A mugging, kidnapping, or rape can happen to anyone at any time. From children and teens to the middle-age and elderly, no matter what your age, gender or social standing, you could be a victim of a personal attack. Here are 7 surefire ways to prevent being attacked.
You're walking alone and you think you hear footsteps behind you. Is it another pedestrian, walking the same route at the same time of night, or is it a potential attacker? You get that uneasy feeling in your gut that self-defense teachers call the "uh-oh moment" and you have only a few seconds to prepare for an assault or to prevent it. What do you do?
#1 Let them Know You are On Guard
Let them know that you are aware they are following you. Immediately turn to where you heard the footsteps and say in a clear, loud voice: "I hear you. I know that you are there. I don't want any trouble. Go away right now." Use a firm and steady tone of voice. Most attackers will judge you based on your initial reaction to them and many will not bother with someone who clearly isn't going to be taken by surprise.
#2 Take a Quick Personal Inventory
What do you have on your person that can be used in your defense? If you are not so fortunate to have pepper spray or a stun gun in your pocket, think about what else you can use to protect yourself. An umbrella? Some books? A pen? Hairbrush? Rat-tailed comb? These objects can be used to put distance between you and an attacker, to poke, blind, or shield, and to be thrown forcefully at an attacker's face. If you don't have anythig on hand, see what is nearby such as a trash can lid to sue as a shield r a branch off a tree to swing or poke with. Any everyday object could potentially save your life.
#3 Get Ready
If you have long hair, tuck it down the back of your shirt. If you're wearing a ponytail, quickly undo it and tuck your hair down your shirt as well. Many attackers will grab for long hair first; a ponytail makes for a great "handle" and loose hair is easy to grab, so tuck it all away fast.
Now is also the time to wrap your coat around your forearm to protect yourself from serious injury should you be attacked with a knife.
#4 Brace Yourself
Position one leg slightly in front of the other, shoulder-width apart, and bring your hands up in front of your chest. This "ready stance" shows an attacker that you are not going to go down without a struggle. Often this stance will discourage an attacker who is looking for an easier target.
#5 Get Help, the Right Way
If there are people nearby, enlist their help in as specific way as is possible. Say someting like: "You, sir, with the red hair and the blue shirt, call 911; this man won't leave me alone." Or "You, ma'am, with the brown coat and red handbag, get that police officer over there, I need help now."
#6 Yell "Fire!"
If there aren't many people nearby, yell "Fire!" Why? Most people hear a cry of "Help" as an request to get personally involved which they may be reluctant to do lest they get hurt, and "Police!" may sound like "please" which is not really a cry for help, but "Fire" is something that people can easily respond to: they just call 911 from wherever they hear the cry.
#7 Create a Moment to Explode or Escape
If an attacker pins you to the ground, stop struggling for just a moment. In order to hit you, or to sexually assault you, he will have to let go of you somewhere and when he does, use your freed arm or leg to hit, kick, gouge, or scratch as hard and as fast as you can. If you have been pinned to the ground on your stomach, get your arms and hands under your chest to give yourself leverage and ensure that you can breathe.
The most important factor in preventing and fending off an attack is the determination to protect yourself. Don't underestimate the strength of your mind and your body in an emergency situation; remember that a surge of adrenaline has enabled small women to lift full-sized automobiles off their children to save their lives, and that adrenaline can help you have momentary superhuman strength to save your own life.
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