Girl's Night

Girl’s Night

• Flats- faster to run in
• Keep your cell phone on you and at high volume
• Keep 20$ on you- emergency money or if someone confronts you for money just give them 20
• Carry your person in front of you, holding the strap makes it harder for someone to grab it, wear it under your coat- if possible, do not fight over your purse or chase someone who took it- story/example
• Do not flash your money around
• Use common sense when dressing-jewelry, flashy, valuable items, on the streets use a scarf to conceal them
• Do not take shortcuts through dark deserted places, stay in well lit or crowded places story/example- see sally kick ass
• Bring a flashlight- can b used as a weapon
• Walk against traffic so you can see cars coming towards you and no one can pull up behind you, open a door and drag you in their car
• Walk wide around corners- allows you to see around the corner better
• Two is better than one, the more the merrier
• Common sense, trust your intuition, if a place gives off a bad vibe, don’t enter

Shopping Safety

Shopping

• Be aware of your surroundings. Look for suspicious persons, etc. when you are in any area.
• Remember where you parked your car. While this may sound elementary, many shopping areas are spread out over large areas. Being unable to locate a car can cause you undue confusion and stress that may present you as a better target to a criminal.
• If shopping late in the day or after dark, park in an area that is well lighted. Keep in mind, if you are shopping at a mall, the time the store closes from which you enter the mall, as some stores close earlier than others. This may keep you from having to walk unnecessary distances to your car if you find the store has closed earlier than you expected.
• Shop in pairs at the very least. Take a friend or family member shopping with you. There is something to be said for safety in numbers.
• As you return to your car, make sure to keep your car key in your hand.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with checks, credit, charge or debit cards. Carry cash and wallets in a front pocket to reduce your chances of having your pocket picked.
• Don't leave car phones, purses, CD cases, or any other item of value in your parked car where they can be seen. Always conceal these items.
• Don't leave purchased merchandise in your parked car where it can be seen. Conceal these items also.
• Holiday shopping is notorious for higher levels of criminal activity
• Keep your purse on you, not in a shopping cart
• Be aware of what you, and your children are wearing- identification- colors –gangs
• Changing rooms and restrooms, keep valuables off the floor where people can grab them
• Don’t get distracted
• Don’t leave any place alone, walk with someone, even if you don’t know them
• Try to only have one arm full of bags, the other should be free for your keys or defense
• Get an escort form the store at night

Staying Safe at Home

Home

• Lock the doors, deadbolts
• Alarms
• Don’t tell anyone you are home alone
• Change locks
• Second floor apartments rather than first
• Keep ground floor windows locked
• Get to know your neighbors
• Ask who it is before opening the door to someone, never open the door to a stranger alone, unless they have proper identification- don’t allow any service personnel (telephone, repair services) in unless you specifically called them to come check something in your house out
• Make your home look occupied. TV, lights, radio, less chance of robbery
• Make sure exterior of house is well lit, and bushes are cut back so no one can hide in them
• Use motion detector lights by doors
• Lock all gates in fences
• Don’t have trellises or anything anyone can climb near any windows
• Keep ladders locked in garage
• Keep the garage door closed and the door to the house in the garage locked
• Have your house number visible so police or emergency personnel can find it quickly
• “safe haven room” in case someone breaks in, portable phone, cell phone service, weapon, locks, heavy door
• Fireproof safe, hidden
• Vary routine leaving and returning home
• Have a house sitter if u are involved in a funeral, wedding, etc.
• If you put an ad in the paper to sell someone have someone with you if someone comes to look at it or pick it up
• Do not go in to your house if it looks like someone tried to break in. go to a neighbors, call the police
• If you are at home and someone breaks in do not confront them unless you are physically threatened, call 911, make loud noises

Staying Safe at Hotels

Hotel

• Fire safety (ladders)
• Be observant, lock doors
• Don’t answer to anyone u don’t know or aren’t expecting
• Never tell strangers you’re alone
• Check doors, windows, sliders et.
• Know hotel address and room number
• Available working phone at all times
• Register with your first initial only
• 2-7th floors are best in case of fires, above the 4th floor is better for preventing intruders
• Room access from inside the building is safe than outside access
• Ask for an escort to your room
• Don not keep valuable in your room unless they are locked in a safe
• Make sure locks and chains on your doors work
• Make sure your windows are locked and closed correctly
• Conduct meetings in the lobby or a public area, not your room
• Have a flashlight- power outage
• Before you leave, take a matchbook or business card with the hotels number and address, You can give it to taxi drivers so they bring you to the right hotel. Large cities have hotels in the same chain
• Put a lamp or chair in front of your door or window or anything that makes a racket if knocked over during an attempt break in
• Use elevators whenever possible, stairs can be lonely and criminals linger there. Open stairs in plain view are fine. Avoid fire escapes or closed staircases.
• If there is a fire, you should only uses stairs, never elevators

