SAFE IS SMART.
Personal Safety Tips
Hi, and welcome to SABRE! We're dedicated to helping you Make It Safe, so if you're here to learn more about our top safety tips, you're in the right place.
Try not to be a 'soft' target.
Criminals often look for ‘soft targets,’ or people that may be doing any of the following behaviors:
- Walking with your head down
- Being completely absorbed in your cell phone
- Looking lost or distracted from your surroundings
- Walking, jogging or running with headphones in both ears
- Carrying valuables in plain sight
- Carrying too many things, preventing you from having one hand free at all times
Become a hard target.
1. Keep your distance.
Your assailant has the advantage: They know the attack is coming, and you don’t. However, if you stay 12’ (4M) away from strangers whenever possible, they have to take three steps to reach you. By taking strides towards you, they’ll raise your suspicions and give you a chance to react, whether that’s using verbal commands or using pepper spray.
2. Walk with confidence.
When you portray strength and self-confidence, you can make an attacker believe you would be more likely to fight back (which makes you a 'harder' target).
3. Follow the light.
Staying in well-lit areas is crucial, because light acts as a crime deterrent. In fact, Stanford University recently found that sexual assault and violent crimes decreased by up to 56% in the extra hour of sun you get each night during Daylight Savings Time.
“...better lighting increases the likelihood of being seen by witnesses or police, which in turn discourages criminal activity,” explains Katie Welter of the University of Virginia.
A personal alarm with built-in LED light can help you attract witnesses in the dark.
4. Hide your valuables.
If a criminal scouting the area knows for sure you have the latest iPhone or a laptop in your handbag, they’re more likely to go after you. On the other hand, being discreet about your possessions can keep potential attackers in the dark about what you have on you.
5. Use the buddy system.
A companion is a built-in witness and reduces the odds a predator will see you as a vulnerable target. “The person at greatest risk to become a victim is someone who is alone late at night and also under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” explains Karen J. Terry, PhD and criminal justice professor.
Pro tip: The buddy system advice even expands beyond human relationships. For instance, are you just going out to grab the mail? Bring your dog or a personal safety tool (such as pepper spray or personal alarm) along.
10 Seconds to Safety
When arriving someplace, remember 10 seconds to safety.
| SECONDS | CONDITION | WHAT TO DO | ASK YOURSELF |
| 1-2 | Destination is in eyesight | Scan the area | Is everything as expected? |
| 3-4 | Exiting car, bus, etc. with elevated eye level | Notice surroundings | Are people around? How are they acting? |
| 5-6 | Approach destination | Gut check (always trust your instincts!) | Am I uneasy? Does activity seem normal? |
| 7-8 | At the doorway/entrance | Scan the inside | Is anyone or anything out of place? Is the door locked? Should it be? (ex. something might be off if a convenience store door is locked during business hours) |
| 9-10 | Entering the venue | Final gut check | Too few people? Too many? Is the noise level appropriate for this time of day? (ex. something might be off if it's unusually quiet at a bakery at 9AM) |
Reacting to threats.
Verbal commands.
If someone is verbally harassing you or making you feel uncomfortable, do not be afraid to express this out loud. Here are a few examples:
Please stop, you're making me uncomfortable.
Stop!
Leave me alone!
[to witnesses] I don't know this person!
[to witnesses] DIAL 911!
Why verbal commands
Why verbal commands?
Well, not only do verbal commands clearly tell the person what to do, but they might also startle your attacker into thinking twice. Many times, simply yelling can deter an attacker—especially if they tell you not to scream. They're looking for the path of least resistance. Verbal commands also help regulate breathing.
Choosing a Personal Safety Tool.
Top 5 reasons to carry pepper spray.
- Protection at a safe distance - why go hands on?
- Very practical - protection against multiple threats
- Legal to carry in all 50 states
- Doesn't require size or strength to use
- Proven effective - police worldwide carry pepper spray
Other personal safety options.
- Stun guns - must be within arm's length of the attacker
- Personal alarms - allow you to call for help, audible uo to 1,300' away (perfect complement to your pepper spray purchase)
Choosing personal safety tools: Which of the following sounds like you?
I'd like on-the-go protection for my daily life.
Shop various keychain, clip, Auto Safety and lipstick models
I'm an athlete that likes to exercise outdoors.
Shop Pepper Sprays for running, jogging, walking and cycling
I'm personally in college, or would like to protect a student I care about.
Shop dorm/apartment security and pepper sprays specifically tailored to campus life
I am a senior citizen, or would like to protect an elderly friend or relative.
Shop panic alarms, personal alarms and pepper sprays for seniors
When it comes to pepper spray, I worry about wind blow-back, airborne particles and cleanup.
Shop Pepper Gel, which virtually eliminates wind blow-back with no airborne particles
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