Prevention Tips & Basic Safety Strategies

Dating & Going Out
- Don't hang around people with whom you are uncomfortable.

- Trust your gut level feeling. If your body is sending you messages such as uncomfortable feelings in your stomach, or the hair is rising on the back of your neck, LISTEN, your body doesn’t typically send you false messages about your safety. Besides, even if you are wrong, at least you are safe.

- Avoid secluded places, especially late at night.

- Double date as much as you can. You and your friends can watch out for one another.

- Remember that using alcohol or drugs puts you in a different mind state and inhibits your ability to think and react clearly.

- Always keep an eye on your drink…NEVER LEAVE YOUR DRINK UNATTENDED! If you do leave a drink unattended, don’t continue drinking from it…GET A NEW DRINK!

- Don’t drink from containers that are accessible to all (fruit punch bowls are easy to contaminate with drugs or alcohol).

Home Safety
- When speaking with someone on the phone or answering the door, never indicate you are home alone.

- Always ask who is at the door before opening it. Using a peephole is safer than chain locks, as perpetrators can easily break chain locks.

- Ask for identification from any repair-person before opening the door. If you have any questions or doubts, contact the company. Remember, trust your instinct!

- If someone comes to the door asking to use your phone, ask him/her to stay outside while you place the call.

- Teach children about safely answering the door and telephone.

- Don’t hide house keys in obvious places. If you lose your keys, have the locks changed immediately.

- Get to know your neighbors and which ones to call in an emergency. Consider developing an emergency signal system such as flashing lights in the event of an emergency.

- Ask your landlord/lady to ensure safe conditions on rental property.

Home Checklist
- Ensure there are working lights at all entrance.

- Check the deadbolt locks on all regular doors and special locks on all sliding doors.

- Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer on the front door.

- Check the security of locks and latches on all windows.

- Check the replacement or barring of louver windows.

- Make sure there is sufficient covering over windows for privacy.

- Install interior lights that function with a timer.

- Use your last name only on the mailbox.

- Use your first initial only and no address in the public phone listing.

On the Street
- If you are carrying things, try to keep one hand free.

- When possible use pockets or a backpack rather than a purse.

- Consider wearing clothes that do not restrict movement. High heels and short skirts can make running extremely difficult!

- Always carry change for cabfare or a telephone call.

- Walk around groups of men, not through them.

- If you are followed by someone on foot, turn around and check, then cross the street and find a safe place.

- If you are followed by someone who is in a car, try to get a description of the car and license number and find a safe place.

- In either case, if you continue to be followed, walk or run toward people. The best thing to yell is “Fire!” Find a safe place (i.e. gas station or restaurant) and call for a ride.

- Consider carrying a whistle, shriek alarm, or other noisemaker.

- If someone asks you for directions, remember you have the right not to reply.

- When walking at night walk along well-lighted streets, staying near the curb unless a car pulls up.

- Avoid walking alone at night when you are upset or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

- Don’t always take the same path when walking; design alternative routes.

Driving a Car
- Keep your car in good running order and avoid driving with a near-empty tank.

- Keep all doors locked and windows secure.

- If your car breaks down, turn on the emergency flashers, lift the hood, or place a “Call Police” sign in the window. Stay in your car with the doors locked until the police or tow-truck arrives. If someone stops to help, stay in the car and ask them to call the police.

- If you are followed while driving, drive to the nearest police or fire station, or to an open gas station or store and call the police. Never pull over on the street or drive home.

- If this is not possible, honk your horn and turn on the emergency flashers. Your goal is to attract attention to yourself and scare the perpetrator. Try to get the license number of the car following you.

- Consider the potential risk before picking up hitchhikers. Some women pick no one up, others only give rides to women.

- Be aware that if you decide to hitchhike, it can be very dangerous. If you must, hitchhike with another person or people and always ask the driver’s destination before divulging yours. Refuse a ride if you feel uncomfortable.

- Whenever possible, try to think of alternatives (the bus, a ride with a friend) to hitchhiking.

- Whenever possible, park in well-lighted areas and always lock the car when you leave.

- Have your keys in hand when leaving a store to enter your car. While entering, check briefly inside and around the car to ensure no one is following you.

- If there is a parking attendant, give him/her only your ignition key.

- Be especially alert in parking structures for people who might be following you.

On the Bus
- When waiting for the bus, stand behind the bus bench so you aren't pulled into a passing car.

- Upon entering the bus, sit near the bus driver and stay awake.

- Tell the driver immediately if someone harasses you.

- If you feel someone is following you when you get off the bus, walk towards a populated area. Do not walk home.

At Work
- If you are uncomfortable about getting on an elevator with a lone man or group of men, wait for the next one. If you are uncomfortable once on the elevator, get off at the next floor.

- Talk with co-workers and your employer about improving safety in the workplace.

- Know the routes of escape in your work area.

- If you work late, find out who else is in the building. When you leave, ask someone (perhaps a security guard) to accompany you to your car.

Prevention Tips for Battered Women
-Keep an extra set of house and car keys hidden somewhere safe so you can leave town quickly if necessary.

-Keep some money, important phone numbers, copies of essential legal papers for yourself and your children, a change of clothes, needed medications and anything else you would want if you left your home in a safe place that is accessible to you 24 hours a day (but probably not in your home).

-Find a trustworthy person you can call in an emergency and develop some strategies together about contacting the police for you, finding a temporary place to stay, watching your children, etc.

-Remember, even if you don't have a phone plan, all cell phones can dial 911 in case of an emergency as long as they are properly charged.

*All safety strategies taken from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults against Women Training Manual

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