THE HARD TRUTHS OF PERSONAL SAFETY
The key to personal safety is to THINK and plan before you get into a situation where you are in danger!
THE HARD TRUTHS OF PERSONAL SAFETY:
1- your safety and that of your loved ones, is your personal responsibility
2- the police are not responsible to protect you
3- the police are not legally liable if they fail to protect you and are often just there to take the report after the crime if you survive the attack
4- your ideology, religious beliefs and civil rights mean absolutely nothing to a predator standing over you
5- the government is not able to protect you
6- very bad things happen to good people every day
3 CONDITIONS OF AWARENESS
CONDITION GREEN
Condition Green is the blissful, uncaring, unaware condition most live their entire lives in. These people do not ever expect any problems, do not prepare in any way to handle any problems and are usually blindsided by criminals and predators when they are victimized by theft, assault, robbery, rape, and murder.
CONDITION AMBER
The best way to be safe is to be prepared and to expect the unexpected. This is known as Condition Amber (aware and alert of possible danger). This is often referred to as the Sixth sense. When you notice others looking at you or acting in an odd way your body is telling you, "pull your head out, something here is wrong". If you are prepared and can think, you will take whatever steps you can to remove yourself from the situation you perceive as potentially dangerous or strange.
CONDITION RED
Condition Red is fight or flight. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up, your hands instinctively make fists, you start sweating, you start getting tunnel vision, your body shuts down all unimportant functions and gets ready to fight or run. By this point your brain has decided that your life is in immanent danger and if you do not immediately deal with the threat, you are in danger of serious injury or death. If you have a firearm for defense, this is the point when you draw it from your holster, as you have already decided the situation warrants the use of deadly force, and have already decided to shoot first if given the opportunity. Force yourself to do a quick perimeter scan and keep your back to a wall or direction there is no chance of others attacking you from the back.
PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS:
Let others know when you are going and what route you are taking, when you leave and when you should arrive, so they will know if you miss the time and fail to show, where you might be.
Avoid direct eye contact as it is viewed as aggressive to gang members.
Carry a concealed firearm if legal in your state and practical in your travels (cannot take it into bars or government buildings and many other public gatherings, so know the laws and follow them), be very familiar on it's use and very good at very close range with it, or personal alarm, mace, or be prepared to scream "FIRE" loudly and get away if threatened.
Be alert and walk purposefully. Confidence deters attackers, they prey on the meek and those they view as weak.
Avoid lonely or gloomy places, especially at night - walk with a friend, or escort or stay with a crowd. Safety in numbers deters attacks from strangers.
Look ahead of where you are walking to see potential problems before you walk into the middle of them. For example if you see a group of guys 1 block up ahead of you, on the side of the street you are walking on who appear "questionable" simply cross the street to pass them and see if they also cross the street to intercept you. Should they cross the street with you, then go back to the side you were on to see if they also do that. If they do then their intentions are clearly to intercept you, and you should immediately turn around and run.
Be wary of strangers, on foot or in cars, asking directions - it's better to be rude than to be in trouble.
If you have a coat, keep your hands in the front pockets, as criminals know "hands with guns in them, are their worst fear", so let them think you have something in your hands. When they ask for change or the time they are asking to see your hands. Say under your breath "Get away from me I'm undercover". Yes it is a lie, but it may derail their plan if they think you are working with a team of cops at the moment.
If someone follows you, go to a place where there are other people, not home, as they may not know who you are, so why show them where you live. Go to a place with lots of exits or phones to call the police. Better yet, lead them to a local gun range and ask some of the patrons there for combat shooting events, for some assistance. Talk about some enthusiastic support and assistance from a complete stranger!
Respect you intuition. Don't allow rationality to override your "sixth sense" - it could protect you from danger.
Do not direct all attention to the threat, as often predators work in groups, turn to face one and the others will attach you from behind.
