Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_01_25/GA_2501_E1_020.pdf 

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20

Galway Advertiser

January 25 2007

NEWS

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FASHION

BEAUTY

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H E A LT H

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LIFE

MARY
1. If you are walking alone at night, choose busy, well-lit streets. Avoid isolated areas and alleys. 2. Do not be an easy target. Walk purposefully in an alert and self-assured manner. Keep your head up and your back straight. Know where you are going. If you do not, at least act as if you know. Do not dilly dally, window shop or daydream. The more confident and aware you appear the less likely you will be singled out by potential muggers. 3. Be aware of your surroundings. Observe the people around you but avoid making eye contact with them. 4. If you are in an unfamiliar area or town do not advertise the fact by looking at a map or asking for directions after dark. 5. Wear flat, comfortable shoes that you can run in should you need to. 6. At night, walk near the kerb away from buildings and recessed doorways. 7. Leave expensive jewellery at home. 8. Keep some extra money separate from your wallet or handbag for emergencies. 9. Carry a personal attack alarm. It will make you feel more confident. 10. If someone approaches you at night and attempts to ask you a question think twice before replying. If you choose to, do so at least two arm lengths away from the person. 11. Think situations through in advance. Work out a strategy so you would know what to do if you were followed or attacked. 12. Follow your instinct or gut feelings as these are important warning signals. Often our instinct senses something is wrong before our minds do, says John Brawn, a west of Ireland assault prevention expert. "When you get a bad feeling about a place or a person, do not ignore it. Leave the place, get away from the person. Do whatever you have to do to be safe. "Your voice and the way you speak to someone are important parts of self-defence. If you feel threatened, you can use your voice to speak loudly and draw attention to yourself. Assailants do not want trouble so if you start attracting attention they are likely to leave. Yelling for help can scare off an attacker. Yelling can also break the freeze response so your body starts breathing properly and moving again. Practise yelling `no' a few times - the kind of yell you would use in an emergency: strong, loud and forceful. You can yell `no or `help' or `leave me alone' or `go away'. Remember, your voice can be a powerful weapon." 13. If carrying a handbag, carry it over your arm or shoulder with the opening towards you. 14. If using public transport be aware of who gets on and off with you. 15. If on an empty bus, sit near the driver. 16. If you decide to take a taxi home at night, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside.

O'CONNOR

Forty ways to stay safe on the streets

The way you behave on the streets often determines whether you will be attached.

17. If walking to your car, carry your keys in your hand and lock the doors as soon as you enter. Note occupied vehicles around you. Keep the windows closed. 18. Separate your house and car keys. Leave valuables at home. 19. If you think you are being followed, cross the road and quicken your pace. If that does not work, head for a busy area or a well lit house and seek help. 20. Make sure your mobile phone is charged. 21. Drive in the lane closest to the centre of the road to give yourself room to manoeuvre. 22. When parking your car, park as close to the entrance as possible, preferably under a street light. 23. Do not leave packages or briefcases on car seats because they may tempt people to break in and steal. 24. Keep you car topped up with petrol. 25. Women driving alone at night should try to keep to well-lit main roads. 26. If you car develops a fault, try to stop in a busy, well lit place.

27. If possible at night walk facing oncoming traffic to avoid the risk of a car sneaking up on you. 28. Do not wear headphones. You may not hear someone coming up behind you. 29. Walk confidently. Prospective attackers often pounce on uncertain, vulnerable people. 30. If you see someone who makes you feel fearful or ill at ease, do not look at him/her. Experts say if you look they may feel you are challenging them and will probably respond. If you have to pass a group try to walk by as though you have not seen them. Do not allow yourself to be annoyed into commenting. 31. If threatened by someone in a car, scream and run the other way. 32. Crime prevention expert John Brawn says the way you behave on the streets often determines whether or not you will be attacked. In one American experiment, a group of criminals were asked to watch film footage of normal, everyday street scenes and then pick out the people they would choose to attack. It was the way these people walked and moved that determined their fate. Those who walked around in an unsure manner, fumbled in their bags or did not look

around while waiting at a cash dispensing machine were highest on their hit lists. 33. If you are unlucky enough to be targeted by a thief, hand over your bag without a struggle, advise experts. That way you will at least avoid injury. 34. Cover up expensive jewellery with a scarf or coat. Wear your shoulder bag with the strap across your body. 35. Do not wait alone at deserted bus stops. 36. If travelling alone on public transport at night, sit near a door or exit. Avoid eye contact with other passengers. Read a newspaper or book. 37. If someone makes you feel nervous while travelling, move seat or carriage. 38. Have your front door key ready to use as you approach your home so you are not fumbling in your bag or pocket on the doorstep. 39. At night, draw curtains or pull down blinds to avoid unwelcome scrutiny 40. Do not take short cuts through unlit areas, dark side streets and lonely parks. Keep to busy, well lit roads.