Top 10 Safety Tips For Women

Even though we are in an age where empowered women are celebrated, there are still areas where we need to be aware that we are still the fairer sex. Whilst women dominate in the fields of science, technology and retail, and are arguably emotionally stronger and whip smart – we are still largely exposed to potential safety mishaps.  We need to find savvy ways of staying safe and cautious in this world. Here are 10 safety tips for empowered women.

Keep your car doors locked at all times whilst you are travelling, this simple tip can help you avoid being in a terrible situation. Lock the doors to your house, especially if you are home alone, to protect yourself and your home from unwelcome visitors. If you are working late at the office, keep your office door locked and park your car close to the entrance to avoid a long walk back to your car when you are ready to leave.

Make eye contact with pedestrians if you are walking around. Eye contact is a strong defensive signal and subconsciously lets people know that you are not meek or afraid. Don’t go crazy with this one, I’m not asking you to stare people down - a simple nod of acknowledgment that you are aware they are there will suffice. 

Women have so much to do in a day, from the school runs to going to work, going to gym and doing the shopping – there aren’t many days where our schedules aren’t jam packed. It is so important that during these manic times in our days, we stay aware of our surroundings at all times. Be aware, especially whilst driving or walking, of anyone following you or your car. Check your home alarm often and look for anything that seems to be out of place.

Make sure to get yourself some protective gear to help you if you can’t help yourself. Stun guns, tasers and pepper spray are all widely available as well as highly recommended. Find out where to buy pepper spray and always have it with you. These safety savvy little beauts will help take down an assailant, and more often than not, simply having them with you will give you the confidence you need to attack if necessary. 

Always assuming you haven’t already, take a self-defence class. These classes will teach you the basics that you need to know if you are ever in a situation where you need to protect yourself. Self-defence classes have such a positive effect on your life and give you the confidence boost you need to go about your business with the peace of mind of knowing that you can protect yourself if you need to. This doesn’t mean you should get yourself into dangerous situations on purpose, only use what you learnt if it is strictly necessary.

We keep our lives in our handbags; never, ever leave them unattended. Hooking it under your chair leg in a restaurant is a good tip; just make sure that it is as close to you as possible to prevent unwanted hands from slipping in and stealing items out of it. If you are driving, keep your handbag out of sight or, better yet, keep it locked in the trunk. As an added tip, keep some cash hidden in your car or in your office – that way if your handbag is ever actually stolen, you aren’t left stranded without any money. 

This is a particularly important tip during the pandemic, many network events are taking place online these days and women need to be especially vigilant. There are age old scams targeted at women because we are notoriously kinder and gentler. Make sure you change your online passwords regularly, especially your social media and online shopping ones, and stay ahead of the criminals. Make sure your firewall is working and your anti-virus programs are updated often.

Women are still getting the wool pulled over their eyes because their assailants are well-dressed and clean cut. Women tend to fall for good looking, charming men and readily let their guards down. Attackers and sex-offenders don’t have to look like monsters - in fact, they rarely do. By all means, be friendly if you want to – not all attractive charmers are out to get you, but it’s wise to keep your distance and not divulge too much personal information too soon. This tip is particularly important if you are travelling or new in town.

So many women are attacked in their own homes every year, the statistics are truly terrifying. It is so important that you never open your front door without positively identifying who is on the other side. It is a good idea to get a chain on your door but also make sure that you have a spot in your house where you can see who is there without them also seeing you. This will not only help you with would-be attackers, but will also prove to be pretty useful for those unannounced visits from your mother-in-law. You’re welcome.

Finally, never EVER get into an attacker’s car, even if they have a gun. For the most part, the attacker doesn’t want to shoot you – that makes their life so much messier. Instead, they likely want to get you into their car so they can drive you to an unknown location. If you are ever in a situation like this, scream at the top of your lungs and run for your life. They are far more likely to move onto a softer, easier target and not actually shoot you. 

Remember, women are capable of so much and we have such unbelievable inner strength. We are savvy, intelligent creatures filled to the brim with potential. Keep yourself safe and secure by following the above tips and continue to live your best life – safely!