind, they are running 40 slam into you..........that's it........game over...sorry but I REFUSE to be that.
If you can't leave Target, as (bless her heart) Kelsey Smith in BROAD DAYLIGHT what are we suppse to do??
I am fortunate, living on a military base....I'm a "little" safer.....not much trust me..however, I will do whatever it takes, to ensure, safety and to be able to come back home to my HUSBAND and CHILD!

[Mr. Bloom]

I keep teasing DH if these Ford F250s (the big trucks) keep running up on me I am getting a concealed handgun license!!! That might level the playing field.

Aiming at the tires, of course

[rij73]

All I can say is that this thread is making me really happy I live in the city. No matter where I go, hundreds of people are there also, and there is virtually zero possibility of being assaulted or even harrassed in any serious way. My fitness riding is in the park where you are going around in circles with a hundred other cyclists, joggers, and roller-bladers going around in circles. I feel so safe all the time. I walk my dog around the neighborhood at 11pm, and I run into others walking their dogs, couples coming home from dinner, etc., etc. I have never felt that I was isolated enough for anyone to get away with an assault.

My sister in rural PA, and my mom in rural FLA, freak out that I ride the bike "alone" and walk the dog "alone". What they don't seem to understand is how much safer it is in the city than where they live. I'm visiting my mom right now, and I honestly couldn't imagine going off on a bike ride here. Too isolated by far...

For those of you who do not feel safe... Follow your instincts, and be as prepared as possible. But, try not to let the fear keep you down. That's letting the bad guys win. If I had no choice but to live in a rural or quiet area, I would take self-defense classes and carry some kind of weapon handy. I carried mace in college.

[Meg McKilty]

I do not want to start a firestorm here, but I am curious if anyone carries any weapons aside from mace or pepper spray?

My bike. Sucker is made of steel- one hell of a weapon to wield.

[salsabike]

I 100% agree with Dianyla. It is an excellent book. Also, see if there's a class around in basic safety. The Redmond Police Department did one last year taught by a cop that was great. And if you want to carry something, make it pepper spray, not mace--cop's recommendation. But make sure it's one that is powerful enough to shoot out the spray 6-8 feet. I think Halt may do that. Bear pepper spray is what you'd want to look for.

I highly recommend that you read The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin De Becker. He talks a lot about the power dynamic that comes into play as attackers select their victim, and how to spot some early warning signs. Also, how to use your fear as positive motivation to avoid/escape a dangerous situation, as opposed to being paralyzed by it. It should be required reading for men and women alike.

[Kano]

I'm pretty sure that if we get hit by a car that's going 40mph, it's not going to matter how many people are around.

I've gone to Target thousands of times in the last 42 years (didn't know it existed before then), and every single time, I've gotten home safely. I think that speaks well of my chances for safe returns for the next 42 years....

Events like either of those are pretty rare. Scary things happen a little more often, Unfortunately, illness happens on mostly daily basis -- I have decided I'm living a charmed life as far as health goes, since it seems like everyone around me has some sort of stuff going on!

While I'd prefer to come home to my family every time I go out into the world, I think I'd prefer to go out doing something I love, or at least something quick and surprising, than to "inflict lingering" on them.

Karen in Boise

[crazycanuck]

Please ensure you don't spend your whole life paranoid! Gee, stop bubble wrapping yourself against society and go out and live.

Just keep your eyes open & if someone does say something weird to ya, don't respond and move on. Think rather than react.

I agree with V.

C

[Velobambina]

The events of 9/11 really show that none of us are immune, even in the "safety" of our offices (The Pentagon is a secure building but that didn't stop someone from flying a plane into it).

I agree with Veronica, Kano, and Canuck.

Life is hard enough without making it more difficult by worrying about "what ifs." Enjoy what makes you happy and try to respect & be kind to everyone, even folks who might not agree w/your opinions.