If you’re walking alone at night to keep fit, or perhaps you're a student on campus or just need to get where you're going, it’s understandable that you might feel uneasy from time to time. Here are some simple tips that can help minimise your chances of being targeted by thieves, attackers or even stalkers;
1.Keep alert. If you feel as though something is wrong, head for a well-lit or populated area.
2.Try to walk against the flow of traffic as this will make it easy to see any cars that are approaching.
3.Walk with friends whenever you can, there‘s safety in numbers.
4.If people are following you or approach you, don't stop to have a conversation with them. Try to keep moving and find a well populated area.
5.Avoid walking where the lighting is poor, such as parks and laneways.
6.Handbags should be carried either in front of you or under your arm with the strap secured. Never let the bag or strap hang loosely.
7.Avoid wearing headphones as it’s difficult to hear what is happening around you.
8.If you have to walk alone, vary your route and consider a personal duress alarm.
1.Keep alert. If you feel as though something is wrong, head for a well-lit or populated area.
2.Try to walk against the flow of traffic as this will make it easy to see any cars that are approaching.
3.Walk with friends whenever you can, there‘s safety in numbers.
4.If people are following you or approach you, don't stop to have a conversation with them. Try to keep moving and find a well populated area.
5.Avoid walking where the lighting is poor, such as parks and laneways.
6.Handbags should be carried either in front of you or under your arm with the strap secured. Never let the bag or strap hang loosely.
7.Avoid wearing headphones as it’s difficult to hear what is happening around you.
8.If you have to walk alone, vary your route and consider a personal duress alarm.
9. Carry a phone for emergencies
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Driving and talking on a mobile phone is a definite no-no, but what about walking and talking on the phone? Apparently, it’s just as dangerous.In a study into mobile phone use among pedestrians, University of New South Wales researchers Julie Hatfield and Susanne Murphy observed more than 500 people crossing at intersections and found that those talking on phones did indeed appear more distracted than those who were not.
Men who were chatting on the phone crossed more slowly at intersections without traffic signals. Women on the phone not only crossed over more slowly, but also were less likely to look at traffic before setting out or to wait for cars to stop. It seems the real issue seems to be one of distraction, and that is as important for pedestrians crossing the road as it is for drivers, the study said.
Man Murdered While Walking the Dog
Police believe a plank of wood was used to assault a 66-year-old man who later died in hospital. A murder inquiry was launched after Peter Seaman was attacked while walking his dog in the Cornish village of Dobwalls on Thursday. The retired heating engineer was taken to hospital with serious head injuries but later died.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Driving and talking on a mobile phone is a definite no-no, but what about walking and talking on the phone? Apparently, it’s just as dangerous.In a study into mobile phone use among pedestrians, University of New South Wales researchers Julie Hatfield and Susanne Murphy observed more than 500 people crossing at intersections and found that those talking on phones did indeed appear more distracted than those who were not.
Men who were chatting on the phone crossed more slowly at intersections without traffic signals. Women on the phone not only crossed over more slowly, but also were less likely to look at traffic before setting out or to wait for cars to stop. It seems the real issue seems to be one of distraction, and that is as important for pedestrians crossing the road as it is for drivers, the study said.
Man Murdered While Walking the Dog
Police believe a plank of wood was used to assault a 66-year-old man who later died in hospital. A murder inquiry was launched after Peter Seaman was attacked while walking his dog in the Cornish village of Dobwalls on Thursday. The retired heating engineer was taken to hospital with serious head injuries but later died.
A 20-year-old man from the Looe area has been arrested on suspicion of assault.
Mr Seaman, who lived in the village, had been walking his terrier dog along Duloe road at about 1640 pm on Thursday afternoon when he was attacked near a bus shelter.
Police officers have since recovered a length of timber from the scene.
The Dangers of Using Pepper Spray and Stun Guns
Stun Guns and Tasers have their advantages, but they also have disadvantages for walkers. The biggest issue is that an attacker has to be close enough for you to touch them with the stun gun. That means you have a split second to react. There is also the urban myth that you can also be electrocuted if the attacker is touching you when you shock them. I'm not going to say this won't happen.
Another factor is clothing. If your attacker is heavily suited up with a rubber coat or similar thick clothing the effect of the stun gun could be minimal.
