Personal attack alarm
Buy one and if possible go on a course and learn how to use it, or better still, book me for a two hour workshop within your company at a time to suit you, usually the lunch hour or immediately after work or if you get enough friends and colleagues together we could arrange a workshop.
There’s no point having an alarm if it’s kept at the bottom of your handbag and you have to search to locate it and worse still, don’t know how to operate it effectively.
It’s not going to stop you being attacked, but it can help to disorientate or distract your assailant, buying you those precious seconds to get to a place of safety.
Once it goes off don’t think that anyone will help you, most people just don’t do that, but the sound of the alarm going off will serve a double purpose.
Firstly, it will deter or distract your assailant, and secondly, it will generate a terrific noise so that even if no one comes to your aid, at least you’ve created a “stage” for yourself and people will look so you won’t feel as alone.
I’m not advocating that you carry it every second of every day, but if you are out and about or in unfamiliar territory or even out shopping in a busy area, it would make sense to have it to hand.
If you’re carrying a handbag, attach it to your wrist and then to your bag. If you’re not carrying anything, have it in your pocket or if you are feeling particularly vulnerable, carry it in your hand ready to use at a moments notice.
The great thing about modern alarms is not only are they very noisy but they also have a powerful flashlight attachment. This can be used if you are going back to a parked car in the dark. You could also use it to momentarily “blind” your assailant by shining it in their eyes.
So remember
- Set off the alarm
- Scream as loud as you possibly can
- Run as fast as possible to a public place or to a place of safety
Voice
Don’t be afraid to use your voice, it’s one of your most potent weapons!
An assailant is looking for a “victim” an easy target, someone to be intimidated.
Use your voice forcefully and don’t be afraid to scream and shout (in fact in my presentations I wholeheartedly endorse the use of “profanity” or swear words) as this will again serve to highlight your plight!
How many times have you walked down the street and either stopped or slowed down if someone is having a “right old barney” in the street.
You don’t actually do anything but you do stop to have a look, it’s only human nature to be nosey!
If you are accosted and really do feel threatened, this is not a time to be shy and retiring. Everything hinges on you acting instantly and without hesitation. If you’re wrong it doesn’t matter, you can always apologise later (that’s if they haven’t run off in complete bafflement first) but if the situation is real it could make all the difference.
And don’t just shout as if you were just angry, I’m talking about a full on “bellow” here, straight from the lungs, and if you’re able straight and directly into their face as this will have also have an incredibly disorientating effect on them as well and confuse them momentarily giving you that split second to get to a place of safety!
REMEMBER! I am only advocating buying yourself a split second or at most two to three seconds, but that could be all the time it takes for you to get to a place of safety.
There is so much more ground to cover and we will do cover them in future articles during the year.
For further information or to book your own workshop.
Telephone: FREEPHONE - 0800 1583091.
Email: info@thelifestyleguy.co.uk
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