subject: Coming Out Ahead- Protect Yourself [print this page] In the movies, the victim of an attack usually manages to get away. She uses a tactically placed kick or clubs the attacker with an everyday object she happens to have in her hands, and escapes just in the nick of time.
Unfortunately, it is not always so simple in real life attacks. The attacker expects there to be resistance from the victim, and he is prepared to deal with it. In order to exercise true self defense, though, the victim should take all precautions to avoid possible confrontation from an attacker, then fight back heartily only when absolutely necessary.
Escape is Your Best Line of Defense
Rather than get entangled in a physical confrontation with someone who is charged up on alcohol, drugs, or adrenaline, it is far safer and easier to try to get away. Trust your instincts, and if they tell you to get out of a certain area, do so immediately. Dark parking lots and back alleys are two such places you do not want to traverse alone.
Learn Self Defense
Take a class that teaches you how to react properly to dangerous situations by quickly sizing them up and taking the appropriate action. You can learn how to break an attackers hold or how to catch him off guard. These give you an even greater chance for making an escape.
If all Else Fails, Fight
If everything else fails and you fall victim to an attack, fight. Do not play fair, though fight to win. Try to hurt your attacker. You will have even greater success if you carry a personal safety weapon with you, such as a high voltage yet compact personal taser or a powerful stun gun. Small and portable yet very effective personal alarms draw attention to you and may scare off an attacker. A safety spray such as pepper spray is yet another powerful weapon that may allow you disable your attacker long enough to get away.
As soon as your attacker lets go of you or backs away, run to safety and immediately notify the police.
One of the most popular non-lethal and legal means of defending yourself is pepper spray. Pepper spray is easy to use, it is affordable, and most importantly, it is an extremely effective tool when it comes to self-defense.
Pepper spray has been widely used by law enforcement agencies to control riots, enraged animals, or aggressive criminal suspects. Now it is available on the market for personal self-defense that anyone can use. Pepper spray is also easy enough to carry around in a purse, handbag, or even in your coat pocket. Pepper spray is effective, non-lethal, legal, and convenient.
The way that pepper spray will provide self-defense for you is that it contains a chemical compound that will subdue and incapacitate any attacker you should come in contact with. The most effective means of using this self-defense tool is if possible, spraying it directly at your attacker's eyes. When you do this, mucus membranes will become inflamed and your attacker's response is to close their eyes and they may even lose their vision temporarily.
Pepper spray also contains agents that will create breathing restrictions for your attacker if the spray has a high concentration. Given that the effect of such sprays can last for just under an hour, you have more than enough time to make a quick getaway.
It is not just the spray that can be used for self-defense, there are other mechanisms too. Personal alarms are also a very effective self-defense tool, and these can be used in conjunction with pepper spray. These often come in the form of small key rings or remote devices that can easily be tucked in a purse or coat pocket. If you find yourself in a high-risk situation where danger is imminent, you can press a button on your personal alarm that will sound an alarm and possibly disarm or scare away your attacker. The assailant wants to escape successfully too. The potential victim must hence do every thing possible to attract attention.
If making noise does not do the trick, they you must seriously consider spraying the person and making a hasty exit. You only need enough time to get away. Do think of it as your personal responsibility to find out about local rules and laws about using pepper spray before buying, carrying, or using it.
