The Summer Solstice may not be until June 20th, but let’s be real here . . . it’s pretty much summer now, right?!
Summer means more time spent out of the house, enjoying life, living easy and carefree . . . and with restrictions being lifted and more people getting out of quarantine, the time out with friends has a whole new meaning to it as well.
All of this adds up to opportunities for us to be caught with our guard down.
Minimize our chances of becoming a victim by taking some precautions . . . like:
Always make sure someone knows where you are. Tell a family member where you are going, or text your friends so they know you are on your way. If you are traveling alone, let friends or family know you got to your destination safely.
Walk quickly and confidently. Confidence is a deterrent. Attackers prefer their victims to be weak. Walk with your head up and look people in the eye. If a potential attacker knows you could identify them, they are less likely to make you their victim.
Carry your cell phone and keep the battery charged. Having your phone in hand and at the ready when needed reduces the fumbling around in your purse, book bag, or pocket for your phone if you need it in a panicked and desperate situation. Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave the house, and if you’re going to be out for an extended amount of time, bring along a fully charged portable charger with you.
Carry a whistle and keep it handy. Heaven forbid, you are attacked . . . the noise from the whistle will alert others you need help, which then scares off your attacker.
Put a small, but bright flashlight on your key chain. Sure, your phone may has a flashlight feature, but why risk unnecessarily draining your battery when you could use a small flashlight that may even pack more light power than your phone. It will help you see better when it is dark, and help you feel more confident. Plus, if you do find yourself in harms way of an attacker, you can momentarily blind them with the flashlight long enough to give you a fighting chance.
If you notice someone may be following you, cross the street. If they cross, then you cross the street again. If they follow you across the street again, run into the nearest open store, restaurant, or business where you can get help. Let a manager know why you walked into the store and call a friend or someone who can come get you. If you notice your follower hanging around outside for you, call the police.
* Personal story from Jai: “I was in a situation like this, and it was scary as hell. An evening class had let out and as I walked out the door I noticed a guy passing the opposite way and then change directions the same way I was walking. At first I didn’t think much of it until I crossed the street, as did he. I crossed the street again and changed the direction I was walking, and he did the same. I walked into a restaurant and he stopped in front of the door and stared at me for a second, then walked away. I was not sure if he fully left or was waiting nearby, and I was NOT going to risk finding out alone. I called one of my classmates to come get me from the restaurant. When they pulled up, I hopped in their car and they drove me to where my car was parked. I mentioned what had happened to some friends during the following class, and a couple other people mentioned past times of being creeped out as well. That was when we then decided that since it’s usually dark when we get out of class, we would buddy up when leaving and go to one person’s car, who would then drive the other person to where there car was (it was a lot of street parking in a shopping and residential neighborhood with one small parking garage that always seemed to be full).”
Keep alert to your surroundings. Especially at events, take notice of your surroundings and make a note of where the exits are.
Get your own drinks . . . and keep an eye on your drink when you are out and about. Do not give a potential attacker an opportunity to drug you because of an unattended drink.
