Paul MessamWE ALL need to be aware of the prevalence of crime and how to protect ourselves. However, many people are not fully aware of the threat of crime until it touches them.
There are a number of practical personal protection tips that women could put into action before and after hitting the road. Flair spoke to Claude Reynolds Deputy Superintendent of the police traffic headquarters about points to consider. According to Supt. Reynolds, when driving, all doors should be locked and women should not offer rides to strangers, check the rear view mirror to see if anyone is trailing you. Avoid travelling through lonely areas, if one is being followed, drive to the nearest police station or an open business place and honk your horn. Check the back seat of your car before getting in, check under you car for would-be attackers before approaching, be aware of suspicious looking persons who could have a desire to trail, rob or harm. Do not stop to pick up people especially if they are men. Also while driving do not present a nervous looking attitude, it could draw attention from undesirables. Simply drive like you are in command. When you go shopping, choose a spot close to the building and avoid parking beside huge vehicles that will be a safe hideout for attackers. If you are out late, have someone drive behind you to your gate and use the cell phone to call the helper, family members or neighbours to alert them to your arrival time. It's all a matter of being alert to your surroundings.
There are passive and active resistance techniques which can also be applied. If you are attacked, the question is, should you submit or resist? You are the only person who can make this judgement. The best response to an attack depends on a number of factors. The factors include the motivation of the attacker, the environment, and whether or not the attacker is armed. Generally speaking, if the attacker is armed, do not resist. If you are in a position to resist and elect to do so, you have two options, passive and active.
For passive resistance techniques, you could talk to the attacker to show sympathy. Deal with him as a person and force him to see you as one and not an object. Pretend to faint or vomit. But if that does not work, stop it.
In the case of the active resistance, this should be considered as a last resort, due to the potentially dangerous consequences which could arise.
Some vulnerable areas to strike an attacker are the groin, eyes, the adam's apple and the nose. Also pulling back on the little finger and kicking the shins can be effective. Do not try to defeat the attacker, try to break free and run. Scream and make noise, when using this option, bawl out "fire " and "help". Consider carrying a whistle or a noise making device. Personal alarms can ward off attackers by attracting attention to the scene. Choose a reliable one that produces a high-decibel, (in the range of 120 DB) sound. It should be compact and easy to carry and easy to use.
A gun should only be carried by those who are trained to use them; licensed to use them and are willing to use them. More on the wisdom of women carrying firearms next time.
