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Great advice in this article. I'll add that I keep a wallet (I'm a guy) in my pocket with expired credit cards, expired driver's license (usually has an old address), about $40 cash, a couple grocery store club cards (that I never signed up for), etc., to use as a decoy if I'm going someplace dodgy. I'm gambling that a mugger or pick-pocket will simply take it and go, and not discover that everything's expired until I'm far away. I've haven't had to use it yet (knock-on-wood). When I carry my 'decoy,' I carry a minimal amount of valid cards/ID/cash, as recommended in #1.
A recommendation for all genders : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooikat
The world is a MUCH friendlier place than you seem to think.
These precauitons are as relvant to real life travel as the guy who tore up his newsaper and threw it out the commuter train window every night. When asked why by Jennifer, he replied "To keep the tigers away"
Jennifer "but I have never seen a tiger from this train in 20 years using it"
"That proves my technique works"
You are much more likely to be assulted/murdered by someone you know than a stranger, except in a few genuinely dangerous and blatantly obvious locales.
Waken up and smell the roses.
Or at least, stop terrifying neophyte business travellers. You have missed a hell of a lot of interesting and enjoyable experiences (If you really travel, and are not just theorizing)
Comment from 40+ years of extensive and frequent travel
These precauitons are as relvant to real life travel as the guy who tore up his newsaper and threw it out the commuter train window every night. When asked why by Jennifer, he replied "To keep the tigers away"
Jennifer "but I have never seen a tiger from this train in 20 years using it"
"That proves my technique works"
You are much more likely to be assulted/murdered by someone you know than a stranger, except in a few genuinely dangerous and blatantly obvious locales.
Waken up and smell the roses.
Or at least, stop terrifying neophyte business travellers. You have missed a hell of a lot of interesting and enjoyable experiences (If you really travel, and are not just theorizing)
Comment from 40+ years of extensive and frequent travel
..that the world is a much more dangerous place for a woman or a girl.
These are basic precautions and travelers are easy targets because they aren't part of the community. You don't have to be paranoid, but make them a habit.
I would also add that you should never stay in a room that has its entrance on the outside of the hotel. I always stay where the room is entered from an interior hallway. My parents were in a room one time that was entered from the outside, and it was just lucky that my Dad is quite an imposing man becuase it took about 1/2 a second for their door to be broken down and a couple of guys to enter the room. He had them curled in a ball on the floor a few seconds later.
I would also add that you should never stay in a room that has its entrance on the outside of the hotel. I always stay where the room is entered from an interior hallway. My parents were in a room one time that was entered from the outside, and it was just lucky that my Dad is quite an imposing man becuase it took about 1/2 a second for their door to be broken down and a couple of guys to enter the room. He had them curled in a ball on the floor a few seconds later.
I would also avoid all first floor rooms, and those near an exit for the same reasons. Avoid rooms above the sixth floor for fire safety, because in some places the fire trucks cannot reach any higher than that.
I mean, northern Europe is pretty safe for all comers, whereas in other places getting a bunch of ex-SpecOps to cover your ass is generally advisable... if you must go at all.
Statistics show that a majority of violent crimes against women are perpetrated by someone the woman knows. That's absolutely true! But that doesn't negate the others. It's just part of the picture. I find that the more women travel, the more attention they pay to their surroundings and their personal safety. I don't think that comes from paranoia, but just experience. In addition, this article was well researched. I've discussed this issue with security and law enforcement professionals. I have no reason to believe that they would make unnecessary suggestions to "terrify" people. I'm wide awake, I smell the roses every single day of my life, and occasionally... I see a tiger.
that I think women need to learn to be more aware of their surroundings. I see far more women be caught surprised by what's happening around them than men are. Train yourself to pay more attention to what's going on around you. Don't be distracted; learn to "unobtrusively" observe (Police are VERY good at this; observe how THEY keep track of their immediate surroundings). If you're out walking (or at the mall, or an airport, or wherever), have you seen the same stranger more than once? Is there anything about him (or her) that strikes you as odd and out of place? Listen to your "gut" reactions; sometimes, the subconscious acts as an "early warning" system, and can call your attention to something that may be very helpful.
This goes for ALL travellers!
In the event of an attack, the best way to win is to keep the attacker "beyond arms length". A baseball bat is nice but they are STILL too close. Pepper spray can blow back at you as you have little control over its direction after you spray it. Electronic stunners do NOT keep the attacker "beyond arms length" and a Taser can be defeated by heavy clothing.
