| Staying Safe on the Mean Streets of Life | |
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This all sounds very easy on paper but when you are being attacked you will be scared and shocked. An attacker may cover your
mouth to stop you from crying-out; they may even knock you unconscious. It is important that you learn basic self-defense,
evasive measures and strategies on how to calm yourself down in a stressful situation. You can prepare for the unthinkable by
running the scenario through in your mind at a time when you are not distracted. Yelling, "Help!" is a natural reaction
because years of social learning have taught you to react to a threat in this manner, you can learn these new safety
strategies the same way.
A quick list of self-defense/evasive strategies:
- Stomp on an attackers foot with your heel. Use all of your weight and stomp with as great a force as possible.
- Kick an attacker in the shins with your whole foot. Push hard with as great a force as possible being careful to maintain your balance so that you do not fall over.
- Gouge at an attackers eyes with your thumbs or fingers. Push hard. Use great force. If you are strong or if your attacker is the same size or smaller than you use this same technique on the hollow of the neck (just below the Adam's Apple area in men).
- If an attacker has you from behind use the foot stomping technique described above AND bang the back of your head into their face/nose as hard as possible. Lean your head forward as you stomp and then with as much speed as possible smack their face with the back of your head.
- If you're attacker has their hands around your neck do not try to pull them away at the hands (as your instincts would lead you to do) instead put your arms in between their arms and with as much strength as you can muster hit out their elbows, at the same time turn your body and head in your strongest direction (left if you are left handed, right if you are right handed). Stomping on their foot or kicking at the shin while doing this can add impact and help you get away faster. As soon as the grip is loosened be ready to take a deep breath - if you don't get away the first time try again, the extra breath will give you more fighting energy.
- If you carry a personal alarm, pull it as soon as the attack begins and put it right up against the ear of your attacker. If you don't have an alarm, scream as loud as you can directly into your attackers ear. (This is a strategy you should only use if the attacker has you pinned on the ground or against a wall and if their head is close to you).
- If they are covering your mouth with their hand lick the palm of their hand (most people recoil from this instinctively) if that fails, bite - bite hard.
- It takes more energy for an attacker to recover from a miss than it does to recover from a hit. If at all possible duck and dodge any advances by your attacker.
- If you are on the ground and are able to break free push at your attacker with your feet to put distance between you. Kick at their hands, head and face as you push away from them. When they are distracted stand up and run.
- Never plan to fight an attacker and win; do only what it takes to get away from them.
For more important personal safety strategies see:
Before You Walk Alone in the Dark
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