Personal Security is, and will always be, an important factor in determining how safe people will be at any given time. There are some people who have a rather aloof mindset when it comes to issues of personal safety and security. For some, their staunch belief in “it can never happen to me” outweighs the still, small voice that is urging them to pay attention to their personal security. It is important to understand that the dangers to your person and to those closest to you can arise at any time. That is why it is crucial that you pay the utmost attention to your personal security.
There are many things that can be incorporated into your personal security to ensure that you stand a chance of being safe, no matter what situation you might find yourself in. Let’s take a look at some key aspects of personal security that will give you the upper hand, regardless of what danger might arise.
1. Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
When you walk into a room, what is the first thing you notice? What does your mind naturally pay more attention too? In most cases, people will pay no attention to the extra details of a room or the space that they are in. Your immediate surroundings play a vital role in the way your personal security shapes out. The things around, you, exit points, hiding places, fire alarms etc. all come into play when a situation escalates to the point where you might be fighting for your life. As such, people should cultivate the habit of studying whatever is around them when they walk into a room, a restaurant, an office, or even a place of worship.
The importance of paying close attention to your surroundings cannot be overstated when you are dealing with personal security. The act of being constantly aware of everything around you helps you move faster in the face of danger and it gives you the opportunity to have a head start. For instance, if a fire happens to break out while you are in an office, you will be at a disadvantage if you have no idea where the exits or fire extinguishers are. It is necessary to cultivate the habit of being aware of your immediate surroundings at all time. In addition to this, make sure you pay close attention to entryways and exits when you walk into a room, as well as any additional safety gear that might come in handy (fire extinguishers, fire alarms, etc.). It will also be beneficial to make a mental note of any hiding spots or items that you can use to defend yourself should the need arise.
View your environment and the things around you as an extension of yourself and it will help keep you secure at all times. Cultivating this habit will help you form adequate home safety plans, fire safety plans etc. that will boost your level of security.
2. Self-defense Devices
This is the part of personal security that everyone seems to think about the most, and it might be because it gives everyone the notion that they are an MI6 agent. However, self-defense devices are serious business, because when the need arises, they could be the difference between safety and harm. Life and death. Personal safety devices or self-defense devices can range anywhere from tasers, Salt Guns, non-lethal pepper spray guns, to stun guns.
Before you choose a self-defense device, it is important to read up on the laws regarding such devices and how their use is governed in your area. In addition to this, it is best to learn the proper training that is necessary to use said device. This measure ensures that you do not end up harming yourself or innocent bystanders when the device is engaged in use. There are some people who think that the use of a self-defense device might be too extreme or too paranoid, but when it comes to your personal security it is imperative that you carry out whatever legal action you can to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Many of these devices are easily concealed and are portable, which means that you can take it almost anywhere and it will help keep you secure while you are on the move. As I stated earlier, make sure that you check to see where you can and cannot take your self-defense device.
3. Self Defense Training
After talking about self-defense devices, it only makes sense that we follow up with self-defense training. Self-defense training is one of the best ways to bolster your personal security. The steps listed above will undoubtedly help keep you safe, but self-defense training puts you in security league of your own. Learning the basic skills for self-defense will not only help you better execute the aforementioned points, but it will also help you utilize your body as a weapon if you are ever stuck in a tight spot and there is nothing that you can use to defend yourself.
Self-defense training will give you the skills necessary to handle a rough situation on your own. At the very least, it will help you create a window that you can use to try and notify someone that you need help. In addition to this, self-defense training also makes individuals feel more confident in themselves and less paranoid that they might fall victim to sexual assault, robbery, or any other attacks.
In addition to self-defense training, it also helps to familiarize yourself with the measures you should take in the event of any disaster occurring that might endanger your security. For instance, know what you should do in case someone breaks into your home, or what you should do if a fire breaks out in your office. These things all add up to give you the best personal security possible.
4. Emergency Contact Information
This is a tip that very few people utilize, even though it comes in handy when you least expect it. Make sure that your phone is preprogrammed with emergency contact information so that it is easy for you to get in touch with someone if you are ever caught in a precarious situation. This also makes it easier for someone to contact the necessary parties if you are personally unable to do so. Utilizing emergency contact information is simply a good way of expanding your security net, and making other people aware of what is going on around you. Another method of employing outside help is to make sure that you notify family members and close friends of your whereabouts, in case something goes wrong. This will give them a starting point and it will eventually help get you back to safety if you are indeed in trouble. This tip is an especially useful security tip for people who are living alone.
Conclusion
Personal security is, first and foremost, a personal commitment. A person makes this commitment with himself or herself, and they strive to keep their security at the forefront of their minds at all times. It is not an easy habit to form, but it is an excellent one to have. Hopefully, some of the keys to personal security that were listed above will help set you down the right path to adopting and maintaining a sense of personal security.