Occam’s razor states that the simplest answer is usually the correct one. A variation of that thought is that the most obvious tasks should be done first. Here are four tips which may seem obvious that you can do to make your life and the life of your loved ones safer from an assault.
It seems people are more distracted these days with smart phones. We dare you to go anywhere and not see several people plunking away on their smart phones. Texting while driving has become illegal in several states as this accompanying map shows. But that doesn’t stop some people.
While we’re on the subject, one of the best videos showing this is of a man texting on his phone and is so engrossed in it he walks into a water fountain. This Forbes magazine article on walking while texting discusses the issue in more depth.
You should know the places where assaults are most likely to occur: parking lots, the home and the workplace. I know, you’re saying what else is there? We use this as a good example of not paying attention. It shows a woman talking on her cell phone and being so distracted that she falls on subway train tracks. Yeah, we know it’s not an assault, but it leads nicely to our first tip for keeping your life safer.
- No matter where you are or what is going on, keep focused and pay attention to what you’re doing. Don’t become distracted. Criminals prey on those who become distracted and parking lots are a good example which is why they are such fertile grounds for criminals. A woman coming out of a grocery store or a store in a mall is much more likely to be talking on a cell phone, or talking to a friend or even minding the children in the cart that she is pushing on the way to her car. Additionally, busy parking lots provide excellent hiding places for criminals between and under cars. Yes, we said under cars. There was a story not long ago about a woman coming back from a store getting into her car when a pervert reached out and grabbed her leg and raped her.
- It also seems obvious that you should avoid dangerous, poorly lit and darkened areas such as stairwells in an apartment complex or at work. Yes, exercise of going up and down stairs is a great way to get some cardio work in but not at the expense of your safety and personal security. Streets and parking lots that have inadequate lighting fall closely behind.
- No matter how silly it may seem to you, always carry a self-defense product with you such as a pepper spray or a stun gun. Pepper sprays, in particular ones that are on keychains, are legal in every state and are inexpensive and small enough to carry in your hand.
This Fox Labs pepper spray with a green marking dye that can help identify an assailant after the fact is one of the most popular keychain pepper sprays.pic - Women especially are blessed with a built-in radar that senses dangerous situations: they should pay attention to it.
If you follow these four tips with fervor and they will help keep you out of trouble.
Check out this post on some ways to totally own your attacker.