Be Aware

Always be aware of your surroundings. As you are walking down the street, in a parking garage, or to your car, be aware of people around you and behind you if possible…especially at night. Have your keys in your hand and ready to open the car door so you won’t have to waste time fumbling for them once you get to your car. In fact, it’s great to have a can of pepper on your keyring and have the can of pepper spray in your hand ready to use if you have to. As you are about to unlock the car door, scan around the area for any would be attackers. Also, make it a habit to look in the front and back seats of your car before you get in. Criminals can jimmy open a car door and wait for you in your own car. Once in your car, lock all doors.

Robbery

If someone just wants your purse or car, let them have it! Your life is much more valuable than any material items, including your car or purse and whatever you may have in your purse. If someone simply wants to take your items, let them have them and don’t fight back. Certainly don’t try to fight someone if they have a gun or a knife.

When Should I Fight Back?

If an attacker does not obviously have a gun or a knife, is not simply trying to take your item(s) and leave, and obviously wants to attack, hurt, or possibly abduct you…then it’s time to fight back. If you haven’t been touched or grabbed yet, you can use pepper spray on an attacker as he is advancing toward you. It’s no use to panic and try to out-run him, he’ll just tackle you from behind. If you don’t have a can of pepper spray ready (and shame on you if you don’t), then your only options are simple self defense moves.

If an attacker is advancing toward you, you can possibly hit him in the face with your purse, jab the heel of your hand or your fist in his face, jab a finger(s) to his eyes and also kick him in the groin. Use all the strength, courage and quickness you can muster. Unless you are an expert fighter, martial arts expert, or have a self defense weapon(s)….this is basically all you can do.

If an attacker has grabbed you from behind, you can raise your leg up and stomp the inside of his ankle hard at an angle with your foot. This may hurt him enough to make him momentarily release you so you can use a self defense item on him such as pepper spray. If you can use pepper spray or a stun device, it can incapacitate him long enough for you to get in your car or get away to a safe place.

Also, if grabbed from behind, you can butt him in the face with the back of your head. In fact, doing this and stomping the inside of his ankle both may get you free so you can use pepper spray or a stun device to stop the guy long enough so you can either get in your car and get out of there or run to a hidden, safe place.

Whatever you do, do not let someone get you into a car or in a secluded place. Your odds of living go way down once you are in this kind of situation. If someone is trying to get you in a car or secluded place, fight back loudly with every bit of will and strength you can. The more you fight back and draw attention to yourself the more likely he’ll give up and run away.

Should I Carry Pepper Spray or a Stun Device?

Absolutely!! These items are inexpensive, yet very effective. I would recommend that you have both pepper spray and a stun gun on you at all times when you are out and about. After all, do you really want to try to fight an attacker for your life if you possibly don’t have to? Of course not! Pepper sprays can be had for around $10, and stun guns for as low as $22.

You would be foolish not to have items like these for your protection and defense. Tasers are also effective stun devices, and it’s no wonder the police use them. However they are much more expensive and the lowest is around $299. Pepper spray should always be carried with you on your keyring regardless of what kind of stun device you go with. Pepper spray should be sprayed at an attacker’s face. The effects of pepper spray are severe; it intensely burns and irritates the eyes, nose, skin and mucous membranes. It causes closing of the eyes, difficulty breathing, runny nose, coughing and even temporary blindness while you possibly get away.

I think by now you see the importance of having self defense items like pepper spray and a stun gun with you at all times when you are out. These items may allow you to avoid a physical struggle….and they just may save your life.