#1
The things women have to think about in order to stay safe is just wild.
An estimated 840 million women – that's almost one in three – have been subjected to some type of violence at least once in their life. The United Nations notes that violence at the hands of a stranger is widespread but highly under-reported.
"Less than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort. In the majority of countries with available data on this issue, women who do seek help look to family and friends and very few seek support from formal institutions, such as police and health services," reveals the UN Women site.
With such scary statistics, and no end to violence against women in site, it's imperative that women take steps to protect themselves.
#2
#3
I'm unsure if in other countries it's common to have your first name on your name tag though 😅.
Many of us were warned of "stranger danger" as kids, but experts say the biggest threat of violence towards women often comes from people known to you.
While learning martial arts or taking a self-defence class is useful, it's equally important to understand how and why violence happens. "Violence is messy, frenzied, nasty and up-close - there are no rules," explains the Streetwise Defence site. "There is no time to get into the ‘right’ position to deploy your kick or punch or use a wrist-lock, thumb-lock or any other manoeuvre."
This is why you need to understand when and how violence can be de-escalated, and when and how to respond physically.
#4
#5
Get to know your neighbors. They are the most likely ones that will call the law if they hear a disturbance and can’t get ahold of you!
Consider a camera system on your house. Front door, driveway, back door. Positioned so you can see faces and license plates.
Buy some wasp spray. Not only for wasps but it is the BEST mace substitute because you can spray someone in the face 10 feet away.
I would not divulge to any stranger that you live alone. There was a question a couple days ago about “does anyone yell for their SO when you take delivery to feel safe when home alone?” There are some good home safety tips in that thread.
#6
Awareness is 95% of self defence, say the experts.
"What we mean by this is that self defence is about not getting into a violent situation in the first place," they explain. "Yes, there will always be occasions that can’t be avoided but these are few and far between."
They add that being aware of your environment and the people in it can help you avoid becoming a victim of violence. Trusting your gut instinct is super important. Your instinct or intuition is your body’s internal warning system, and when it alerts you, you need to pay attention.
#7
Make sure that you are careful about what pictures you post. People have tracked others through photos they took in their neighborhood. Strip all location data from photos before posting them online. Yes, I'm pretty paranoid but you asked.
#8
I would also recommend in purchasing a good quality safe that can be placed somewhere out of sight.
Car keys, ensure you do not keep them anywhere near the front of the house. This applies to newer car models as thieves can steal your car without the key. It's advised you always keep them in a box somewhere where it's not in good range of the car.
As the house I purchased is on the bigger side and has multiple rooms, I do keep the lights on in some of them when it gets dark. I just feel safer this way. I can sleep better and if I do need to get around the house, it won't be completely dark.
If all else fails, it's time to watch Home Alone and put that plan in action.
#9
Streetwise Self Defence's team goes on to give examples of how your gut feeling might warn you of danger and what you should do.
For example, if you get an uneasy feeling that your date is ‘too good to be true’, you’re probably right - be safe, don’t commit, don’t share personal information, walk away if you need to. Or, if you sense that a man is following you, he probably is - cross the road, run away.
#10
#11
2. Get an alarm/ camera system. They’re pretty cheap nowadays and when I accidentally called the police, they were at my house in three minutes.
3. Don’t do dumb things. Keep your doors and windows locked. If you think someone is following you, DO NOT drive to your house, drive somewhere else. Don’t keep a spare key under your doormat. Just be aware of your surroundings.
4. Remember that statistically you aren’t likely in danger in your own home. Practice basic safety everywhere. I keep a really loud whistle on my keychain and, back when I was dating, I always told someone where I was going and turned on the Find My Phone app, and asked them to call me if I wasn’t where I said I would be.
#12
If you don’t trust the random stranger who approaches you in the street to ask a question, don’t answer them and don't engage. Just get away from the situation. And if you suddenly get a feeling in a crowd that something bad is about to happen, listen to your instinct, move to the edge of the crowd and walk away.
The experts add that trusting your gut doesn't only apply to when you're around strangers. For example, if you feel uncomfortable that your partner is asking too much detail about where you are going, who you are spending time with, etc., you shouldn't dismiss it. "Tell them that’s not acceptable and talk to a friend for support," they advise.
#13
Make sure all your smoke detectors work, have carbon monoxide detectors, know where your water shut off valve is in case of a leak, and know where your flashlights are (yes even if you have one on your phone). If you have gas make sure you have a long lighter so you can relight pilot lights if need be.
#14
That said, I do take basic precautions:
* meet your neighbors. You don’t have to be besties (and often better not to be too chatty til you know them) but know them well enough to have contact info for one or two, and find out about the neighborhood watch, local safety, and so on.
* keep your car locked and preferably in your garage. If you have a garage, IT IS NOT STORAGE, IT IS FOR YOUR CAR. My neighborhood has a crazy high occurrence of car prowls but almost no other crime, so simply by putting my car in the garage I’ve significantly reduced my risk. It took two months from moving in and seeing someone try all my doors on my driveway security camera before I did this. And speaking of the garage, make sure the door is ALWAYS closed and there’s a good, securely locked door between the house and garage
* when you do have to have someone in your house, such as a repair person, make sure someone else knows about it, who they are, or at least what company they are from. Bonus points if a friend can actually be there, but that’s often not possible. In my case, I happen to have (cheap) cameras in a few of the main rooms due to the cats, so I always be sure to casually mention that there are cameras recording inside the house as well as the obvious outside cameras
* don’t have valuables placed where they are easy to see from outside. Namely, don’t put a giant expensive TV and stereo system right in front of a street-facing picture window with no drapes! Just getting in the simple habit of closing any drapes and blinds on street-facing windows as dark falls is usually enough to keep most people from seeing in.
#15
Trusting your intuition could one day save your life.
"It could be an uneasy feeling in your gut, butterflies in your tummy, goosebumps, tightness in the chest or a ‘knowing’ feeling that something bad is going to happen. Listen to it and act on it. Never tell yourself you are being silly," they say. "It’s always better to get away and be wrong than to stay and become the victim of violence."
#16
#17
I think they sell door dingy things for fairly inexpensive if cost is an issue for you.
#18
#20
Unless you live in an unsafe area, IMO, the odds are in your favor. Out of all the houses someone might pick to commit a crime, it's unlikely to be yours. Not impossible, of course, but life is risk.
I keep my doors locked, whether I'm home or not. I park my car in the garage so it's not obvious whether I'm home or not. That's it.