Personal Safety Awareness

“The chance that you or a member of your family will be a victim of violent crime is low”, says Garth Delikan, who runs corporate workshops including Personal Safety Awareness; He continues, “However, the best way to cut the risk of attack is by taking sensible precautions”.  Here’s Garth’s invaluable top 10  Safety Tips.

Tip 1: Body Language:

55% of any message we give out is “unconscious” and we are constantly giving out these signals on a regular and daily basis and other people are “reading” our body language all the time.

Think about it. How many times do you make a judgement on someone you’ve just met, whether it is positive or negative based on the “signal” that they are giving off?

It’s automatic, something you just do without even thinking about it.

People are telling other people more about themselves and the state of mind that they are in than they actually think they are and are doing it all day, everyday.

It’s time to become aware!

Stand straight with your head held high,  not only will this benefit your overall posture but it will enable you to see where you’re going and spot any potential danger signs. This doesn’t mean that you have to be paranoid every time you go out but it does make you aware.

If you constantly walk around in a “slouched” position, head low and generally not paying much attention to your surroundings, what kind of signal do you think you’re sending out?

How many times do you just walk around with your head filled with other things? When you’re in a rush how many times have you taken short cuts that you know you shouldn’t and worse still, justified it to yourself so that you could save yourself two or three minutes.

If you’re walking down the street oblivious to everything apart from your mobile telephone or busy texting as you’re walking along you’re a target.

Try to be aware at all times, stand erect, walk straight, don’t necessarily look people straight in the eyes but let them know that you know that they are there. Try not to take isolated shortcuts no matter how tempting across waste ground, dark alleys or parks and try to stay in public view.

But most of all, Pay Attention!

Tip 2: Personal Attack Alarm:

Buy one and if possible and keep it to hand.  There’s no point having one if it’s kept at the bottom of your handbag and you have to search to locate it and worse still, don’t know how to operate it effectively.

It’s not going to stop you being attacked but it can help to disorientate or distract your assailant  - buying you those precious seconds to get to a place of safety.

Once it goes off don’t think that anyone will to help you, most people just don’t do that but the sound of the alarm going off will serve a double purpose.

It will deter or distract your assailant, and it will also generate a terrific noise so that even if no one comes to your aid at least you’ve created a “stage” for yourself and people will look so you won’t feel as alone.

 I’m not advocating that you carry it every second of every day but if you are out and about or in unfamiliar territory or even out shopping in a busy area it would make sense to have it to hand.

If you’re carrying a handbag, attach it to your wrist and then to your bag. If you’re not carrying anything, have it in your pocket or if you are feeling particularly vulnerable, carry it in your hand ready to use at a moments notice.

The great thing about modern alarms is not only are they very noisy but they also have a powerful flashlight attachment. This can be used if you are going back to a parked car in the dark.

You could also use to momentarily “blind” your assailant by shining it in their eyes, set off the alarm and screaming as loud as you possible can, run as fast as you possible to a public place or a place of safety.

Tip 3: Voice

Don’t be afraid to use your voice, it’s one of your most potent weapons!

An assailant is looking for a “victim” an easy target, someone to be intimidated.

Use your voice forcefully and don’t be afraid to scream and shout (in fact in my presentations I wholeheartedly endorse the use of “profanity” or swear words) as this will again serve to highlight your plight!

How many times have you walked down the street and either stopped or slowed down if someone is having a “right old barney” in the street.

You don’t actually do anything but you do stop to have a look, its only human nature to be nosey!

If you are accosted and really do feel threatened, this is not a time to be shy and retiring. Everything hinges on you acting instantly and without hesitation. If you’re wrong it doesn’t matter, you can always apologise later (that’s if they haven’t run off in complete bafflement first) but if the situation is real it could make all the difference.

And don’t just shout as if you were just angry, I’m talking about a full on “bellow” here, straight from the lungs, and if you’re able straight and directly into their face as this will have also have an incredibly disorientating effect on them as well and confuse them momentarily giving you that split second to get to a place of safety!

REMEMBER! I am only advocating buying yourself a split second or at most two to three seconds, but that could be all the time it takes for you to get to a place of safety.

Tip 4: Personal Possessions

You’ve probably been told not to carry all your valuables in your handbag or in one place.

I know it’s very difficult and probably a tad inconvenient not to carry everything in one place but it really does make sense to at least try and distribute valuables more evenly about your person.

The amount of workshops that I have given and the regretful comments that people have made because they just didn’t follow this simple rule.

It also never fails to amaze me how many of the ladies I see and meet in beautifully tailored and fitted suits and yet they don’t seem to have a single usable pocket which makes it even more difficult.

Do try to distribute your goods about you, remember, if your handbag gets snatched your entire life is literally in there.

Purse, credit cards, keys to your home, probably mobile telephone, which is then a “double whammy” because you’re now unable to make any calls and chances are you have no change because it’s all in your handbag as well.
 
Worse still, if you do keep everything in your handbag what’s to stop your assailant rushing straight around to your home because chances are that you’ll have something in there with your address (like a driving licence) and ransacking your home as well, “triple whammy”.

Then perhaps finding your car keys and taking that as well “quadruple whammy”.

Find a way to distribute your belongings it makes sense and finally if you do find yourself confronted and  there is no way out don’t be hero, simply hand over your bag immediately using strong body language and disengage from the situation, brushing forcefully past your assailant if necessary.

