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Outside Safety Tactics:

1. Outside safety tactics refer to times when you are out in an uncontrolled environment such as when commuting to and from home, work, stores, etc. It is preferable to avoid "risky" areas. At times however, this is not always possible. Here are some examples of tactics: 

2. Avoid isolated locations with low witness concentration. If you are alone you are more likely to be targeted for assault. 

3. The time of the day is an important factor. Late night hours have lower witness traffic and an assailant is more capable of assaulting you without being seen or caught. A location that can be safe during daylight hours can become the opposite at night. 

4. When you are outside, make sure to exercise your awareness skills. Be conscious of your surroundings. Check over your shoulder every once in a while and avoid isolated location and potential hiding spots. 

5. When walking, stick to well lit routes with high witness traffic. If there are no sidewalks, consider walking on the left side of the roadway facing traffic. This makes it difficult for a car to follow you undetected. 

6. In the city, where you must walk on the sidewalk, walk near the curb. This makes it more difficult for an assailant hiding around a corner or in a doorway to grab you before you can react. 

7. If you are taking the bus, sit near the driver. Report unwanted advances to the driver immediately. Try to sit in an aisle seat or beside a female passenger. 

8. If you feel that you are being followed and crossing the street confirms your suspicions, begin screaming and run to a public location. You can also consider placing an obstacle between you and your pursuer and continue to scream for help. 

9. If you are alone, avoid waiting inside a bus shelter where you could be trapped. 

10. When out for a walk, jog or while commuting, try to go with a friend. If you go out to exercise alone don't wear headphones. This reduces your ability to detect an attacker approaching from behind. 

11. Avoid walking alone at night when you are upset or have been drinking. Your awareness level is likely to be low. 

12. Know the area and your escape routes. Become familiar with stores, service stations and other places that will be open at the time you are traveling. If you are unfamiliar with an area, avoid trying to find shortcuts. You may end up boxed in or isolated. 

13. Know your bus schedule so that you do not have to wait any longer than necessary. 

14. If you know that you are being followed turn around and look at your pursuer. Project an assertive attitude and take note of the person's physical description. If you can help it, don't go directly home. This shows the pursuer where you live and he may choose to try again another time. 

15. Have your keys ready while approaching your house or vehicle or even while taking a stroll. If you spot a potential assailant, you can hurry into your car or house. Keys can also be an effective personal safety weapon. A personal defense weapon is useless if it is at the bottom of a purse or pocket. 

16. If you spot a suspicious person or group of people, go around them as opposed to walking through them. Consider crossing the street. 

17. If someone asks for the time or directions or tries to initiate a conversation, remember that you do not have to answer. If you do, keep it brief and move on. If you become suspicious, you may instruct the person to keep his distance. 

18. Consider your clothing and footwear for defense and escape capabilities. 

19. Avoid public displays of money at automatic teller machines, stores, banks, getting on the bus, etc. 

20. If you carry a handbag tuck it under your arm. It is best to keep money in your pockets. If someone does grab your purse let it go. Property is not worth getting hurt over. 

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Vehicle Safety Tactics:

1. A cell phone is one of the best personal safety devices you can make! 

2. If possible, park your car in an attended lot or in a well-lit, busy area. 

3. Avoid parking next to vans because they will obscure you from view and you can be pulled in through a side door. 

4. Make sure to scan the area before getting out of your vehicle. If there is a suspicious person don't get out. 

5. When returning to your car, scan the area around the car as you approach. Check around it, underneath it, and pay attention to occupied vehicles nearby. 

6. Scan the interior of your vehicle before getting in to make sure no one is hiding inside. 

7. Lock your car doors whether you are in it or not. When driving in urban areas, keep the windows rolled up as far as comfortable. 

8. Have your keys ready when approaching your car in case you have to get in quickly. In the event of an assault, keys can be used as weapons. 

9. If you are loaded down with several packages, get in first, lock the doors and then organize your possessions. 

10. Don't pick up hitchhikers. Even if the hitchhiker is a woman, exercise caution; she may have an accomplice nearby. Use your discretion and intuition. At the same time you don't want to leave a stranded person to fend for herself. 

11. Create a "buddy system" with your co-workers so that you are all sure of a ride in case of car trouble. 

12. If several people have cars parked in various locations, it is safest to walk together to the nearest car and then drop each person off at her vehicle. 

