When you sign your name on the dotted line and purchase a life insurance policy - is it because you believe you are going to die very soon?
Of course not! As responsible adults with spouses and dependant children, we purchase life insurance simply for insurance, and to be prepared. We want to know that if - heaven forbid - anything happens to us - our loved ones will be taken care of.
In the same vein, when I advise women to carry a self-defense product, it’s not because I want them to worry that they will be attacked; it’s because I want them to be prepared.
Thankfully, most of us will never be a victim of a criminal attack. We will never use that pepper spray on our keychain (in which case, by the way, it must be replaced every few years - don’t be carrying the pepper spray that you purchased 10 years ago when you were in college; it is no longer potent enough to help you). And we will never activate that ear piercing alarm that we carry while jogging or hiking.
However, attacks do happen - we hear about it on the news every day. So don’t be a victim - be prepared! If you carry a pepper spray, Taser (if legal), kubaton or personal alarm, be ready - hold it in your hand while walking from the mall or supermarket to your car or when walking across campus at night. It will be of no help to you if it is at the bottom of your handbag.
Walk with confidence. Take notice of your environment. Please do not be engrossed in a conversation on your cell phone while walking to or from your car. All of these tips will help you be a BAD victim… This may deter a mugger, rapist, kidnapper, etc.
Finally, if you ever need to use your self-defense product (Taser, pepper spray, alarm etc.) remember - it is not your job to “finish off” or capture your attacker (leave that for law enforcement). As soon as you disable or disorient your attacker with your preferred method of self-defense - use the opportunity to escape. That means run the other way as quickly as possible, and never worry about material objects; they are replaceable - YOU are not!
I hope that my advice has been helpful. It is meant simply to teach and inform. Each individual has their own comfort level as far as how they think they might respond in a threatening situation. All I ask is that you think about that and decide what method is right for you.
Beth says:
May 29th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Great article…I do agree, better to be prepared than caught off guard. More women should be this aware!