Did you know nearly 2 million women are assaulted every year in the United States? This is an alarming number. When we read about cases of assault in the newspaper or watch it in the news, we never think it could happen to us someday. We somehow feel we are immune to assaults. What if you find yourself in a dangerous situation one day? What will you do?

Women are considered to be easy and weak targets, and being a woman, you should always be prepared for attacks and assaults. No one can predict attacks, and it is advisable to be aware of some self-defense tips to protect yourself. Though it is always preferred to enroll yourself in a self-defense course, these tips will come in handy till the time you do so. Let’s get started!

Stay conscious of surroundings

As they say “Prevention is better than cure”, the same goes for this. Staying alert and conscious is the first step to self defense. All would agree, there is no better target than one whose guards are down.  When you stay alert, you are able to identify possible threats and escape the danger before it strikes. Staying alert helps you make decisions quickly, respond wittily, and come with effective solutions.

Always follow your instincts. In 90% of cases, what your heart is saying is true. You can know the intentions of the person just by the way they look at you or what they say to you. By listening to your instincts, you can avoid possible danger.

Be confident

Always be confident in public places. Predators look for targets who appear clumsy, fidgety, nervous or underconfident. Even if you find yourself in danger, stay confident, calm and composed. This will keep your senses open and help you come up with ways to escape the situation. If you stay confident, you will also be able to strike a blow at the target, if needed.

Hit first

The biggest that can go wrong is you being hit first. Keep your guards open, and as soon as you see the possibility of being hit, act fast and attack first. This will catch your predator off-guard and will give you the confidence of situation being under control. You may also be able to escape from the situation.

Always keep a protection tool

Keeping a protection tool handy is one of the smartest measures you can take. There are many options available – pepper spray, a multi-tool, attack rings, safety alarms, etc. If you own a gun, you can also carry one in a Galco holster to places where there is a high possibility of attack. It is important to know the functioning of your protection tool well, so that you don’t end up becoming a victim yourself. You will hardly have to use these but it is always wise to be carrying one.

Be aware of basic pressure points

While this is one thing that is taught in self-defense classes, it is essential to be aware of this anyway. If your predator provokes you, hit him at the right spot. Stay focussed and strike with confidence. By knowing the basic pressure points, you have high chances of taking him down even before he can harm you.

Download safety apps in your phone

There are many safety apps that trigger an alarm or send messages to your friends and family at the possibility of danger. You should always keep one of these apps on your mobile phone. These apps let you enter the details of the person you want to be notified, keeps them updated with your whereabouts and alerts them in case of danger.

With the help of these tips you will feel more confident, armed and ready to face similar situations. One thing to never forget is to be alert and conscious of your surroundings at all times. This will help you avoid danger in the first place. Stay safe ladies!