Beyond Your Door: Practical Strategies for Everyday Safety, Pt. 2

To continue on this very important topic of personal safety…

Have a plan of escape. I’m sure you’ve heard of folks who never sit with their back to the door or that person who always makes note of the exits*. Do you know another way out besides how you came in? You want to know who and what is coming in. A person may have a weapon or just look sketchy, giving you a bad vibe. As women, it’s ingrained in us that we’re hysterical and tend to overreact, so even when there’s some truth to our gut feeling, we’re trained to ignore it so that we’re not looked upon as a fool. 

When driving, watch your rearview mirror in case someone is following you. We tend to feel safe in our cars. We feel protected once we close the door and have our windows rolled up. However, as my Nana used to say, “You never know who’s watching you.” Make note if a car is following you for too long. All it takes is a glance in your rearview mirror to notice if somebody’s tailing you. Again, it’s better to be thought paranoid than to be a victim!

Know several ways to get to your home. You don’t want anyone to monitor you for a routine. If you don’t go the same way every time and at the same time, you’re harder to keep track of. It’s more important to be harder to track by strangers than to be located by a loved one who knows your general whereabouts and the routes you would take. There are other reasons for knowing different ways to and from your home. You want options if there’s any sort of emergency, such as a water main break, accident, or disaster. These days, with GPS, it’s easier (and safer) to try different routes. 

Gas is expensive, but I recommend never letting your car get below a quarter of a tank. If something should come up and you’re detoured, you don’t want to be driving on fumes and then stuck somewhere because you ran out of gas. Yes, you can use your phone to call people, but you have to wait for them, and now you can’t drive away if you don’t feel safe. Try to budget so you never get below a quarter of a tank.

While walking, if you feel you’re being followed, don’t be afraid to turn around and look that person in the eye. This goes back to an earlier blog where I mentioned appearing confident even if you have to fake it. Don’t stare them down or mean-mug them; just facing them may catch them off guard because now they know you’re aware of them, and you know what they look like. Allow your instinct to tell you what to do next.

Never take the stairs unless there’s a fire, or the elevator is broken. It doesn’t matter if it’s just for a floor or two; nothing good is in a stairwell. Period.

If there’s a flash flood warning, try not to be where there’s traffic. It’s better to wait it out than get stuck on a crowded road where everyone is traveling and trapped. If the water begins rushing in, there’s nowhere to go, and you definitely don’t want to get out of your car. Yes, people have died because they got trapped in traffic during a flash flood*. Pay attention to weather alerts, take them seriously, and adjust your traveling plans accordingly. 

If you don’t feel safe walking to your car in a parking lot, or if you don’t like the people hanging out in it, ask for an escort. You may have to wait, or someone may roll their eyes at you, but you want to make it to your car and get out of there. Many predators hang out in stores and parking lots, looking for solo female victims and attacking them when they approach their car. This is something to be aware of, especially if you’re carrying a handful of groceries or otherwise vulnerable. Be aware of who is wandering around near your car, avoid parking next to vans, and if one is parked next to you when you return, be extra careful.

Never stop to remove items that have been placed on your car. There are posts about drug-laced clothing, money, and other items being placed on cars and that women who touch them become incapacitated and are kidnapped. While it’s debatable if there would be enough potency in whatever substance to incapacitate someone quickly, the idea is that it’s still something that would make you hesitate and take your attention away from getting in your car and leaving, which is something you should always do. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to snatch you out of your car. Get your keys out before you hit the parking lot, get in your car, lock up, and leave. If you must stop to make that quick text or call, do it after driving for a bit. 

Let people know where you’re going…and when you get home. If you are a SMSF, always tell someone your whereabouts and when you get home. This is especially true if you’re dating and meeting people for the first time. Also, have a backup plan in case of a bad date. Some dates are awful; some are scary. Escape to the bathroom and call a friend or family member to either “call with an emergency” to give you an excuse to bail, or if you really feel unsafe and didn’t drive, come and get you outta there.  

The above is not to make you paranoid. Preparedness isn’t just about the physical preps. It’s about knowing how to physically navigate any situation to ensure your safety.