Tips to Safety

Being in a big city like Atlanta I ever more reasons then one to want to keep my guard up late at night or while alone in a not so public area. But anywhere with bad lighting and/or a blind spot where no one can see you.

　

　

1. Watch your hair.

For girls especially. Long hair comes in and out of style but some of us just perfer a long flowing mane to a itchy shoulder length bob.

Point: If you are ever being chased or feel threatened, your hair is a weakness. This is not Mortal Combat, your hair is not a weapon, it is a painful extention that someone can grab onto and yank your head back.

Suggestion: Other then cutting it off (but hey if THAT worries you then go for a full Buzz cut) or stay focused in strange or uncomfortable places.

If your alone and feel followed then go ahead and tie your hair back and put the ends in the back of your shirt. It may look stupid but if you have to run it cant get wiped in your face by wing, grabbed from three feet behind you by a person, tangled in things in the area (branches, garbage, jagged brick, anything that has a chance to cling).

But this wont do you much good if you dont tie it back. Why? If you turn your head at all your untied hair will start to slip and come out inch by inch turning into a gaint blind spot. And in human nature you will be looking behind you.

If you have nothing at the ready to tie with, then just use abit of your hair. Pinch off a small amount and tightly wrap it around your hair and try to push a inch worth of loose ends into the already 'tied' area. This works better with longer hair but its better then nothing.

Another thing: If you are in danger RIGHT that second dont try this. In movies you'll see people taking off their jackets and pulling their hair back for fight scenes but you are NOT in a movie. Your attacker isnt going to wait for you to get ready.

　

　

2. Self Defense

　

Im not just talking about taking classes, im talking about weapons.

Its not legal to carry guns and knifes into most places and in many cases carrying these weapons can land you in trouble. In fact, I HIGHLY discourage trying to face off a mugger or any threat with a pocket knife or hand gun.

Why you ask? Because you just became a THREAT TO THEM. If someone else is armed and you are not, they feel cocky. You are at a HUGE disadvantage. Being realistic, this guys come up to you with a Hot gun (loaded and ready to fire) they can off you in a seconds notice. Their not going to give you a chance to dig out your own knife or gun and get it prepped to fight back.

Being a girl who enjoys her gun rights to the fullest, I keep a loaded and locked gun hidden at all times. But im carded for concealed carry and mainly carry it when going out for walks late at night, in areas no one really traffics, or when im not bring something far more terrifying such as my beloved boyfriend or my dogs.

Great ways to have a defense?

Pepper spray-It'll hurt and unless this guys use to getting it, he wont be making any moves for a minute or so. If he has a gun though you may want to watch that: When in pain or panic most people will empty a clip in seconds. Best bet would be to get behind them and let them empty it before trying to attack or flee since they might turn and manage to hit you if your backs turned. If they have a knife its the same thing, watch that crazed slash and just gun it out of there.

Knife or Gun-While pulling a weapon does make you a primary target, I cant say they dont have some advantage if you know how to use them correctly. There are courses to teach you proper hand to hand combat with knifes and how to disarm your attacker just as there are classes for gun safety and use. I do suggest learning some of the safe and effective ways to handle these weapons JUST for the chance you need to know but I cant recommended ever using these as more then a last resort.

Anything in 10 feet-Oh yes. That rock, a trash lid, your jacket, a high heel (oh yes ladies, take off your shoes. Most men are programmed to fear a woman weilding heals!), a thick stick, a sturdy looking piece of metal... Honestly anything you can handle to throw or hold properly to hit someone with, take it if you need to fight. Even though being against a gun your probably screwed, anyway but if your not use to hand to hand combat you might enjoy the added benefit.

Self Defense classes-A given. These classes teach you effective ways to handly hundreds of things from being grabbed to being held at gun point. Usually your taught how to disarm and then told to run for help but the point of these classes is to keep you alive-not to beat your attacker to a pulp. I do highly recommend these, especially for women.

　

Tazer-These are cruel and unusual punishment in sooo many ways and most people cant fight through this like pepper spray. The trade off is being up close and personal so you can reach them verse being just out of arms length with the spray. But its very easy to handle and effective. But your going to want to make sure their down before you run off. Cause if they catch you after that they will be more then alittle pissed...

　

3. Prevention

The best defense is to not be put their to begin with! Its true you cant help it alot of times, but so often (especially with young adults and teenagers) it was EASILY prevented.

Dont go out alone. There is safety in numbers, and even with a weapon one guy can be over powered by three.

Enjoy the comforts of animals. Having a animal (such as a larger dog) that you love and care for means when the time comes they will fight tooth and nail for you. Dont get a dog just for protection though. It takes real love and loyality for any creature to be willing to fight for you. But any dog over 40 pounds is a huge threat that most muggers wont want to take. While smaller can also be painful, the idea of bigger is better really fits this bill. Do you ever see a Yorkie as a guard dog? Nope. But honestly, they are more dangerous if you ask me...Im only half joking.

Avoid the bad parts of town. While many may live in these areas, but theres always a worse spot. These areas tend to be: dark, little to no population, abandoned buildings, and probably a good place to find a crack or meth head getting their fix... If you have to walk a extra hour to avoid this sort of area, that might be wise even in the daylight. This same idea can be applied to the woods.

Crowds arent a bad thing. If you are alone a crowded area is still a good defense. Most people wont attack with lots of witnesses. And if they are willing to then you might want to harness your inner wuss or inner fighter. Scream for help, go for the balls... The works.

Stay in well lit areas. That shadowy tree looks like a nice place to be alone and feel at peace doesnt it? Well its also far away from everyone else and you can easily not be seen there. Its like a horror film cliche... Infact...

DONT DO ANY HOROR FILM CLICHES! Dont run into a chainsaw filled barn, dont run in a cemetary at night, dont leave a "dead" body and then expect it to be there still, dont be stuck alone with a killer on the loose... Okay, most of those sound stupid? Well then 99% of the stuff I've said on the Prevention topic could be called one of these stupid rules that you scream "Dont do it ya stupid moron! You KNOW hes RIGHT THERE!" at the screen... So does walking down a pitch dark alley STILL sound smart to you?

　

　

4. Instincts

If you THINK your in trouble then you probably are. You think that guy in a dark hoodie is following you then he really might be.

If your gut says get out of dodge then dont freaking ignore it. Its better to run like a wimp then get gutted.

　

　

5. Careful of strangers

Kids especially, your parents say this for a reason. Dont talk to people you dont know, dont be afraid to go for help (especially of a nearby police officer), and dont be scared to tell your parents.

Needless to say, the van with tinted windows and the guy calling out "Hey, want a lift?" might be the oldest sterotype but is it any less creepy or dangerous to approach?

　

　

6. 911

Your home might feel like a fort buts its not... If you think your followed home call the cops. If a guy is staring at you grinning from your glass door then I think its a good idea to grab a weapon, call 911 and scream for bloody help.

This may not fit the theme of the rest of the blog, but I feel its just as important to share...

Side note, dont go lock the damn door the guys standing at. Dont go near him in fact. Haul your butt to a door that does lock! If you have a bedroom with a bathroom, then run in there, lock the bedroom door, lock the bathroom door, and hide till the cops show up. If you lose your crap-thats what insurance is for, but your life is not replacable.

　

　

　

　

Why am I suddenly posting a list like this? wellll.....

I have bad habits. YouTube is one of them. I dont usually promote people like this, but go check out Top15s channel and listen to some of the home alone scary stuff... And then search for craiglist horror stories. You'll see why I encourage looking out for your safety. People are batshit nuts.