Those who prey on girls are usually alone as they believe they can overpower her to intimidate her alone, so they do not usually have a weapon, or if so only a knife. Those who plan to attack a guy are usually in a larger groups and often armed.
Take a self-defense course, but do not rely on the ability to engage a opponent in martial combat to help you much, as street fighting is a completely different combat arena. I know several multi discipline black belts who also carry a gun.
Take a defensive firearm course and get a permit to carry if your state is one that understands free men have the right to defend themselves. Get very familiar with the gun you will carry, engage many targets at point blank range, spend lots of time learning to draw (use only empty guns for practice) and point it at very close ranges. Most shootings occur at less than 6 feet and most are over in 3 shots. The way I see it whoever shoots first has the best chance of walking away.
Girls should carry their purses under their coats if possible to hide and easy target in winter. I suggest carrying a small wallet with your credit cards and cash in one of your pockets in case you need to give up your purse. If cornered and they demand your purse, do not give it to them, and they will then have you and them in the same place, so they can take both of you if they wish. Instead toss the purse or wallet in the opposite direction that you plan to run away from. That forces them to choose between the money they claim to want and you. Nothing is guaranteed, but it might save your life while they go for the purse and rummage through it, 5 –10 seconds is a good head start when running for your life.
Guys should carry the majority of their cash and credit cards & DL some place harder to find, like their front pants pocket. Keep a few bucks in your wallet if you need to give it up, so they do not just kill you because you have no cash to give them.
When you're socializing, play smart. One drink too many could make you vulnerable. Drink nothing that was given to you in an open condition, meaning get your own drinks for yourself, and do not put it down, walk away and then pick it back up to drink it. There are too many "date rape" drugs available over the counter and via mail service to trust any one with.
Guys need to worry about this almost as much as girls, as many guys wear very expensive watches, jewelry or drive an expensive vehicle. Someone can take all of them in a couple minutes if you pass out on the floor drugged.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SAFETY
Avoid if possible, any transportation mode that locks you into a metal box with groups of strangers. No one has ever been attacked from a group of complete strangers they did not invite into their own personal vehicle, unless they failed to see them hiding in the back before they got in. Drive your own vehicle and make sure no one is hiding in it before you get in. Leave public transportation to those who live in Condition Green and still believe the fairy tale that government and the police can and will protect you. Do not misunderstand me, I love cops, my best buddies are deputies and detectives, but they cannot be everywhere, and your protection is your responsibility.
If you absolutely must endanger your life by trusting the government or others to protect you and transport you then do the following:
Know your timetables to avoid long waits - especially if you're alone.
Rather than sit in lonely, closed-in shelters, keep to open, populated areas in full view of the bus and passing traffic.
Phone for taxis rather that hailing them, and if possible have someone see you off and keep a note of the taxi number. Sit in the back seat on the opposite side to the driver, and don't disclose personal information.
They make glass-breaking tools and sell them in hardware stores, spring loaded center punches work great. For under $5.00 you can get out of any vehicle quickly by smashing the glass and opening the door from the outside. If you live from taxi to taxi, you should have one of these, as it is about impossible to break the windows from the inside if you get locked in.
SAFETY IN YOUR CAR
Park in well-lit, busy areas.
Look under your car from a distance before heading to it.
Be aware of anyone parked near your car sitting in his or her vehicle, especially if they are on the driver's door side of your car. If you can wait till they leave if you suspect any problems. If you cannot wait, make sure to keep your car between them and you when you get into the car, even if it means getting in the passenger side and moving over the console to get in the driver seat.
Hold your keys ready to open the door, and be prepared to use them to jab an attacker.
Check the back seat or hatch for intruders before getting into the car.
Once inside, lock, start and drive, as a moving vehicle is very hard to stop.
If you suspect you are being followed, do not drive home, thus leading them to your home when they may not know who you are. Instead lead them to the police department, or fire department and go inside with a description of the vehicle so they can go ask what his problem is for you.
