by Randy LaHaie
Just about all self defense and police crime prevention sites contain lists of tips to reduce the risk of a violent or criminal encounter. The number of them can seem overwhelming. Where do you start?
A more practical approach to incorporating prevention tips is to understand the principles on which they are based. If you understand the fundamentals of prevention, you will be able to improvise safety strategies “on the fly” that are relevant to your needs.
We are all different and have different concerns and needs. The degree to which you incorporate safety advice depends on your circumstances, environment, risk potential and even your personality.
In this article, I’ll provide you with five categories of prevention tactics. I will then provide you with situation specific tips to help you understand how the fundamentals are applied. Don’t worry about memorizing them. Try to understand how they work. Decide whether the tip makes sense and whether it is useful to you.
Prevention Strategies:
1. Detection
Offenders do not want to get caught. By increasing your visibility to witnesses or by drawing attention to an assailant, it is less likely that a confrontation will be initiated. Awareness strategies and detection devices fall into this category.
2. Intrusion
An assailant can not assault you if he can not get to you. These tactics involve securing your environment to inhibit the assailant’s access to you. Keeping unwanted persons out of your home or vehicle or even placing a barrier between you and an attacker are examples of this principle.
3. Isolation
Offenders are far more likely to attack when you are alone. 96% of rapists check to see if the intended victim is alone prior to attacking. The greater the likelihood that an assault will be witnessed or interrupted, the less likely it is that it will be initiated.
4. Response
Responding to avoid an encounter is far superior to reacting to it once it has been initiated. Response skills start by paying attention to your surroundings and being able to detect and recognize when you are being targeted as a potential victim. This strategy focuses on locating and identifying potential dangers and responding in ways that are likely to discourage volatile situations.
5. Reaction
Reaction involves taking immediate physical actions when you confirm that you are being attacked or about to be. The more you know about what to do to ward off a physical assault, and the sooner you plan those actions, the more likely you will be successful at defending yourself and escaping to safety.
