Personal Safety and Awareness
Personal Safety and Awareness
Source: Colorado Springs Police Department
Personal safety is based on the concept of prevention. Personal safety and awareness is what we do before we find ourselves in a potentially dangerous or violent situation. Making sure you know how to protect yourself and your family is the best way to make sure that you do not become a victim or statistic.
Abduction prevention ideas Avoid putting yourself in situations or circumstances that you know could be potentially dangerous. Follow your intuition and if a person or situation is making you uncomfortable, LEAVE immediately. Practice situational awareness, always know who and what is around you, where possible escape routes are, and what objects near at hand could be used as weapons if necessary. Never allow yourself to be moved. Your chances of survival are better at the initial attack location than they will be if you allow yourself to be taken by the criminal to a second location which is likely going to be remote and advantageous to the criminal. Try to remain calm, confident, and emotionally centered. Train yourself to be a HARD TARGET with the following strategies:
• Utilize physical defensive techniques or weapons if necessary. • Make it clear you will not give in. • Make it clear you WILL be a difficult victim.
Safety in and around your residence • Have good lighting at all entrances of your residence. • All outside doors should have deadbolt locks. • Sliding doors should have auxiliary locks to prevent lifting or sliding. • Never open your door to a stranger. • Make sure you know who is on the other side before opening. • Contact law enforcement if in doubt of who is at your door. • Do not enter if you come home and find a door or window open or broken.
• Have boundaries - both emotional and physical - that you will allow no one to cross.
• Call law enforcement from a phone other than the phone in your residence.
• HAVE A PLAN before something happens!
• If possible, DO NOT stop mail, newspapers, circulars, and deliveries if you go on vacation or
• Mentally prepare ahead of time for the possibility of being attacked. • Ask yourself the “what if game…?” to start acquiring a survival mindset. • Keep your head up, alert and aware of your surroundings. • Have a confident, purposeful walk and demeanor. • Project an erect, assertive posture.
General Awareness • Stay alert – be careful about relaxing in certain areas. • Keep your mind on your surroundings.
• Be sure that expensive items, jewelry, or valuables are not visible.
▪ Who is around you?
• Do not carry too many things at once; keep at least one arm/hand free.
▪ Know where you are. Do not become lost.
• Wear non-restrictive clothing and shoes that you could run or fight in if needed. If you are attacked do everything possible to get away! Your defensive options include: • Run, move away, distance yourself from the danger. • Verbalize. Yell out loud repetitive verbal commands such as: ▪ “NO” “LET GO” “GET BACK” “STAY DOWN” “BACK OFF” or something similar. ▪ Do not yell “FIRE” or “HELP,” plead and beg, or say things that make you seem passive and weak. • Be assertive and do whatever you have to in order to get away and to safety. • Cause a commotion; call attention to the situation.
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▪ Honk your horn. ▪ Set off an alarm. ▪ Break things, throw things, act completely wild!
▪ What is around you? ▪ Know the area layout, local stores, how to get in and out. ▪ Know area fire department and law enforcement locations. • Be suspicious of everyone and everything. • Act confident. Walk with a purpose and use good posture. Make eye contact and speak to or greet people to let them know you have noticed them. • Trust your first instincts and do not justify your feelings. • Safety first. If you are suspicious, get out/away and report it.