13. When dropping off a friend, wait until she is inside her home or vehicle, or that her car is started before driving away. Ask friends to do the same for you. 

14. When attending social functions, consider arranging a car pool. Leave together. 

15. Carry "emergency money" for a bus, cab fare, or a phone call etc. 

16. Prepare an emergency kit and keep it in your vehicle. In particular, make sure you have warm winter clothing. In the winter, if you are dressed improperly and your vehicle breaks down, your options are severely limited to turn away offers of help or a ride from suspicious people. 

17. If you frequently wear high heels or dress shoes, consider keeping a pair of running shoes in your car in case you have to walk. 

18. If possible, tell a friend, spouse etc. where you are going, the route you will be taking and your estimated time of arrival. If you don't show up or check in, an effort can be made to locate you. 

19. Keep your car in good running condition and avoid driving with less than a half of a tank of gas. 

20. If you have a flat tire and feel that it is unsafe to get out of the car you may have to drive to a place of safety very slowly with your hazard lights on. You will ruin the tire but you'll be safe. 

21. Learn how to repair a flat tire. If you do get a flat, try to find an occupied location such as a police or fire station parking lot, convenience store, etc. to change it. 

22. Never hitchhike. If you must accept a ride, profile the occupant(s) of the vehicle. Vehicles driven by women or families are statistically less risky. 

23. If you are stranded and someone stops to help you, do not get out of your car. Through a partially open window, ask him to notify the nearest service station, a tow truck or a friend/spouse for you. 

24. When loading items into your trunk, unlock your driver's door first. If a suspicious person approaches, get in, lock the doors and wait to see what he wants. 

25. Be careful not to pull up too close to a stopped vehicle in front of you. It is easier to escape if someone tries to get into your car or attempts to box you in. 

26. If someone tries to force his way inside your vehicle at a stop sign or red light, sound your horn and drive away. Notify the police. 

27. If you are alone and someone is able to force his way into your car, jump out. 

28. If you are being followed by another vehicle, there are a number of tactics you might consider:  o        Sound the horn and activate your emergency flashers. Try to draw attention to yourself. o        Drive to the nearest police station, fire hall or other public place and lean on the horn to attract attention. o        Consider turning around and going in the opposite direction. Try to get a license plate number and description of the vehicle and occupants. o        If you are being followed on a highway or multi-lane road, keep to the left lane. This makes it more difficult to cut you off.  o        Don't try to out run the vehicle, you could end up having an accident, being hurt or immobilizing your vehicle. o        Don't drive home if you can help it. This will show the assailant where you live.

Building Safety Tactics:

1. If you work late, find out who else is in the building. When you leave, ask someone to accompany you. (Such as a co-worker, security guard, etc.) 

2. If you can, time your departure when there is likely to be other people leaving such as at the end of a class or shift. 

3. Elevators are common places of attack. If there is a person already on the elevator who makes you uncomfortable don't go in. Act like you forgot something and wait for the next one. 

4. When you ride the elevator, stand close to the button panel. If you are attacked, you can press as many buttons as possible and the emergency alarm. 

5. If you intended to go up, don't get on an elevator that is going down. This might take you down into the basement where you might be isolated. 

6. Try to avoid isolated, poorly lit areas of a building. Isolated stairways should also be avoided if possible. 

7. If you are working alone at night, ensure that the exterior doors to the building are locked so that intruders are unable to gain entry. 

Travel Security Tactics:

1. Arrange air travel during business hours to avoid being alone and reaching your destination at night. 

2. If you've rented a vehicle, arrange to pick it up close to the airport terminal. 

3. If possible, arrange for a company representative to meet you at the airport. Verify his credentials and have him escort you to your car or hotel. 

4. Avoid late business meetings. If one is scheduled, make sure that you are in the company of several associates. 

5. Stay only in quality hotels. Do not accept a room if: o        It is located in a remote section of the hotel o        The doors and windows are not secure o        The hotel does not have 24 hour security

6. Use the security lock and consider bracing the door with a chair when retiring for the evening. 

7. Do not answer the door unless you are expecting company. 

8. In a strange city tourists may inadvertently wander into the "wrong place a the wrong time." Speak to hotel staff or the local police to find out if there are areas to be avoided. 

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