Personal safety is crucial in an increasingly complicated and occasionally unpredictable society. People, especially young adults, can use this guidance as a vital guide when navigating situations that could endanger their health. The story covers a range of safety precautions from social interactions to potential physical threats, emphasizing the value of confidence, setting limits, and staying alert. Through raising awareness and teaching self-defense techniques, the guidelines aim to provide people the confidence to stand up for themselves and make wise choices when confronted with possible threats.
Some strategies to follow:
- You must avoid being seen as an “easy target” or as weak. Be confident, let your ‘no’ be ‘no’, set your boundaries, and be assertive about your limits. And never fail to speak out when anyone trespasses on that boundary, no matter who it is.
- If you’re being stalked or followed, head for a well-lit area or a crowded area where you think there’ll be other people who may be able to help you. Don’t go to isolated places with anyone, no matter how much you trust that person.
- When you attend a friend’s party, don’t consume alcohol if you are not yet 18. And if you are over 18, set limits on your alcohol consumption. Rapes mostly occur when people are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Don’t do drugs! No matter how much friends persuade you to try, don’t try it. Rapes mostly occur when people are under the influence of drugs, too.
- Beware of ‘date rape drugs’. Most of them are odourless, colourless, and tasteless and can be easily slipped into soft drinks, juices, or alcoholic drinks undetected. Don’t get carried away at parties or social gatherings; watch your drink! Don’t leave your drinks unattended or carelessly accept a drink from someone; it may be laced with drugs!
- Don’t foolishly trust anyone! Always trust your ‘gut instincts’. If a person, place, or situation makes you uneasy, insecure, or frightened, leave immediately.
- If you’re already being attacked, try to escape the situation by running away. You have legs; flee!
- If you can’t run, try to attract attention to yourself by screaming and shouting at the top of your voice; in fact, the louder the better.
- If screaming fails, then you must try and fight it off. You must never surrender without a struggle; make it known that you’re strong and not a chicken! Kick, scratch, bite, slap, punch, anything—just be actively doing something!
- If that also fails, then search for any self-defence tool around; a stick, a stone, your school bag, books, any object, whatever, whether sharp or blunt, can be effective. Use it to hit, throw, stab, or swing, always aiming at your attacker’s most vulnerable places, such as the eyes, nose, throat, and groin, because you may just be saving your own life.
- Finally, if all fails, remember to pray, because even if you may not believe now, there’s something called a ‘MIRACLE’ and yours might just be waiting for your asking.
Personal safety is a top concern in today’s environment, so it’s critical to arm yourself with the knowledge and perspective needed to avoid potentially dangerous circumstances. One can greatly improve their safety and well-being by taking a bold and forceful attitude, establishing limits, and being watchful. The advice given covers a wide range of topics related to personal safety, from staying away from dangerous circumstances and substances to using self-defense techniques when necessary. This advice serves as a reminder that everyone has the right to defend themselves and take proactive steps to safeguard their safety in any given situation, emphasizing the value of intuition and self-preservation.
To learn more about rape and how to deal with the trauma, you can read my novel on rape, titled Sparkling Glass.
Sparkling Glass is a thought-provoking tale about rape, survival, and justice. It is an interesting story about Naomi, a young and beautiful girl with great aspirations for the future.
At the age of thirteen, she witnessed her friends being gang-raped by some hoodlums in her village. And, sadly, as it turns out, at the age of seventeen, she herself becomes a victim of rape at the hands of a relative.
