Safety Tips
I recently read this article and thought it may save a life. A group of imprisoned rapists and date rapists were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim. Here are some actual facts:
1. The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with long hair, a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can be easily grabbed. Woman with short hair are not common targets.
2. The second thing men look for is clothing which is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.
3. They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.
4. The number one place from which women are abducted/attacked is (1) grocery store parking lots; (2) office parking lots/garages; and (3) public restrooms. They are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to an isolated location.
5. PUT UP A FIGHT. They get discouraged because it will be time-consuming.
6. These men said they would not pick on women who are carrying umbrellas or other similar objects that can be used from a distance. Keys are not a good deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon.
Points to remember:
1. If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an easy target.
2. If you carry pepper spray (the instructor was a huge advocate of it), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and hold it out in front. It will be a deterrent.
3. If someone grabs you, you may not beat them with strength but you can outsmart them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh – HARD.
4. After the initial hit, always go for the groin. If you slap a guy’s parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the instructor said they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. CAUSE TROUBLE!
5. When the guy puts his hands on you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as hard possible.
6. Always be aware of your surroundings. If you see odd behavior, don’t dismiss it. Go with your instincts. You may feel a little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
7. The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough, USE IT.
8. If a robber asks for your purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you. Chances are he’s more interested in your wallet/purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
9. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out of the hole and start waiving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will.
10. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (checking their cell phone, sorting through their purse). DON’T DO THIS! The predator may be watching and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side. LEAVE AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE THE DOORS.
A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or garage:
A. Be aware: Look around your car as someone may be hiding near the passenger side, peek into your car, check the passenger side floor and the backseat (DO THIS BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB, TOO).
B. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back in the mall or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
D. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs (stairwells are horrible places to be alone).
E. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) four in 100 times, and even then, most likely WILL NOT hit a vital organ. RUN!
F. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic. STOP IT! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane or a limp and often asked for help into/with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
