| Safety Tips for Every Girl By: Eunice Kim Whether we live in New York or Nebraska, we are not living in the safest place on earth, contrary to what we’ve been taught as children. The nearest police station may be only a block away, but our nearest attacker could be right under our noses. When worst comes to worst, a girl’s only bodyguard might end up being herself, and this is why prevention should be top priority for all women, no matter how “safe” our immediate surroundings may appear to us. AMG had the honor of interviewing Diane LaRochelle, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the YWCA in Manchester, NH. “Most women are victimized by people they know,” says LaRochelle. “It could be the guy at the snack bar, the guy who’s overly friendly. Watch out for people who are trying to gain your trust too quickly.” Another thing to watch out for are “grooming signs” – excessive gift- giving, over-complimenting – many women will misunderstand these actions as harmless, motivated by a simple crush; it might even be flattering. But it is important to know when a guy is being too quick to gain your affections and when he is being excessive about it – these could be hints of a dangerous motive. Risk-reduction also involves being careful around people we don’t know. “Preventative actions include staying in well-lit areas, remembering to carry your keys with you, and using the buddy system,” says LaRochelle. “Always be aware of your surroundings.” For those of us who are thinking about carrying small weapons in our purses – tasers, stun guns, maces, etc., there are several considerations to make before making that purchase. First of all, are you aware of the laws in your state concerning self-defense products? You have to be doubly sure that you are not breaking the law in whatever state you happen to be staying in (no matter how small the device and no matter what your reasons are). Secondly, are you trained to use it? “Most people have their stun guns and pepper sprays used against them,” says LaRochelle. “Whether you want to arm yourself is your choice, but a lot of perpetrators are able to take your weapon from you before you have a chance to use it.” So what to do when you’re unarmed and under attack? “Look for open spaces, but if you can’t get away, duck and cover your vital parts,” says LaRochelle,” If your legs are free, use them to fight back. If he wants your bag, give it to him. You’ll be reducing the risk of having physical harm done to your body.” Another commonly used technique is to go for the perpetrator’s eyes. A well-aimed eye jab will force him to cover and protect his eyes as a reflex, momentarily depriving him the chance of using his hands against you – providing a window of time for you to escape to a more populated area. For more tips on using your body to defend yourself, LaRochelle recommends Lessons in Violence Evasion (LIVE), a self-defense resource with headquarters all over the country. You could also visit their site, www.lessonsinviolenceevasion.com. A lot of local police departments have clinics offering training in self-defense. Also, staying physically fit in general won’t hurt if you want to reduce your risks of assault as much as possible. One thing that many women are unaware of is how vulnerable they make themselves through routine activities. “If you always go to the same gym, school, workplace, etc., people will notice that,” says LaRochelle, “Treat every situation like a new situation. Perpetrators look for routines.” Sometimes we may end up feeling too safe in certain locations if we go there often enough. We have to remember that in places we visit regularly, we pose a greater risk because a potential perpetrator will soon be able to predict where we go next. And if you do happen to go to an unfamiliar location, be sure you don’t look lost. One last thing to remember: if you do end up being victimized, it is NOT your fault. Just because there are ways to defend yourself does not mean that you have not done enough to protect yourself because in essence, there is no such thing as being “safe enough.” If you do happen to be victimized, make sure you call the police in the jurisdiction where the assault occurred, and explain in detail what happened. Whether you were attacked recently or not, you should go to the nearest hospital with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program – the police will most likely offer to escort you there. But of course after a major traumatic event, you might not remember everything you are supposed to do. Just call the Rape Crisis Center Hotline at (210) 349-7273 from wherever you are and they will let you know what to do next. Once again, it is never the victim’s fault but, as LaRochelle says, “We still need to look out for ourselves and look out for each other. |
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