Considering all states (with the exception of Illinois - thank you "Shitago"!) have some form of open or concealed carry, get a GUN and keep it under your pillow or nightstand drawer while you sleep. Just be sure to either hide it securely (to keep it safe from housekeeping) or put it in a LOCKABLE nondescript container and lock it in the hotel safe when you can't take it with you.
Guns save lives people, namely YOURS!
In the event of an attack, the best way to win is to keep the attacker "beyond arms length". A baseball bat is nice but they are STILL too close. Pepper spray can blow back at you as you have little control over its direction after you spray it. Electronic stunners do NOT keep the attacker "beyond arms length" and a Taser can be defeated by heavy clothing.
Considering all states (with the exception of Illinois - thank you "Shitago"!) have some form of open or concealed carry, get a GUN and keep it under your pillow or nightstand drawer while you sleep. Just be sure to either hide it securely (to keep it safe from housekeeping) or put it in a LOCKABLE nondescript container and lock it in the hotel safe when you can't take it with you.
Guns save lives people, namely YOURS!
Your second amendment to keep and bear arms does not extend to other countries you may be traveling to. Also, you can't carry a gun into a plane unless you are a Marshall.
If you need to travel by plane then forget the PepperSpray and pick up a can of Wasp Spray when you get to your destination. 20-30 foot range and you can get it in almost any super market. Much more stopping power than pepper spray. And when you have to fly home just drop it in a trash can.
Some excellent tips here, updated for today's world. Thanks for the important reminders. I am sharing this with my female colleagues and my daughters.
This is quite useful. But let me add some more. 1) Always carry a mobile phone with you. Logging in using gps applications available in android and iphone can show your location to your friends ( Or keep this only for very few trusted friends in real life - not those 700 "friends" in FB. Dial the police, fire and your hotel acco no: and retain them as top 3 in your dial pad, as far as possible. You can dial police with just one press if you know that it is on top. Or better save those as your short cut 1, 2 and 3 in your phone. An efficient Police system can track your phone and reach you if within city - Just say "help" atleast 2) Always tell 2 trustworthy people your Hotel location. 3) Tell them that u will call them every day and if you dont, they have to call her, if she is not reachable, to assume that she is in danger. It may be a simple case of phone battery dead, but let's err on the side of safety. (The above cannot help you in the face of imminent danger)
4) You little kung fu is not likely to scare a big bad guy. Though it is okay to learn some self defence, it may be more effective to carry a pepper spray or something more hurting , easily reachable (you cant carry it in plane)
5) Dont travel alone out side of any major city. Its risky even for men, but a lot more for women
4) You little kung fu is not likely to scare a big bad guy. Though it is okay to learn some self defence, it may be more effective to carry a pepper spray or something more hurting , easily reachable (you cant carry it in plane)
5) Dont travel alone out side of any major city. Its risky even for men, but a lot more for women
Have you been robbed recently ?
But I think, staying confident and not showing nervousness should be the moto.
But I think, staying confident and not showing nervousness should be the moto.
but you fail to realize that the world is a much more dangerous place for a woman or a girl.
For both sexes.
One last thing, be aware. Always reserve a bit of your attention on your sourroundings. If you get too distracted by what you are doing, it's easier for someone to sneek up on you. If you listen and look around every few seconds, you won't be an easy target. Being aware, you will be able to take mesures to protect yourself BEFORE anything actually happens.
With a sufficient attention level, your would be attacker will simply move on to another, easier target. Most will not take a risk on a target that seems already responding to their presence and intentions.
One last thing, be aware. Always reserve a bit of your attention on your sourroundings. If you get too distracted by what you are doing, it's easier for someone to sneek up on you. If you listen and look around every few seconds, you won't be an easy target. Being aware, you will be able to take mesures to protect yourself BEFORE anything actually happens.
With a sufficient attention level, your would be attacker will simply move on to another, easier target. Most will not take a risk on a target that seems already responding to their presence and intentions.
#1: You have GOT to know what is going on around you. Don't walk and use your phone, MP3 player, etc. Take the headphones out! More and more people are being victimized because they are walking around completely unaware of their surroundings, thanks to the electronic device in their hand and the headphones in their ears.
