3 Tips For Staying Safe In The Big City
Living in a big city can be a very exciting and fun experience. There’s always something new to do, places to visit, and people to meet. However, not all those people are well-intentioned and harmless. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from being attacked or harmed in the big city.
Avoid becoming a target
This is the first thing you can do to prevent any harm that may be caused to you. And although it may not always work, since it’s the attacker, not the victim that makes a target of themselves, there are ways to be less interesting to people like muggers and pickpockets. Don’t wear too much jewellery when just walking around town, since it’s that bling that attracts muggers and you don’t want to look like you have a lot of money, because that will make you a more likely target.
If you walk with confidence, there will be less of a chance for you to become a target. Also, if you really want to feel safe, stick to a group whenever possible. If you’re carrying around cash and other valuables, keep them in a zipped up purse that you’ll keep in front of you, covering it with your hand in crowded places like the subway. Furthermore, do your best to get to know your city and learn which streets are safer and which ones to avoid, especially at night.
Learn how to defend yourself
Being able to fight off your attackers can come in handy at some point, and it will give you the confidence you need to look less like a target. Check out basic and advanced women’s self defence classes online, find the nearest ones, and start your training today. Not only will you learn to defend yourself, but you will also gain physical strength and endurance to push your attackers away and run from them if need be. Hit, kick and scratch, and go for the most painful places, like the eyes and the groin. Use whatever’s at hand if you have to defend yourself – your nails, keys, or even your bag, but also your voice. If anyone attacks you, scream from the top of your lungs.
Somebody might run to your aid, but it might also startle or confuse the attacker for that moment or two, just enough for you to run away. Having a tactical knife, pepper spray or a handgun may save your life, so find out which self defence weapons are legal for you to carry and get them. Following the law and rules should be your top priority, so storing everything in a good gun safe is a must. Hopefully, you won’t need any of these things, but better safe than sorry, right?
Be aware
You should never relax too much in the big city, especially when it comes to safety. There are many cases of attacks on women in their own homes, or even in crowded places, where they thought they were perfectly safe. So, keep your eyes and ears open. Don’t walk around with your headphones on, or stare at your phone all the time. Try being familiar with your surroundings and always look for a way out in case of emergency as soon as you enter a place. If a stranger’s giving you the creeps, move away and don’t speak to them. You’re under no obligation to be nice or polite to everybody, so ditch anybody who makes you feel uncomfortable.
Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys and standing alone when waiting for transport at night. Don’t wear high heels when you don’t have to – running away in flats is much easier. Keep your home safe by locking your doors and closing any windows that can be reached from the ground, or even consider installing an alarm system. Don’t open the door if you have any doubts about the person knocking on it. Get to know your neighbours well; you never know when you might need their help. Have your phone charged at all times, in case you need to call emergency services.
Be careful and observant, but not paranoid. Hope that nothing bad will happen, but be prepared for the opposite, just in case. And enjoy your city, since not everything in it is bad and dangerous.
Peter Minkoff is a guest writer
