Safety Tips for Women:
Your Car’s
EMERGENCY BUTTON

You can use your car's keychain remote emergency button alarm (a.k.a. panic button) in a parking lot or parking garage to help ward off predators – and do the same at home. You probably already have one in-hand when going to and from your car. Why not get the most benefit from it?

Walking to his car with a handgun to his back, Ali Irfan made a decision police say may have saved his life - he decided not to comply with his attacker. ... Traditionally, the expert safety advice always has been to go along with what a robber asks - particularly an armed one. But many crime-prevention advocates are re-thinking this advice. "The new position evolving is that each individual should evaluate the particular circumstances and make a judgement," police said. ... If a robber just wants valuables, it's probably best to comply. But if the attacker might drive off or lock themselves in with a victim, or something more than property is at stake, the right move may be to try to escape. ... Mr. Irfan had already told the gunman he didn't have any money but the robber wouldn't listen and told him to go to his car and open the door. Then Mr. Irfan pushed the panic button on his vehicle's key chain remote, and the robber fled. ... The use of the car alarm was an "excellent choice," police said. And while it may not always be so, it turned out to be the right course of action. In this case, the concern comes to mind - what would have happened if the victim had complied?" Would he have been abducted and carjacked? Quite possibly from the looks of it.
Excerpted from The Capital (Annapolis MD) – 17 January 2007

Most cars made since the late 1990’s have a key ring that attaches to a remote entry system transmitter used to lock/unlock your car. It also has a red emergency (panic button) alarm that will sound your car’s horn to help you find where you left your car in a large parking lot.

Far more important, it can also summon help in an emergency, such as during a heart attack – or during a criminal attack. Most predators fear noise, witnesses, rescuers.

But remember that each car’s emergency button is unique. Some work only from a short distance; some work well from a long distance. Or obstacles in a parking lot might block the radio wave signal. And some automatically turn off after only 20 seconds (check your car owner’s manual).

Test yours to see how well it works in parking lots from various distances. Also test it inside your home to see if your walls block the signal to your car. If so, it might work through window glass.

If your emergency button works well from your bedside, you can keep it there when you sleep. If you hear a noise outside or someone trying to get into your home, just press your car key’s emergency button. Predators likely will flee; they don’t want concerned neighbors as witnesses – plus they’ll know you’re now on your guard.

It’s certainly not the best “home burglar alarm,” but it’s better than nothing – and you already own it. (Better yet, see Burglary Prevention.)

Simply make it a habit to always keep your finger on your car key’s emergency button whenever you’re going to or from your car. Why not? Your keys are always in-hand anyway when you deal with your car, so you might as well take advantage of the built-in safety feature. It’s easy.

Keep watching all around you while near your car – and have NO ear-pods, cell phones, or other distractions. See Parking Lot Safety and Avoiding Carjacking for more.

Your car key’s emergency button might help you in an emergency, but it does have distance limitations – it works only when you’re near your car. It’s useless if you’re too far away or if an obstacle blocks the radio signal.

Another drawback is that your car’s horn may be honking urgently while you’re being attacked 100 feet away from your car. Witnesses might be looking at your car and not seeing what’s happening to you.

Do you want better protection?

Personal Alarms (noisemakers or screamers)
&
Pepper Spray

And you can use a personal security alarm (a.k.a. noisemaker or screamer) wherever you go – not just when you’re near your car. The best alarms continue shrieking until deactivated by reinserting a pin in a hole.

Also carry pepper spray. Attach it to your key chain so it’ll be in-hand and ready whenever you’re going to or from your car.

Do the same at home while walking to and from your car – to defend against a carjacking, mugging, or Home Security - Mug-In (when you’re forced to go inside your home with the attacker).

Just like an alarm, pepper spray can be used wherever you go – not only when you’re near your car.

You’ll deter parking lot predators by making it obvious that you’re carrying pepper spray – held at shoulder height and very ready to spray. Predators prefer distracted, unprepared prey. If you look rough and ready (see Stress Control - Acting), most predators will not choose you.

What if the predator has a gun? See Survival Options - Kidnapping Escape.

The Old-Fashioned Whistle: Low-Cost Safety

But if you do use a whistle, don't hang it around your neck with a cord that can be used to strangle you, instead use a beaded-metal chain that is too weak for strangling. Or wear a whistle on a wrist bracelet.

You probably already own a car key’s emergency button and a whistle doesn’t cost much – and either one might save you in a crisis. But pepper spray and an alarm are better.

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Related pages:
Parking Lot Safety FAQ | Home Security - Mug-In | Stress Control – Acting | Avoiding Carjacking | Security Products - Personal Devices |
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