Common ways to get you out of the car to attack you involve "Bump & Grab" tactics, where you are gently bumped at a exit ramp or red light. You get out to check your vehicle for damage and they attack you. If bumped ask them to follow you to a public place to exchange information. Do this from a slightly cracked window, with the doors locked, foot on the brake and the vehicle in drive in case you need to FLOOR IT!
If your car has a alarm remote, this is a good way to get others away from your car if need be, trigger it from a distance, then see how long they linger near the vehicle with the beeping horn and flashing lights.
PUBLIC TELEPHONE SAFETY
(do they still have these?)
Always carry change or a phone card. You may need to call a taxi, friend or family member if you're stranded or nervous.
When you have dialed, turn your back to the phone, and speak looking outwards.
If threatened, dial911, a free call to the Police
If you call the Police, give your name, telephone box number and location first. If someone tries to get into the phone booth, sit down and brace yourself against the door, if you are in an open phone booth or at an emergency phone, put your back to the phone so that you are facing out and can see anyone approaching.
CELL PHONE SAFETY
Have speed dial set for emergency calls to family members, business associates or taxis when you need to reach them fast if you're stranded or nervous.
Cell phone should all work within the USA if dialed 911, as long as they are within a repeater tower. Even with no service contract, they should continue to work with 911 calls.
When you have dialed, keep your head up and constantly do a perimeter scan of 360 degrees (that means look around you often genius) because when talking on a cell phone, we tend to get tunnel vision and lose all connection with our environment. This fact is known by predators who will move on unsuspecting victims blissfully lost in a world of discussions with their friends on the phone and attack them when their mouth in drive, and their brain in park.
If threatened, dial 911, a free call to the Police
If you call the Police, give your name, and location first.
If someone is following you by car, try to get a tag number, state, county if it is on the tag, along with a description of the vehicle, color, make model, any body damage
Descriptions of the person following is excellent info for the police as most who will stalk victims are criminals of opportunity, so they are not disguised. Give police or friends you can contact any info, height, weight, facial hair, scars, tattoos, clothing, eye color, any physical details, limps, broken nose, missing teeth….
Possible the best use of a cell phone might be the use of one when the criminal is not aware you have one. Such as if kidnapped and you have a phone FIRST turn tones off for "Silent Mode" so no tones or ringing is heard. Then dial 911 and leave it on speaking as much info as possible with your captor; "Why are you kidnapping me, is this your brown Chevy truck, why are you taking me to a warehouse on Pitt Blvd, crying sounds all these things can be used by the police to help find you.
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MP3 PLAYER USERS
Before I start I have one, an iPOD, love it, use it often for music, audio books, language lessons….so I know how much enjoyment can be obtained from one of these wonderful devices. Having said that, let me now point out with relative ease I can walk up behind almost any one jamming out to their favorite tunes wearing tap dance shoes and a chain saw running in my hands and they would never hear me as they are so involved with their tunes and it is so loud they are practically targets of opportunity with a big bulls eye on their butts.
Add to that fact that the iPod top of the live version can be over $500.00 with the accessories and you are practically waving a very expensive toy in front of some people who would beat you, knife you, rape you or worse for kicks, all while you are oblivious to all that is going on around you. Next to cell phone users, this must be the easiest target to surprise and overpower, as they willingly will give anyone the first shot at them, as they have absolutely no clue what is going on around them. Truly living in Condition Green when it could get them killed.
Play it smart, when in familiar surroundings where you believe you are safe, enjoy your tunes, when in unfamiliar settings, with unknown strangers around you, give your eardrums a break and pay attention to what is going on around you. It might just save your life.
Your security is your responsibility, all I can do is try to show you how to protect yourself, you must choose to value your life and polish your survival skills on your own. Even those who do not value their own life, do not believe they are worth the trouble or hassle to try to be more careful, have loved ones and friends who would be devastated at their loss. If you will not learn to be more safety minded for yourself, then do it for them.