Traveling Safely

Always:
Let someone know about your destination (who, what, when, where, why and how)
Keep your head up
Be aware of your surroundings

Public Transport:
• There is usually safety in numbers, wait in a public, populated area for the public transport to arrive
• Don't choose a window seat, you may get blocked in by a potential attacker, an aisle seat gives you a quick ext
• Hold onto your belongings in your lap
• Don't fall asleep
• Don't stand on isolated platforms
• Exit with a group, only if the exit looks safe
• Don't use a laptop or anything of value
• Always choose the train compartment carrying the most passengers or directly behind the driver
• On buses, sit behind the driver or next to the door for a quick exit

Driving- Cars and Parking Lots:
• Always approach your vehicle with the keys ready
• Always check your car before entering
• Never leave your car unlocked, even for the few minutes it may take you to return a video, buy milk and so forth. Attackers have been known to lie in wait for such an opportunity.
• Always drive to a well-lit and crowded area before exiting your car.
• Always be alert in parking lots, especially when it's dark. If you are afraid, don't be too shy to ask someone to escort you to your car. Between cars and inside cars, it's easy for someone to hide and wait until an unalert person comes along.
• Never pick up hitchhikers
• Lock the doors, put on your seat belt, leave
• Keep your car maintained-oils, gas, tires etc.
• Always keep your gas half full so you don’t run out on a rainy/bad night
• Drive defensively-no road rage
• When you have to stop, stop far back enough that you can see the rear tires of the car in front of you-prevent being blocked in and allows you to go around it if necessary
• If you are driving alone at night, wear a baseball hat or other hat, giving you a male appearance
• Don’t leave any valuables visible in the car
• Avoid stopping at highway rest stops at night that have very few people
• If you think you are being followed, turn 4 or 5 corners, if the car still follows, do not go home, go to the nearest police station or a well lit public place
• If you get a flat tire, drive slowly to the nearest gas station
• Keep a flashlight, pen and pad in your car
• Back into parking spots, leaving is quicker
• Use valet when you can, if none, park close to the entrance as possible, well lit, no near bushes
• On Star-help anytime in the car, LoJack-locates stolen cars, The Club-locks the steering wheel
• Never get out and leave the car running
• Never leave your children in the car
• If someone gets in your car, get out and run
• In parking lots walk though wide main aisles, not between parked cars
• If someone grabs you while you are getting in the car, throw the keys away so they can’t abduct you
• If someone comes towards the car to get you and the children,, lean over the front seat, get them and then get out, then throw the keys, if you get out and then try to get the children, the criminal might take the keys and get in it and drive off with the kids
• Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol etc

Techniques

Fight vs. Flight

Flight - If you think you can successfully escape, don't hesitate, run as fast as you can to the nearest place of safety
Fight-Use any physical means to survive, and get to a safe place


Remember:
• Show no fear, remain calm
• Strong, confident stance
• Remain objective, listen to what the person is saying
• Communicate calmly and clearly. don't antagonize an attacker
• Be assertive, but don't challenge the attacker
• Breathe
• Focus


Natural Weapons
• Forehead
• Back of the head
• Teeth
• Elbows
• Fingers
• Hips
• Knees
• Feet
• Hands
• Shoulders
• Back

Targets
• Temple
• Eyes
• Nose
• Ears
• Side of the neck
• Throat
• Solar plexus/stomach
• Arms
• Hands
• Fingers
• Ribs
• Groin
• Knees
• Feet


Using Your Environment
Wherever you are, everything has the potential to be a weapon

A life threatening situation is a matter of survival and the person being attacked should aim to win by any means possible

You have to do everything you can: Kick, scream, scratch, hit, attack with a common object, anything to end the threat or gain enough time to escape.


Objects you can use: Anything that surrounds you. Indoors: ashtrays, chairs, bottles, knives, pencil, knitting needles, kitchen utensils, belts, etc. Outdoors: sand, stones, sticks, etc. Use any object you can throw that will help you stop your attacker

Sprays: Any aerosol can, hairspray, spray paint, pepper, tear gas, etc.

Most women carry a bag or purse, they can be used as weapons, as well as the items inside. Lipstick/lipstick cases, hairbrushes, perfume, etc. are potential, and legal, weapons that can be used against an attacker.