Safety Rules

Danger lurks everywhere. Most people are good but some are vile and dangerous and hunt for victims. The warning system that alerts us to predator danger is "fear". Never be an easy victim!

Be alert

Pay attention to what's around you. Think of all the times you walk in a day dream, or are preoccupied with your problems. It is those times when you are at risk. Keeping yourself safe involves paying attention to possible dangerous situations and avoiding them. Be aware!

Keep your wits about you at all times: avoid getting drunk or drugged. When inebriated, you turn into an easy victim.

Use your senses

People walking and listening to music on their MP3 players expose themselves to attack from behind. Pilgrims should remain alert to your surroundings and avoid listening to music while walking.

Be aware of anomalies

Impending danger often shows up in anomalies - predators often behave in odd ways. Watch out for these anomalies:

• A couple or small group coming towards you whose attention is on you, and not on each other.

Normally a couple or a small group are focused on each other, talking and looking at each other. In contrast, predators hunting in packs are focused on possible victims.

• People lurking or loitering without visible reason.

Places such as banks and nearby automatic telling machines, and such like.

• People whose face or gait spells out mental illness.

Take note of your feelings of unease or fear and act upon them. The best way to stay safe is to spot oncoming danger and avoid or evade it.

Avoid angry scenes and ugly crowds

If you are at a club or party and aggravation builds, leave immediately. If you are in a large crowd and the mood turns ugly, quickly move to the edge of the crowd and leave the area.

The word ‘immediately’ is a key to keeping yourself safe. Often you will be tempted to ‘wait and see.' Or someone will say to you, “You’re over-reacting!” To keep safe, you have to give your instinct for danger priority, no matter what others say, or what your mind thinks. Your marker for danger is fear. Take note of any feelings of disquiet or fear and act upon them.

Keep together

Human predators target people who are on their own. Make sure to keep up when moving across town with another person or a group. Don’t fall behind, and don’t get separated.

Look big and show confidence

If you sense danger make sure your posture is upright. Let your arms swing by your sides but hold them away from your body a little in order to create a bigger profile.

If you feel threatened, walk fast and confidently. If lost in a foreign city, never stop to study a map under a street lamp – it marks you as a possible victim. It’s better to go into a restaurant or club in order to find your directions. Always appear in charge of your actions.

If threatened, stand up straight and hold both hands out in front of your chest, palms toward him, and say ‘stop’ in a loud voice. The open hands show that you want peace, as well as warning your opponent to not invade your personal space. And, most importantly – you’ve got your hands in place, ready to defend or punch. You need to study your opponent carefully. Wait until he’s ready to throw a punch. Then get in first and punch him on the nose.

Treat people well

If you are aggressive or nasty to others, they may respond with aggression or even violence towards you. Your best defence against danger is to be a friendly and helpful person.

Safety is also heightened by knowledge. Make sure that you know which areas are dangerous and avoid them. Stick to larger streets with pedestrian traffic, even if it takes longer to get to where you want to go. If you follow these safety rules, you will have a good chance of keeping yourself safe. And they won’t make you into a nervous or suspicious person. Your heightened alertness will enable you to be more relaxed and less tense.

Dog attack

If a dog attacks you, your response can be the difference between walking away unharmed or being injured by the dog, and perhaps even be the difference between life and death. Carry a DAZER II Ultrasonic Aggressive Dog Deterrent Repeller (or similar) and a big stick. Face the dog and slowly back away from it. If cornered, make yourself as big as possible. Spread out your arms and make a lot of noise. If this doesn't work, throw anything you can find at the dog. If the dog does attack, block its mouth with your non-dominant arm and smash the heel of your hand into its snout or hit it in the eyes. If you can temporarily disable the animal, run and find a tree to hide in before you attempt first aid.For further ideas on how to deal with aggressive dogs read this article.

International Emergency Telephone Numbers

Enter the telephone numbers in your mobile before setting off. Do this also for your travel insurer.