If you are victimized...
- Although your safety is maximized when you follow security precautions, you may still be the victim of attack.
- Your reaction can affect whether or not you are physically harmed. You will have to make snap decisions, so you should think NOW about how you might react under a variety of circumstances.
- Are you prepared to scream and yell? Will you use physical force? What might you use as a tool of defense?
- If you are facing an armed criminal, the risk of injury may be minimized by cooperating with his/her demands.
- Avoid sudden movements and give the criminal what he/she wants.
- If you think your life is in immediate danger, use any defense you can think of (screaming, kicking, and running).
- In a violent crime, it is generally ineffective for the victim to cry or plead with the attacker. Such actions tend to reinforce the attacker's feeling of power over the victim.
- Other types of resistance, however, have often been successful; you need to decide in advance what actions you are prepared to take. Self-defense training is one method by which you can learn avoidance strategies and resistance techniques. You should choose those actions you are most comfortable with.
Safety Tips
When Commuting
Personal Safety
