Outdoor Safety Tips for Women:
Survival Strategies for
FACING DANGER

Survival strategies to enhance your Outdoor Safety when facing danger.

"Elderly people obviously present less of a physical threat, but they are also often made vulnerable by their reliance on routine. Criminals will often watch their victims for days before striking and, the more settled your routine, the easier it is for them to attack," forensic psychologist Mark Welman said. ... Not wanting to be rude often left elderly people vulnerable to violent crime. It is better to experience mild guilt at driving away from a potentially legitimate request for help or not opening the door than being attacked," he said. Welman said criminals targeted people who gave the "appearance of victimhood.”
Excerpted from The Cape Argus (SA) – 19 October 2004

Victims often say, "I never saw him coming." Keep your head up and calmly aware of outdoor safety. Make solid eye contact momentarily and don’t look down submissively. A deadpan poker face (an “iron face”) conveys confidence. Perhaps stick one hand ominously into a pocket as though you have a weapon ready. Better yet, hold pepper spray chest-high, visible, and ready for action. See pepper spray sources below.

Some street-wise women “walk like a man” for outdoor safety – back straight, head and shoulders back, sending the message: “Don't mess with me.” Project a sincere willingness to hurt him. See Stress Control - Optimal Mindset.

As a street-kid, though sometimes trembling inside, I learned to act tough for outdoor safety and saved my butt many times. It’s all acting – the way frogs puff up, cats arch and hiss, and dogs bare their teeth and growl. Pretend to be tough – and be truly ready to become pit-bull-like if you must. Project a tough attitude to help ward off a predator as well as help motivate you to fight for your life like a mad dog if you must.

For outdoor safety, don't turn your back on anyone you don’t trust – that invites an attack you won’t see coming. If he begins to approach you, take an aggressive stance, put one hand in a pocket as though you have a weapon ready, raise your other hand in a “STOP!” gesture, and fiercely command him to "Stay away from me!"

Better yet for outdoor safety, also hold pepper spray and a noisemaker visible and at the ready. See sources below.

If he keeps moving toward you – that's your early-warning-sign that he's probably a predator – either flee or activate your noisemaker and use your pepper spray.

"Fight or flight” are the two most famous options. Martial arts' theory often adds surrender to the mix. I’ve added two more Outdoor Safety options: posturing and outsmarting, and aligned them all with FBI advice (and cleared up their confusing terminology):

1.Posturing as a tough target (criminals want easy targets). If that doesn’t work:
2.Fleeing might not be possible. If not:
3.Outsmarting: by talking your way toward escape. If that doesn’t work:
4.Surrendering and hoping to survive; or better: to set up an escape, maybe aided by:
5.Fighting like a mad dog to allow your escape. Stun & run.

A sudden threat forces you to make split-second outdoor safety decisions. Nonetheless, understanding your options now will help your criminal-minds - Intuition choose an option then.

IMPROVING YOUR OPTIONS:
Carry a Personal Security Alarm (a.k.a. screamer or noisemaker) & Pepper Spray in plain sight.

ROBBERY Survival Strategies:
Give Up Your Money – Very Carefully

Nicole duFresne and her fiancé Jeffrey Sparks and another couple were walking on the sidewalk. "These two guys ducked out of an alcove. One of them said, 'Give me your money.' I didn't see he had a gun. I didn't understand what was happening. I pushed him aside. "When I did that, he hit me with the gun, using both hands, " Mr. Sparks said. ... "Nicole was asking me if I was all right," he said. The other robber stepped forward and apologized, Mr. Sparks said. "He's like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa, it doesn't have to be like this, we just need some money.' I said, 'Come on, let's just go,' and started to walk down the sidewalk. I thought Nicole was behind me, but she wasn't. ... "They must have grabbed for the other woman's purse," he said. When Ms. duFresne confronted the attackers, she asked the men, "What are you going to do, shoot us next?" ... "I don't know if she was going off on the guy or what," Mr. Sparks said. "I heard one shot. Nicole was lying on the street on her back. It hit her about two inches away from the heart. I think it pretty much knocked her out instantly. Her eyes were open. She knew when I was there. She could hear me. I could feel her trying, but she gave me this look that let me know that she just couldn't."
Excepted from The New York Times – 28 January 2005

After leaving a wedding, four guests were attacked by robbers who shot one to death. The two men and two women were given little time to comply before one assailant began pistol-whipping them. Then one man threw his money at the assailants. Police believe that this sudden action might have prompted the gunfire.
Excerpted from The Washington Post – 15 November 2004

In a robbery, avoid eye contact, and do not fight for your money. Say you are reaching for your money – then move slowly! Robberies are usually spontaneous and unpredictable. Most robbers are high-strung drug addicts anxious to avoid arrest, so give up your money without stalling or spooking them.

Also see Purse Snatching for more insights.

KIDNAPPING Survival Strategies:
NEVER GO WITH A KIDNAPPER

She was walking home when a motorist drove up to her and asked her for directions, and drove on. As she continued to walk, she still noticed the car "kind of creeping" along side streets, she said. When she reached the top of a hill, she said the car was right in front of her. The passenger window was down. He pointed a gun at her and ordered her to get in his car. "I took off running, and thought 'I'd rather get shot than get in the car'", she said.
Excerpted from The Oregonian – 26 February 2004

Never go with a kidnapper – it’s far too dangerous! React immediately! Either run, or if physically impaired, sit down and make him drag you away.

On the other hand, not all kidnappers kill...

Antonio Pope confessed to abducting and raping a UW student November 29 as she was walking home. Pope also confessed to the December 9 abduction and rape of another UW student who’d been talking on her cell phone as she was walking home when Pope ambushed her. ... Pope abducted both women at knifepoint, threatening to kill them if they turned around to look at his face. He took them to his car, bound their hands and drove them to his apartment where he assaulted them. Pope then dropped the victims off in the area where he initially confronted them.
Excerpted from The Daily Badger Herald – University of Wisconsin, Madison – 19 January 2007

Not all kidnappings result in harm (beyond rape), but most do. You have fewer options at a second crime scene and are fully at the mercy of a violent criminal. See Victim’s Options Overview, Survival Options - Kidnapping, and Fighting Options - Strategies for full outdoor safety survival strategies.

Outdoor Safety Tips for Women: TOOLS

Outdoor Safety Survival Strategies for street crime, stranger danger, and dog attack defense:

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