Employing A Few Streets Smarts Can Save Your Life

Are you street smart? Do you know enough to keep out of harm's way when traveling the streets of your city or town? Many women think they have enough common sense to stay safe but life breeds complacency and you let your guard down after a while and then you just might find yourself in trouble. There is potential danger lurking everywhere from cities with millions of people to even your typical small hometown of 500 people. You simply do not know when or if you will ever be in the need to employ any self defense tactics to escape harm.

There are plenty of tactics you can employ to protect you from harm before the need to even physically defend yourself. While these tactics may seem simple, there is a reason why they are repeated time and time again – it is that complacency issue. Here are a few things you can do to maintain your safe existence:

1. Check all your locks on the doors and windows before leaving home, including ensuring your garage door actually closes and stays closed. Also make sure that you do not leave any windows open during your absence. You do not want an undesirable visitor waiting for you when you get home.

2. Trim the bushes and trees around your home and install security lights as needed. Bushes cast shadows and can be the perfect place for criminals to hide until they are ready to strike. Even better, plant spiky or thorny bushes near all of your windows to deter criminals from gaining entrance into your home this way.

3. When traveling away from home, always park in well-lit areas. It is very hard for someone to hide around your car if it is light up as they will cast an easily detectable shadow.

4. During shopping expeditions or just walking in public, be sure to not carry many valuables in your purse. Leave your checkbook and most of your credit cards at home and carry only a few dollars in your purse. Should it become stolen, you will have lost very little and would not have to go to the trouble of canceling credit cards and bank accounts. It is best to carry the important things like cash, credit cards and drivers license on your person, concealed where it is not readily noticeable.

5. Carry a simple whistle with you either around your neck or on a keychain. If you feel the least bit threatened, whether it is a suspicious character loitering near your car or you believe you are followed, blow the whistle and create a lot of noise. Potential assailants do not like to call attention to them and are likely to slink away rather than approach you.

6. If you carry any self defense devices, do not treat them like accessories. Learn how to use them and practice whipping them out of your purse or keychain. A self defense device like pepper spray, a kuboton or stun gun does not help you if you cannot access it or use it properly.

7. Always tell someone where you are going and check in periodically. That way, if something should happen, your loved ones will know where to start looking for you. Yes, this sounds scary but it can be quite helpful in finding you as well as the perpetrator who hurts you.

8. Maintain your distance from anyone seeking directions, especially if they approach you in a vehicle. Stay several arm lengths away and do not gesture or turn to indicate a direction as this will distract you, giving a potential attacker time to get to you.

Many more ideas on how to stay safe exist. One day, truly focus in on safety measures and how to avoid being a victim. Identify problem areas in places you frequent whether it is the parking garage at work or the grocery store. Being cognizant of potential dangers in the very places you are comfortable with is quite an eye opener. It will make you think twice each time you leave home.