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Personal Safety for Women
This information provided courtesy of The Denver Police Department Training Bulletin
Personal safety and self defense can be categorized into three distinct areas: Attitude, Awareness and Action.
Attitude and Awareness
• When you are conducting your daily activities such as walking to and from parking lots, in business areas, exercising, or running errands, remember to walk briskly and with confidence. Keep your head upright, scan your surroundings and be aware of persons and areas that you encounter. Avoid taking shortcuts and try to remain where there are other people around you and help can be summoned if the need arises. If someone suspicious is following you, or you have reason to believe you are in danger, look for open businesses or nearby residences that can be accessed to obtain assistance. Carry your cellular telephone with you at all times and have it available to call for police assistance. When going to and from your vehicle carry your car keys in your hand and these can be utilized to stop an attack. Always check the back seat to see if someone is inside before entering the vehicle. When approaching your residence or workplace have the entry keys in your hand ready to unlock the door. Check around the entrance to your residence or workplace for parties hiding or waiting to attack or grab you. When entering parking structures and home garages check behind you to determine if someone steps under the door as it is closing. Avoid parking in isolated areas with little or no foot or auto traffic. Be especially alert in un-staffed parking lots and enclosed parking garages.
• Keep your car in good running condition, pay attention to gas levels and try to gas your vehicle during davlight hours. If your vehicle becomes disabled park in a well lighted area. Place the hood up and activate the emergency flashers and stay in the locked vehicle and call for assistance. Avoid stopping at isolated out of the way or poorly lighted areas, even for car service. Be sure of the intent of parties offering assistance and if someone attempts to gain entry or is otherwise a threat, sound your horn until the person leaves or help arrives. Windshield Coverings can be purchased that will alert others to call the police if you need assistance and should be carried in your vehicle. Do not accept rides from strangers and do not pick up hitchhikers under any circumstances. If you are on foot and a vehicle approaches you and you feel threatened run the opposite direction from the vehicle and scream for help. If someone tries to force you in-to a car, fight and resist this attempt, and never get in the vehicle unless it is unavoidable. Avoid stopping to aid disabled motorists. Report their situation to the police and request assistance for them on your cellular phone or stop and inform a nearby service station. Drive with your ear doors locked at all times and lock the vehicle when leaving it. Do not leave the vehicle running and unattended, even just to let it warm up on cold days.
• Your purse is a likely target for an attacker. Try to avoid carrying a handbag if possible. When running errands wear a neck pouch that is concealable under your clothing. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. It is safer to carry a debit card or credit card for purchases and carry your identification with this card. Merchants are now requiring identification when using credit cards to determine identity. If you are carrying a purse and someone grabs it, let it go. Do not fight over property. This is applicable with your vehicle as well. If a suspect approaches you, whether they are armed or not and demands your vehicle, give them the car If you have children in the vehicle inform the suspect of this and that you will remove the children and they can take the vehicle after you do this.
• Park in well lighted areas and as close to store entrances as possible when shopping. Be observant of parties and surroundings when approaching businesses and destinations. If the people around the entrance appear suspicious do not leave the vehicle and avoid entering the business. When you are running errands and have multiple destinations, place packages and other valuables out of sight, preferably in a trunk or locked area. Do not leave items in plain view on the car seat, as this will attract suspects to break in to the vehicle to remove the items. Never leave your children unattended in the vehicle, for any reason, not even for a few moments to pay for gas or to go in-to a store to quickly purchase an item.
• After entering your residence, lock the door and keep your doors and windows locked as you remain in the residence. When someone knocks on your door, verify who is at the door, prior to opening it. Consider purchasing an exterior screen or security door and talk to the person through the locked door. Never let anyone inside of your residence for any reason! If they need assistance, call for help for them, after relocking the door, and leave them outside. Demand to see the photo credentials of any workers that come to your residence to do repairs, if they are not wearing a uniform or driving a company vehicle. If unsolicited workers show up at your residence do not let them in and call for police assistance if they refuse to leave your property. Beware of parties claiming to work for utility companies or checking on items such as water meters, electrical boxes or claiming the need to enter your property for this purpose. Keep exterior lights burning during hours of darkness. This is very inexpensive and deters crime and increases your safety. Keep your portable phone near your beside as you retire for the day. Before retiring for the evening, remember to check doors and windows to verify they are closed. Keep your garage doors closed and close the door after you enter the garage, and watch to verily that someone has not entered as it is closing. When doing outside chores or enjoying backyard recreation, keep entry doors locked and secured. Trim and maintain exterior trees and shrubs to be at the level of your exterior window ledge and get involved with Neighborhood Watch programs and introduce yourself to your neighbors and call if the police if you observe suspicious activity at residences that surround you or witness parties entering residences through windows. Plants and barriers can be placed near windows to deter someone from standing and looking inside your residence. Consider installing an alarm system or plan an exit strategy if the need arises. If vou are in the residence and someone enters the home, scream loudly and immediately call for police assistance by dialing 911. If the person does not leave the residence, run out immediately and seek help from nearby neighbors. Take your phone with you and call for police assistance.
• If you are attacked and decide to resist there is no halfway and you must fight with a purpose and attempt to disable your attacker and run to safety, right away.
• Scream as loud as you can to attract attention.
• Strike back fast, aim for vital spots
• Gouge eyes with thumbs: scratch with fingernails
• Jab knees into groin area.
• If you are attacked from the rear, dig heels in to instep, kick at shins, strike attacker’s face with the back of your head.
• Carry a whistle; use it to attract attention if attacked.
This information provided courtesy of The Denver Police Department Training Bulletin.