Knowledge is Power...or in This Case, Safety

Part of being healthy is being safe in your neighborhood, while you drive, and just being safe in general. You may remember in May when the serial rapist was loose in WDM…well, the WDM police department advertised a personal safety class to all women who were interested. The classes filled up FAST and I was wait listed to participate in the July class.

I’d forgotten about it until I received the email reminder. And, quite honestly, I didn’t feel that there was an immediate urgency for me to attend. The rapist had been shot, I hadn’t heard anything recently on the news that made me feel unsafe; I’ve lived in big cities before much more dangerous than DSM. So, not wanting to cancel, I went to the seminar.

Initially, I was kind of disappointed that we weren’t going to be doing any hands-on role playing action with kicking and punching L However, Officer Tanya Zaglauer’s two hour lecture was extremely informative. I left feeling a renewed sense of safety and that it was an evening well spent.

A few of the biggest tips for me were:

1. treat your home when you’re at home as though you’re gone. E.g., locking all doors EVEN when you’re just popping by your house to drop off something and then just planning to pop into your car to run another errand. Lock it!
2. Lock your car door too as soon as you get in. Just make it a habit.
3. Only 7-9 pounds of pressure are needed to really harm someone in the neck. (picture me squirming – that thought just perturbs me). If you’re attacked fight, fight, fight. If you’re concerned about punching someone, don’t worry about making a fist. Use the heel of your hand as a blunt instrument.
4. For your own protection – don’t attempt to use a weapon (e.g., mace, gun, knife) that if you don’t feel totally comfortable and adept at using b/c if it gets away from you, the attacker will use it against you.

The next personal safety class will be offered in October. Empower yourself and take it, even if it is just to refresh your memory. Don’t revel in complacency – up your safety well-being!