#2: Get training. That doesn't necessarily mean a martial art or carrying a gun (though both are helpful and I would recommend them if you can). But it means going to a personal protection class and learning the *mindset* necessary for staying safe, as well as how to handle situations that can arise. Training and practicing *in advance* for bad situations is the best way to ensure that you 1) avoid them in the first place and 2) handle them as well as possible if you end up in one anyways.
Regarding things like pepper spray, guns, etc. Personally, I am a proponent of self-defense and I feel that it is important for people to know how to protect themselves. As the old saying goes, "when seconds count, the police are minutes away". At the same time, you need to recognize that they are "if all else fails" items. The more heavily armed you are (including martial arts), the more responsibility you have to make sure that you do not use those weapons inappropriately or in violation of the law. Traveling with them is also a hassle (if not illegal), depending on what they are and how you are traveling and where you are traveling to.
J.Ja
#2: Get training. That doesn't necessarily mean a martial art or carrying a gun (though both are helpful and I would recommend them if you can). But it means going to a personal protection class and learning the *mindset* necessary for staying safe, as well as how to handle situations that can arise. Training and practicing *in advance* for bad situations is the best way to ensure that you 1) avoid them in the first place and 2) handle them as well as possible if you end up in one anyways.
Regarding things like pepper spray, guns, etc. Personally, I am a proponent of self-defense and I feel that it is important for people to know how to protect themselves. As the old saying goes, "when seconds count, the police are minutes away". At the same time, you need to recognize that they are "if all else fails" items. The more heavily armed you are (including martial arts), the more responsibility you have to make sure that you do not use those weapons inappropriately or in violation of the law. Traveling with them is also a hassle (if not illegal), depending on what they are and how you are traveling and where you are traveling to.
J.Ja
I didn't mention handguns, because the responsibility is just too great to tackle in a short tip -- thanks for your thoughtful discussion on the topic.
"While en route, don???t hang around at the airport (other than layovers), rental car facility, or other interim spots. Don???t stop for a quick bite, phone call, or to check messages. Move on to the next stop as quickly as possible. The baser elements hang out at these places looking for targets. A moving target is harder to hit, so keep moving."
Don't eat! Don't make a call! Don't stand in one place! You're a woman, and you must be TERRIFIED to be alone!
Really? Sigh...
Don't eat! Don't make a call! Don't stand in one place! You're a woman, and you must be TERRIFIED to be alone!
Really? Sigh...
...and that recommendation comes from law enforcement professionals, more than one... you can ignore it -- that's fine.
"Don't eat! Don't make a call! Don't stand in one place! You're a woman, and you must be TERRIFIED to be alone!"
I said no such thing or even implied it. Being aware and proactive is smart.
"Don't eat! Don't make a call! Don't stand in one place! You're a woman, and you must be TERRIFIED to be alone!"
I said no such thing or even implied it. Being aware and proactive is smart.
I learned in one self-defense class that if you yell HELP or just scream, more people run away than come to your aid. If you yell FIRE! or 911!, people will come to see the commotion! Sad but probably true...
The Stand Your Ground Law is a real good giant leap forward for women!
this law gives them almost perfect immunity to protect them selves from a would be attacker to protect her self, & use Deadly Force if needed. {But not to hide behind the law as in the case in Sanford FL.} Never, Never pursue an Assailant, If your lost or being followed go to any place there is a crowd, if your driving and being followed, drive to any Police, Fire Station,Military Base, or Hospital They are 99.9% open 24-7-365 and always willing to help!
As a Volunteer Firefighter/Paramedic I Guarantee there is nothing more intimidating the men in uniform coming to your aid.
Another good way is to travel with a Dog, & stay in a pet friendly hotel.
even a small dog is good, just for the Alarm Factor.
this law gives them almost perfect immunity to protect them selves from a would be attacker to protect her self, & use Deadly Force if needed. {But not to hide behind the law as in the case in Sanford FL.} Never, Never pursue an Assailant, If your lost or being followed go to any place there is a crowd, if your driving and being followed, drive to any Police, Fire Station,Military Base, or Hospital They are 99.9% open 24-7-365 and always willing to help!
As a Volunteer Firefighter/Paramedic I Guarantee there is nothing more intimidating the men in uniform coming to your aid.
Another good way is to travel with a Dog, & stay in a pet friendly hotel.
even a small dog is good, just for the Alarm Factor.
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