Safety Awareness tips for women, teens and girls
General SAFETY ADVICE:
Practice Awareness
This is your first line of defense. Most people think of kicks to the groin and blocking punches when they hear the term “self-defense.” However, true self-defense begins long before any actual physical contact. The first, and probably most important, component in self-defense is awareness: awareness of yourself, your surroundings, and your potential attacker’s likely strategies.
Use your sixth sense
Similar to being aware your “Sixth sense” or “Gut instinct”. Whatever you call it, your intuition is a powerful subconscious insight into situations and people. All of us, especially women, have this gift, but very few of us pay attention to it. Learn to trust this power and use it to your full advantage. Avoid a person or a situation that does not “feel” safe — you’re probably right.
Accessories
If you want to take extra precautions, these accessories can be life savers. If you don’t have one, get a portable battery charger so you can directly charge your phone without needing to plug a charger somewhere in case it dies. Purchase a personal alarm which comes in a form of a keychain, it will allow you to alert people nearby that you are in danger. If your phone doesn’t have a flashlight feature, get a keychain flashlight or similar device.
Safety on a night out:
Have a Plan
When you are going out, whether it be alone or with a group of friends, it is best to have a plan in place. Knowing your surroundings, such as who and what is in the immediate area, is one of the most crucial safety tips to remember. Making a habit to pay attention to what is going on around you will help you become more aware of your environment. In addition, as an extra level of precaution, let someone outside of your group know your whereabouts and what you have planned for the day/evening.
Ping Your Location
Smartphones are not only a great tool for taking photos, sending messages, and sharing news, but they can also be lifesavers. Most smartphones have a great emergency feature that allows users to ping their location to anyone in their contact list. This feature is easy to setup and will draw attention to the user should they find themselves in an unsafe situation.
Create Boundaries
Regardless if you are out alone or with a group of friends, if you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe with someone’s attention toward you, do not be afraid to put distance between yourself and the individual. There is nothing rude about protecting yourself in a potentially unsafe situation. At the end of the day, always remember to follow your gut!
Stalking Advice:
Stalking is on the rise in the UK. In 2020, over 80,000 stalking incidents were reported. Here are some advice to help you avoid or deal with a stalker:
General Stalking Advice
• Do not engage with your stalker in any way
• Talk to family, friend, neighbours, colleagues, or your manager about the harassment if you feel comfortable doing so. They may be able to help by collecting further evidence on your behalf, or by putting protective measures in place
• Be aware of how much of your personal information is in the public domain and take steps to protect your data
• Above everything else, trust your instincts
Physical Stalking – With the increase of the digital world, it is important to stay safe online
• Consider carrying a personal alarm
• Try to vary your daily routine and take different routes to and from work
• Know where the nearest safe location is, for instance a police station, or a 24 hour supermarket with security guards and CCTV
• Consider installing an alarm system in your home
• Ensure all your doors and windows are locked before you leave home or go to sleep
Cyber Stalking
• Limit the amount of information you share about yourself on social networking site and check your privacy settings to ensure you are not giving away more information about yourself
• Restrict your social media accounts to your friends, not public
• Keep anti-virus software up-to-date
• Report any stalking activity on websites to the administrators
• Get your computer checked for malware and key logging software
• Google yourself to check your digital footprint
Emergency Contacts
If you are at risk and in danger call 999, if you are unable to speak then press 55, by doing this it will transfer you to a relevant controller that you will not need to speak to.
Freephone the 24-Hour Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247
Respect for men suffering from Domestic Violence
0808 801 0327
If you are under 25s, call The Mix
0808 808 4994
Galop for the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 999 5428
Women’s Aid live chat service
https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
(available Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm)
