April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and there are ways you can work to make yourself and your family a little safer. Sexual assault (or any kind of assault) can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and social class. The tips below are in no particular order.
1. Skip the Load
Instead of loading your hands down with multiple bags, opt for a backpack or bags with shoulder straps. If you are out shopping, opt to keep your bags in the cart, push it to your vehicle, get the bags out and return the cart. When your hands are occupied carrying lots of bags, you make yourself vulnerable and your method of defense will not be as easily used.
2. Make Eye Contact
Some of us are great at looking people in the eye as they pass by, other people tend to look down and away. By making eye contact you are letting others know you see them and you could possibly deter an attack for fear you will be able to identify them later.
3. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
As you make your way to your vehicle, notice the vehicles around yours. If you have to get in on your passenger side and climb over the console.
4. Put the Cell Phone AWAY
If you are busy checking messages, texting, on social media, or surfing the web while walking to your vehicle, you make yourself more vulnerable. Put your phone away.
5. Take a Self Defense Course
Check around with your local martial arts schools, police station, etc. to see who offers self defense courses and take one. It is better to be prepared and not have to use the skills you learn than to have nothing.
6. Alter Your Route
Whether it is the route you take home, to the grocery store, whatever; alter it from time to time. Your predictability of taking the same path, leaving and coming back at the same time, and so on makes it easier for a perpetrator to plan their attack.
7. Don’t Talk to Strangers
The lady coming up to you at the gas pump telling you she needs help at her car could be sincere, but she could also be part of a plan to get you to another vehicle where you will be pushed/pulled in. Don’t risk it. If you still want to be nice, talk loudly and start walking towards the store or a more public area. Make yourself less vulnerable.
8. Carry Self Defense Items
From pepper spray to kubatons to stun guns to whistles and more, there is a wide range of items you can carry on you to protect yourself. These items have the potential to give you a little extra leverage to use with the self defense skills you learn in a self defense course. These items are available at many sporting goods stores, local stores that carry a wide variety of your other everyday items, and yes, there is even a direct sales company that will come to you and show your products in the privacy of your own home. Please make sure your choice item is legal in your area.
9. Let Loved Ones Know Your Schedule
By letting your loved ones know your schedule and places you plan to be for the day, you are protecting yourself. If you don’t show up and suddenly aren’t answering texts or calls, then your loved ones have a basic idea of where you were and how long you planned to be out.
10. Educate Yourself
Do some research. Find out the statistics in your area. Educate yourself on other ways to keep you and your family safe.
