Self Protection

[Melanie M Murvine]

Children and adults alike need to know they can reach out, how can we as neighbors teach our family, friends and others to protect themselves if they are attacked? If some of you do not believe in carrying a defense weapon (especially children) such as pepper spray, stun guns etc, there are alternatives such as travel hairspray, or travel spray deodorant, also a great tool to have if your not interested in arming yourself or a child with chemicals, is a police whistle its effective in deterring an attacker at least to give time for someone to get away.
Caution as in where you walk I have a suggestion and this is something I use to do when I had to walk home at night by myself from work, I always walked in the wealthier part of the neighborhoods my reason was this it was quiet, Doctor's, a Judge, Lawyers etc. Trust me I lived in a lower income neighborhood and if you screamed there nobody paid attention because people were always screaming and fighting lol.
If someone were to attack you in a wealthier type of neighborhood a police whistle or a loud scream or if you pick up a rock and throw it through the nearest window that's lit then you have better odds that someone will call the police, which is the objective. I hope others will also add to this blog and give ideas on how to better protect ourselves and how to be more alert when out and about. Not everything is 100% but the more ideas we have the better off we may be.

[Melanie M Murvine]

Thank you for pointing that out I forgot to add it, I always tell my children that ...NEVER NEVER NEVER even with the threat of a knife or gun leave the first scene because even God forbid they were mortally wounded at least there may be some evidence left behind, like pulling out the perps hair making sure to get a good chunk of it and pull it out, then throw it, out of all of the hair their may be an end that is usable for DNA, Take as much DNA from the perp as you can, that means blood, saliva, hair skin, the objective is to make the perps attempt to attack you the worst night or day of his or her life.

[Liam L'heureux]

No matter how much training, or what type of defense you employ, there is one rule that no one should ever break; never leave the first crime scene.

Scream, fight, and/or run; but never think that by cooperating and leaving the original crime scene with any offender, that things are going to get any better.

Most offenders, are not comfortable and cannot not function out in public.

Survival, even for ;aw enforcement officers is a mindset that must be practiced everyday, and actions in response thought out prior to their need.

[Melanie M Murvine]

I agree body language says a lot and those are some really helpful things to remember, thank you so much for sharing that information :)

[Findmywayhome]

A therapist told me that at a conference the showed a documentary where they had rapists view people walking down a street and point out who they would attack and why. The answers were as simple as the woman in heels because she could not run and also women who walked with their heads down and shoulders slumped because they would probably not fight back. Those are the main points that I remember but these are two things that are very easy to change! Walk proud and use flat shoes or sneakers if walking alone!

[Melanie M Murvine]

I absolutely agree also I think that its a good thing that you pointed out that an assailant can take your weapon and use it on you, remember that this is not a fair fight use everything you have fingernails, kicking, biting, hair pulling, kicking behind the knees can knock someone down, the groin area and any sensitive area you can think of the eyes if there is dirt or sand on the ground throw it into their eyes, use rocks anything you can get your hands on. Some assailants are on drugs and so they may not even feel the things that you are doing to them but the objective is to weaken their body some way long enough for you to run for help.

[Jim Harnage]

Sara;

Recommending alternatives to pepper spraysand the like is a good idea. Our agency provides pepper sprays, stun guns, and other self-defence weapons to at-risk individuals who are in the system but we do so with caution. For several reasons. Child safety. Be sure no child can enter your purse or glove compartment if you keep these items there. Be trained in the use of these items. An assailant can also use these items against you. However, if an assailant is going to harm an individual then sprays are only a deterrant. I've seen assailants eat pepper spray when they were high on drugs with no effect except the swelling of nasal and eyes. Other deterrants are loud whistles, screaming "fire" not rape. Public have been known to run from a scream of rape but a scream of "fire" will attract people to you if you are being assaulted. A note on self-defense. If one is serious about self defesne it is good to train in a gym or workout center with someone. If one is going to protect themselves it must be done sincerely and do not stop until one has finished the job. Anger plays a great roll in effective self-defense. Practice being angry at an assailant. Timidity is attitude and an assailant gets off on intimidating those he or she thinks he can. Practice your "bear" growl. Get mad at an assailant for attempting to take your life and freedom. Consider that they are trying to control you and once the anger kicks in that is most of the effort. The rest will follow.
We love you all
Jim and Carolyn

[judy]

i thought the hairspray was my ideal. i do that all the time, my sister and i walk to the atm at 6am sometimes i am 64. she is 67. we walk alot this is a smile towm and very quit, but you never know, do you,

[mary,gainey]

all,ways remember everthing everything is a weapon,your friend mary

[Melanie M Murvine]

Thank you so much for the encouragement I believe that we can at least try to help one another even with ideas.

[Sara Huizenga]

This is great, thank you for sharing...you are so right, we should all share our actually usable ideas with one another, so glad you took the time to do so and encourage us to as well! xoxo