Safety Tips


	Safety Tips

The Sad Truth

The sad truth is that one no ever thinks THEY will be a victim of crime. Once we acknowledge the possibility, the way to cope is neither denial nor paranoia, but knowledge and training. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. --- Proverbs 22:3. Self defense is a basic human right and personal responsibility that is all to often ignored in our 'civilized' society.

The Predator

The violent criminal mindset is not like yours and mine, but is strangely predictable. FBI profilers and criminal psychologists offer us patterns that we can watch for. Among other things, predators look for victims who are unaware of or naively ignore the assailant's presence. They target passive people who show obvious signs of fear, such as avoiding eye contact or speaking with uncertainty. Because of the criminal's exaggerated need for 'respect' and poor impulse control demeaning words are unwise. Most predators avoid targeting someone who seems better armed, stronger, or capable than themselves, unless they have some other advantage such as surprise or superior numbers.

Sociopaths are emotionally immature deceivers. Some are extremely smart and charming. They enjoy pretending to be something they are not and having feelings they don't, in order to fulfill some nefarious goal. Setting boundaries with them often reveals their arrogance, obsessiveness, and rage. Watch for 'red flags' and always listen to your protective instincts.

Tips for The Street

Never let a criminal take you to another location (secondary crime scene)! Better to run and risk possible injury where help and medical attention is available than be taken to a remote and isolated location. This advice stands wheteher he threatens to hurt you or promises not to if you comply. Evil men are simply not trustworthy.

Be alert of your environment and the people therein, whether you're driving or walking.

Always carry a cell phone! Children would do well to carry a loud whistle to attract attention.

Stay in shape so that you can run if need be, preferably to high traffic public areas. Remember your Aikido training!

Women especially should consider carrying pepper spray or pepper gun.

In extreme situations look for impromptu weapons such as full water bottles, pens, car keys, or heavy purses.

Remember your Aikido training, your best protection is your mind and physical skills.

Tips When Driving

Glance in your car before you enter, and immediately lock your doors when you get in. Drive off ASAP.

If you suspect someone is following you drive to a police station or high traffic public area and call 911.

Ladies, if a suspicious man is sitting in the car next to yours, have someone accompany or observe you.

If a sliding door equiped van is parked to close to your car, do as above, or enter through the door away from the van.

If you're ever thrown into a trunk, kick out the taillights, stick your arm through the hole, and wave wildly.

Tips For The Home

If you haven't noticed, home invasions are on the rise in America, and they're more brutal than ever. The days of being frightened out-of-your-wits, tied up, and robbed ONLY, are mostly gone. These days criminal gangs are beating, raping, and murdering entire families for cash and televisions!

Consider locking your doors, even in the daytime. If your children are playing in the back yard, keep the window(s) open so you can hear them in case of an emergency (medical or criminal). Replace all your 1-1.5" door frame screws with 3" wood screws, to better resist forcible entry!

Plant some low thorny hedges outside your windows or in lieu of a wall (hawthorne, holly, black berries, pyrocanthus, bealii, etc.). Wind chimes, cow bells, and other noisy ornaments wouldn't hurt either.

Install motion sensitive lights outside you home.

If you own a home that displays your wealth, consider a comprehensive alarm system. I think a loud alarm in a residence is better than a silent alarm. I'm less concerned with catching him in the act than keeping him out of the house in the first place. Simple, stick-on magnetic strip alarms are better than nothing.

About one-third of rapes occur when a burglar discovers a woman alone in the home. Have a dog or two (even a small one), as an early warning system and deterrent. Many medium and large dogs are loyal and capable defenders of the family.

If you're a woman living alone, consider having a brother or 'manly' friend leave the welcoming message on your answering machine. Put a 'no solicitation' sign on the door and a 'beware of dog' sign on your backyard gate.

Don't open the door when you're alone and unarmed in the house, or if you have ANY suspicions. Home invasions these days are often perpetrated by handgun armed and body armor wearing 'gangs'. Be alert to the possibility of 'wolves' pretending to be delivery persons, or hiding in the bushes.

Keep the adult and children's bedrooms close (within hearing distance). Upstairs is probably better than downstairs if you have two stories. Folding escape ladders are a very good idea.

Put plug-in motion sensing night lights around your inside entrances. They are also good for bathrooms and bedrooms, when you have to get up in the night.

Keep your cell phone charged and next to your bed. Remember the 911 dispatcher can not track your location via a cell, so have your address written down if you think you'll forget in a sleepy panic.

Triggering your car alarm via your car key remote should be enough to scare off a casual burgler.

If you own a firearm and live in an apartment or townhouse, and/or have family members scattered throughout the home, consider loading some safety slugs to avoid penetrating a wall and hurting a family member or innocent neighbor. Most experts say that it's safer to gather your family in a locked 'safe room' (usually the master bed room) than try to 'clear' your own house room by room. Call 911 and make sure you tell them exactly where you are hold up.

Be aware that some actions can be indicators of violent escalation including being separated, tied-up, gagged, blind folded, forced to kneel, and being forced to the floor. As one of our Marine veterans says, you only have few seconds to act before you're under their complete control.

Human rights trump property rights. Do not risk lives over things that rot and rust away.

Tips During Civil Unrest

Have a 'crisis plan' and a meet up location should your family be separated (e.g. kids at school).

Know the emergency evacuation site for your children's school and give a map to any family member or friend who might be recruited to get your children.

Have a way to communicate if possible. Remember, text messages often work even when cell phone calls don't.

Stay with family or friends rather than be alone. Have a means to sustain and protect yourselves.

Resist the drama and stay clear of 'emotionally charged' crowds! Sexual assaults and other violence occurs at 'celebrations' as often as 'protests'.

If you're in a car and surrounded by a mob, do NOT get out of your vehicle. Move slowly until you can get away.

The Law

You act in lawful self defense when 1. you reasonably believe that you are in imminent danger of being killed, seriously injured, or unlawfully touched (harmful or offensive contact), 2. you believe that immediate force is necessary to prevent that danger, and 3. you use no more force than necessary to defend against that danger.

The right of self-defense ends once an attacker ceases (e.g. surrenders, retreats) or is incapable of inflicting further injury (e.g. restrained). Vengeance is not lawful self-defense.

In California, one is not legally bound to retreat from one's habitation, and is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent danger to self or family member.

Be safe, fulfill your purpose, love your family, Stephen Steger