Goods can always be replaced, you can’t!

Tip 5: Mobile Telephones

Have your mobile telephone security marked with your office address, it might not stop your mobile being stolen but if it does get recovered at a later date it will help the police to know where it came from and perhaps break up a bigger gang who are selling these telephones off and are actually “targeting” mobile phone users.

Do you know your IMEI number and what it is and does?

It’s the long number underneath your battery and if call your service provider they will be able to disable your SIM card and prevent that mobile from being used.

Have it on silent if you are in a secluded area and be especially wary when coming out of the underground as this is where most mobiles are stolen from as they tend to “bleep” when you come out and get a signal.

Try not to walk around texting with your head down or crossing a busy road. 
If you do need to text, stand with your back against a wall, or at least pay attention to your surroundings without being oblivious to everyone and everything.

It’s when you’re not paying attention that incidents can and do happen.

Tip 6: Walking:

When walking, try to walk with the traffic coming towards you.   

Why?
 
If you get accosted by someone in a car you will have the ability to see them coming, they also have to talk to you through the passenger car window if they are by themselves which means they have to stretch across the passenger seat to be able to speak with you with puts them in an unfavourable position.

If they have someone with them, you will at least see them coming towards you and be able to prepare yourself to deal with the situation and calm yourself.

If you feel threatened don’t be afraid to scream and shout as loud as you possibly can!

If you have one, set off your personal attack alarm.

Don’t stand rooted on the spot but run to a place of safety immediately and remember if the car does decide to follow you they will have to turn the car around in the road, again buying you those precious seconds.

In all eventualities they will drive on their way as most assailants are looking for easy opportunities and if you show yourself to be capable and confident you’re not such an easy target.

Even when you’re in a hurry and on your own never be tempted to take a short cut across waste land or even down an alleyway, it’s much better to be slightly late than to never get there at all or to get there in one piece.

Most attacks or incidents take place when individuals are not paying attention or are in unfamiliar territory and look confused. Always try to project an air of confidence and if you do need directions ask at a shop or garage where there are other people around.

Tip 7: Being followed

If you think you’re being followed it’s very important not to panic.

What happens when you panic?

Chemicals get released in your body, cortisol, adrenaline, you can’t think straight!

STOP!  Have a procedure in place that you can follow, this will serve to calm you and help you to think clearly.

Acknowledge with a sidelong glance that you know you’re being followed, use strong and positive body language and even if you are not familiar with your surroundings, act as though you are.

Cross the road once, if they follow it could be coincidence, don’t panic.

Cross a second time still maintaining good body language, if they follow again it’s fairly certain that you are being followed, but still remain calm and don’t panic.

Get to a place of safety as soon as you can, a garage, a shop or approach a group of people or perhaps even knock on someone’s door and explain to them that you are feeling very frightened as you think that you are being followed and ask them to stay with you while you telephone for help.

As soon as the would-be assailant can see that you’re in control and not alone he will probably just disappear.

Tip 8: Parking

When you park your car try to always reverse park it so that you are always facing forwards and are therefore able to see anyone suspicious coming towards you.

If you drive in forwards like people often do, you immediately make yourself vulnerable by having your back to a potential situation.

If you do see someone coming towards you, close and lock your doors and close any open windows.

If necessary drive off, no one is going to stand in front of a moving car and get to a place of safety as soon as you can and always report incidents like this to the police.

Most women will also make out their shopping list or look through their handbags before leaving the car. If you do this, make sure that no one is watching you and have your doors locked and windows closed.

If you drive to the station in the morning and use the station car park always try to visualise what the area will look like when you come back later in the dark. Try to park underneath a lamp post or as close to the ticket office as you can.

Have your car keys ready and carry a torch.

Tip 9: Public transport

If you feel threatened on public transport, get to a place of safety immediately.

Either change carriages or go and sit next to the guard if there is one, or if you can sit with a group of people or a family and explain to them that you feel threatened.

If you feel confident enough, get off at the next stop and try to make sure there are people around.

If you really do feel there is no alternative and are feeling frightened, don’t be afraid to pull the communication chord.

If you should find yourself unavoidably at lonely bus stops or on quiet platforms always sit or stand in a well lit area and preferable next to the green intercoms that most stations have nowadays.

On buses always sit in an aisle seat, that way you can’t be hemmed in and always try to sit behind the driver as all buses now have two way radios and help can be summoned very quickly.

Tip 10: Drinks

If you are on a night out, again do not take your safety for granted. Always plan a way home, even when you’re with friends.

Date rape is becoming more prevalent and drugs are very easy to slip into someone’s drink and are practically undetectable.

Always have a nominated drinks watcher even when you go to the loo and never leave your drink unattended.

If you do accept a drink from a stranger be very wary (drink testing kits are now easily available and very easy to use) and it only takes a second to test.

If in a bar, club or at a party and you find yourself feeling suddenly very strange or perhaps drowsy, under no circumstances leave the establishment with someone you have just met  -only accept help from a friend or a member of staff.

Get to a place of safety as soon as possible.

Remember, friends can watch out for each other.

In closing I would just like to reiterate that violent crime and the chances of being a victim of violent crime are extremely low, don’t get paranoid and don’t get sucked into the media circus that crime is rife.

Take sensible precautions and make “personal awareness” part of your everyday life.