The voltage in stun guns ranges from around 50,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. The amperage in stun guns is relatively low at around 2mA to 4.6mA (electrical current above 100mA is considered to be potentially lethal). Because the amount of current is relatively low, stun guns are considered to be non-lethal to humans.
Stun Guns have become big business and these days come as dual purpose protection aids. Some are flashlights with built in stun feature. Others are disguised as phones, page
rs etc.
A telescopic stun baton is designed to be used on an attacking dog. Dog attacks are on the increase and one of these would be practical equipment for any fitness freak.
Pepper Spray is an option more civilians and law enforcement professionals are capitalising on. Imagine a substance 600 times hotter than cayenne pepper sprayed into your face, eyes and nostrils. Imagine if you have asthma or bronchitis. Or a heart condition.
The pain will be intense, breathing will become difficult and the subject's eyes will swell when sprayed with pepper (capsicum) aerosol. They will become disoriented and fall to the ground. Fear and panic will set in.
The European Parliament Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) published in 1998 “An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control” with extensive information on pepper spray and tear gas. They write:
"The effects of pepper spray are far more severe, including temporary blindness which last from 15-30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which last from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes."
Those with asthma, taking other drugs, or subject to restraining techniques which restrict the breathing passages, risk death.
Immunity to Pepper Spray
Some people are actually immune to Pepper Spray. There is no way of telling who is and who isn't just by looking at them. For those out there who aren't lucky enough to be immune, capsicum is not washable by water alone, so hosing off a victim will not work. The only way to remove it is to wash liberally with detergent and water.
There is some speculation about clearasil being effective as a removal tool.
Something Interesting to Talk About
Pepper spray is banned for use in war by Article I.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention which bans the use of all riot control agents in warfare whether lethal or non-lethal.
Mr Seaman, who lived in the village, had been walking his terrier dog along Duloe road at about 1640 pm on Thursday afternoon when he was attacked near a bus shelter.
Police officers have since recovered a length of timber from the scene.
The Dangers of Using Pepper Spray and Stun Guns
Stun Guns and Tasers have their advantages, but they also have disadvantages for walkers. The biggest issue is that an attacker has to be close enough for you to touch them with the stun gun. That means you have a split second to react. There is also the urban myth that you can also be electrocuted if the attacker is touching you when you shock them. I'm not going to say this won't happen.
Another factor is clothing. If your attacker is heavily suited up with a rubber coat or similar thick clothing the effect of the stun gun could be minimal.
The voltage in stun guns ranges from around 50,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. The amperage in stun guns is relatively low at around 2mA to 4.6mA (electrical current above 100mA is considered to be potentially lethal). Because the amount of current is relatively low, stun guns are considered to be non-lethal to humans.
Stun Guns have become big business and these days come as dual purpose protection aids. Some are flashlights with built in stun feature. Others are disguised as phones, page
rs etc. A telescopic stun baton is designed to be used on an attacking dog. Dog attacks are on the increase and one of these would be practical equipment for any fitness freak.
Pepper Spray is an option more civilians and law enforcement professionals are capitalising on. Imagine a substance 600 times hotter than cayenne pepper sprayed into your face, eyes and nostrils. Imagine if you have asthma or bronchitis. Or a heart condition.
The pain will be intense, breathing will become difficult and the subject's eyes will swell when sprayed with pepper (capsicum) aerosol. They will become disoriented and fall to the ground. Fear and panic will set in.
The European Parliament Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) published in 1998 “An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control” with extensive information on pepper spray and tear gas. They write:"The effects of pepper spray are far more severe, including temporary blindness which last from 15-30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which last from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes."
Those with asthma, taking other drugs, or subject to restraining techniques which restrict the breathing passages, risk death.
Immunity to Pepper Spray
Some people are actually immune to Pepper Spray. There is no way of telling who is and who isn't just by looking at them. For those out there who aren't lucky enough to be immune, capsicum is not washable by water alone, so hosing off a victim will not work. The only way to remove it is to wash liberally with detergent and water.
There is some speculation about clearasil being effective as a removal tool.
Something Interesting to Talk About
Pepper spray is banned for use in war by Article I.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention which bans the use of all riot control agents in warfare whether lethal or non-lethal.
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