Permanent Page

Periodically, I receive this by email but because of  its important message I feel it deserves a permanent page here. – EditorJackie 

Safety Tips for Women

PLEASE NOTE: The following information is provided courtesy of Peggy Whipple. Her brother is a police officer and this is his report on a personal safety workshop he attended.

TIP: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

TIP: If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the taillights, put your arm through the hole, and wave frantically. The driver will not be able to see you, but everyone else will. This maneuver has saved lives.

Last night I attended a personal safety workshop, and it jolted me. It was given by an amazing man who has been a bodyguard for famous celebrities like Farrah Fawcett and Sylvester Stallone. He works for the FBI, and teaches hand-to-hand combat to police officers and Navy Seals. This man has seen it all, and he knows a lot. His topic was How to Avoid Being the Victim of a Violent Crime.
The instructor recited some statistics regarding just how much random violence has escalated in recent years, and it's truly alarming. Something like 99% of us will be exposed to or become a victim of a violent crime. Here are some of the most important points that I gleaned from his presentation:
The top three reasons women are easy targets for random acts of violence:

1. Lack of Awareness. You must know where you are and what's going on around you.
2. Body Language. Keep your head up, swing your arms, and stand up straight.
3. Wrong Place, Wrong Time. Don't walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood at night.

Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc, and just sit there updating their checkbook, making a list, etc.. Do not do this. The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get into the passenger seat and put a gun to your head. As soon as you get into your car, lock all the doors and leave.

When getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:

1. Be aware. Look around you, look into your car, look at the passenger side floorboard, and look in the back seat.
2. If you are parked next to a large 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.
3. Look at the car parked on the driver side of your vehicle and/or the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat closest to your car, walk back into the mall, your workplace, etc., and have a security guard or policeman escort you back to your vehicle. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

1. Do not get onto an elevator if the person already there looks strange.
2. If you get onto the elevator on, say, the 25th floor, and a suspicious looking man gets on at the 22nd floor, get off when he gets on.

If a predator has a gun and you are not under his control, always run.

1. Police make only 4 of 10 shots at a distance of 3 to 9 feet from their intended target. This is due to stress.
2. The chances of the predator hitting you are 25 to 1. Even if you are struck, chances are it will not be a vital organ. Run.


Women are known for showing sympathy. Predators count on this.

1. The serial killer Ted Bundy was a handsome, well-educated man, who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane or limped, and often asked for "help" in getting into his vehicle or with his vehicle—and then he abducted his next victim.
2. One young lady came out of a mall and was walking to her car when she noticed two older ladies, a police car, and several empty handicap parking spaces. As she neared her car, a man parked several rows away started calling her to come over and help him close his passenger side door. He was sitting in the driver's seat and claimed to be handicapped. He continued calling until she turned and headed back into the mall. Then the driver began cursing at her. Meanwhile, the young lady wondered why the driver had not sought assistance from either the two ladies or the police officer, and why he was not parked in a handicap space. As she neared the mall entrance, she met two male friends who were coming out of the mall, and she told them what had just happened. She turned to point out the car, and just then another man moved from the back seat to the front seat and the car sped away. Don't get caught in this trap.

Tips for saving your life when you find yourself in a violent situation:

1. React immediately. If you are driving, crash your car at 5 mph. If you are in the passenger seat, look for the right moment to gouge the driver's eyes
2. Resist. Do not go along with your abductor. Don't give up—you do not want to be taken to a crime scene.

Get a cell phone. For $20/month you can have a cell phone that is programmed to dial only 911.

Automobile breakdowns. Make every effort to avoid a breakdown by always keeping your car in good working order.

1. If your car breaks down, lock your doors. If you have a cell phone, use it to call for help.
2. Always keep a blanket, warm clothes, a pair of boots, and a flashlight in your car.
3. If it's in the middle of a business day, turn on your emergency flashers and walk to safety.
4. It it's late at night/early in the morning, put on your warm clothing and walk to a well-lit area. Predators roam the highways looking for women sitting in broken down vehicles.
5. If you are on a desolate stretch of road, put on your warm clothing and get as far away as possible from the car. Hide behind a bush, tree, etc. away from the car.

Physical defenses for use against a violent predator:

1. Eyes. The eyes are the most vulnerable part of the body. Forcefully jab your fingers into his eyes
2. Neck. You must know where to grip, and you must have the strength to cut off his breath.
3. Knees. This is another very vulnerable area. Use a swift kick to bring down the predator. 
4. CAUTION: An attack on any of these areas, if not done swiftly and forcefully, may backfire.

If you are walking alone at night—which you should never do—and someone is following or chasing you:

1. Scream "FIRE!" Screaming "Help" will probably not provide any assistance, since people generally want to avoid trouble. Screaming "Fire" will draw a crowd.
2. Run.
3. Find an obstacle and run around it.
4. As a last resort, crawl under a car. This maneuver has saved lives, but it must be practiced to be effective.

As a general rule, while in any type of business establishment (bar, store, restaurant, gas station, etc.), keep a safe distance between you and everyone else around you.

Permanent Pages Safety Tips for Women Testing Two-Way Mirrors

Home - Community - Permanent Page - Safety Tips for Women