Jenn & Jenn Segment Highlights General Safety Tips

Jenn & Jenn Segment Highlights from 6/12/13 General Safety   

Awareness:  Is your first line of defense.  Most people think of kicks to the groin and blocking punches when they hear the term “self-defense.” However, true self-defense begins long before any actual physical contact. The first, and probably most important, component in self-defense is awareness: awareness of yourself, your surroundings, and your potential attacker’s likely strategies.

•    The criminal’s primary strategy is to use the advantage of surprise. Studies have shown that criminals are adept at choosing targets that appear to be unaware of what is going on around them. By being aware of your surroundings and by projecting a “force presence,” many altercations which are commonplace on the street can be avoided.

•      Body Language - Keep your head up, swing your arms, and stand straight up.

•       Wrong Place, Wrong Time - DON'T walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood at night.

•    Use your sixth sense. “Sixth sense.” “Gut instinct.” Whatever you call it, your intuition is a powerful subconscious insight into situations and people. All of us, especially women, have this gift, but very few of us pay attention to it. Learn to trust this power and use it to your full advantage. Avoid a person or a situation which does not “feel” safe–you’re probably right.

2) Cars --- A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: 

•     Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.

•   If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. This is a good reason to park away from big vans. 

•   Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. Get in your vehicle on the opposing side and lock the doors right away, is another option. If you choose to carry a firearms for self-defense don’t have it buried in your purse, ensure it is accessible and that you are practicing!  Carrying is fine, but if you never use it, you may not do well with if faced with needing it.  IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

• ·      Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

** Being pulled over by “police” especially at night. It is hard to tell if it is a real police car or not especially at night on a desolate road. Put on your flashers and DO NOT SPEED, call 911 to verify that it is a real Police Officer behind you. If it is not 911, will stay on the line with you and do not stop your car. If you are in an area where there is a store that is well lite and has people pull in there, even better if you are near a police station, go there if you know they are a 24hr open station. Some in NH are not always manned so be aware and couscous. No real police officer is going to take offense that you called 911 to make sure they were real.

3) ATM Machines Do’s and Don’ts

• When using an automatic bank teller, always be watchful of any suspicious people around you.

•  The chances of being robbed at night are much greater, especially if you are alone.

•  If you find someone waiting and watching outside in the area of an ATM machine, do not use it. Leave the area and report the incident to the police immediately. You could save someone else from being a victim of crime.

•  You can choose to carry a self-defense product such as Mace, pepper spray, firearm, stun gun or a TASER.

• There are ATM’s in most stores these days, if you really need to stop day or night, your safety is best by going to a well light public store, like a grocery store and using the one in there. Besides, if you are hungry or thirsty, most places will let you do cash back in the checkout line and avoid atm fees to boot.

4) Travel Tips

•     Violent crimes against women happen in the best and worst hotels around the world. Predators may play the part of a hotel employee, push their way through an open or unlocked door, or obtain a pass key to the room. As with home safety, never open your door unless you are certain the person on the other side is legitimate, and always carry a door wedge with you when you travel. A wedge is often stronger than the door it secures.

• On all of the product pages at the jenncoffey.com store, there is a link to a great door stop alarm, so not only does it stop the door from being opened, but it creates a loud noise that will wake you and the neighbors. It’s carried by a company I support, called Two Rock Technologies, out of Gonic, New Hampshire.

•    ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.) Do not get on an elevator if there is a weirdo already on there. (Of course bad men don't always look bad.) Do not stand back in the corners of the elevator. Be near the front, by the doors, ready to get off or on. If you get on the elevator on the 25th floor, and the Boogie Man gets on the 22nd, get off when he gets on. Don't ride the elevator with him if you are not comfortable.

5) On the Bus

• Use a bus stop you know is usually busy and is well lit
• Know the departure and arrival times and try and let someone at the other end know which bus you plan to catch. They could always meet you at your stop
• Sit close to the driver. If someone starts up a conversation, be pleasant and confident, but don't give away personal information like where you live or work
• Carry a self-defense product where ever you go. Buy pepper spray, mace, a stun gun, a TASER or personal alarms.

6)Taking a Taxi

• Carry the phone number of a taxi or mini cab firm you know, and whenever you book a taxi ask them for the driver's name and the type of car they will be driving
• Try and book the taxi you need to bring you home before you go out. Give your name and when the driver arrives make sure they know the name it was booked under. If you have to book your taxi in a public place, do it quietly where people are unlikely to overhear your name and address
• If you can, share a taxi with a friend and have your money ready and keys handy at the end of your journey so that you can enter your home quickly
• If ever you feel uneasy in a taxi ask the driver to stop in a busy place that you know well, and get out
• Be prepared and carry a personal protection device like pepper spray or a stun gun just to name a couple.

------------------Upcoming Refuse to be a Victim Class--------------------------------

There is so much more information we could cover, but most of our listeners have the world at their fingertips, the internet, which is loaded with great information.

Also you can sign up to take a class, like the Refuse to be a victim class coming up in August.

You don't have to be a member of the Second Amendment Sisters to Attend, but you do get a discount if you are.

Take the Class for yourself or become an instructor so you can teach others!

·         Seminar Portion: Mandatory for Instructor Candidates
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Yard Seafood & Steak House
1211 South Mammoth Road
Manchester, New Hampshire 03109

NRA RTBAV Instructor Development Workshop
Saturday, August 17, 2013 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: TBD

 For information visit: jenncoffey.com or  defensivestrategies.org