Steps Women Can Take To Prevent Sexual Assault Or Rape

There are a number of statistics floating around regarding sexual assault and rape and one of them reports that at least half of all cases are by predators unknown to the victims. This can be a scary proposition for women, wondering if an assailant is just around the next block or is in disguise in the form of someone lost asking for directions. The fact is, you just do not know who could be that potential rapist and therefore you must be prepared to protect yourself against any dangerous and compromising situation. Part of protecting yourself in self defense is the security measures you take to avoid being compromised in the first place. Read on for some handy tips:

1. Keep to well-lit places at all times as potential assailants would rather not be identifiable. Plus, staying in well-lit areas means that witnesses can also see what is going on to pass along to law enforcement.

2. Always scope out your environment before you get out of your car. Identify problem places like passing by an alleyway, dense shrubbery or dark corridor to your destination. Map out in your mind the way you plan to go and proceed confidently as if you have traveled that path a thousand times. Confidence is a deterrent to most potential predators. They would rather have someone weak or does not appear to know where she is.

3. Walk on the sidewalk as close to the curbside of a road as possible. This provides fewer opportunities for a potential assailant to grab you from a dark doorway or alley, unless they had extra-long arms to reach you from afar.

4. If you have car trouble or are stranded and you must walk to get help, stick to the immediate side of the road. Walk against traffic so that you can see who is coming.

5. Maintain wariness when someone stops to ask for directions, especially if you are walking and they are in a vehicle. Keep several steps removed from them (past arm length distance) and do not gesture and turn around to point in any direction. The least bit of inattention is enough time to grab you and throw you in the vehicle before speeding off.

6. If you are walking in an area and feel that you are being followed, get to a public area that is well-lit with plenty of people. If it is a car following you, turn and head in the opposite direction or walk on the other side of the street where they cannot follow. If necessary, call the police for help or ask a bystander to do so.

7. Always carry your cell phone with you, at the ready and charged to full strength. You need to be able to call for help in an instant without worrying about dropped calls.

8. Do not be afraid to make noise if you feel threatened in any way. It is better to be embarrassed than mugged, raped or killed.

9. When approaching your car, look around it and even under it to ensure that no one is lying in wait for you. Also, do not get into your vehicle without checking out the back seat and even trunk area if it should happen to open up into your car. You want to ensure that no one is hiding.

10. Once you are inside your vehicle (after inspection for intruders first), immediately lock the doors. You do not want to give a potential assailant a chance to grab you out of your car.

Countless tips and advice will be dealt out that you are likely to hear in regards to protecting your safety and acting out of self defense. There is one important thing to remember – if you plan to add any personal self defense tools such as pepper spray, a stun gun or personal alarm, make sure you are comfortable using them. Practice whipping them out of your purse or pocket in an instant because that is all you will have against a potential assailant.