| Have you ever felt alone and defenseless in a | | | | assailant and giving you time to escape. |
| situation where your instincts are warning you of | | | | 5. Personal alarms. These are especially useful for |
| possible danger? You have no weapon, no training | | | | young children to carry while walking to and from |
| in self-defense and your only option is to escape | | | | school or in any situation where they may be |
| in whatever manner you can, heart racing, | | | | alone or separated from their family or friends |
| adrenalin pumping. | | | | such as at a fair or mall. If anyone were to try to |
| This doesn't have to happen. You can prepare | | | | abduct the child, he or she could set off the |
| yourself for such a scenario and be confident in | | | | ear-piercing alarm to attract attention and send |
| the outcome. Your heart will still be racing and | | | | the abductor running. They are also good for the |
| your adrenalin pumping, but you'll be able to use | | | | elderly to carry. |
| that in your favor. | | | | 6. Stun Batons. This weapon with its high voltage |
| There are so many non-lethal means by which | | | | is useful not only as a weapon against a human |
| any person can protect him or herself that it is | | | | assailant but can be effective against an attacking |
| difficult to understand why everyone is not | | | | dog as well. With the current running the length of |
| protected in this day and age. | | | | the baton, anyone who tries to grab it from you |
| Here are some of the many options: | | | | will receive quite a shock. Its length is also an |
| 1. Taking a course or class in self-defense. There | | | | advantage against a dog coming toward you in a |
| are many Martial Arts schools in most cities in the | | | | threatening manner. |
| United States offering classes for all ages. They | | | | 7. Tasers. The main difference between a Taser |
| will teach you not only how to defend yourself | | | | and a stun gun is that the Taser fires 2 small |
| but will boost your self-confidence. | | | | probes that are attached to the Taser by |
| 2. Instructional fighting DVDs. If you can't find a | | | | insulated conductor wires. The advantage to this |
| Martial Arts class near you or don't have the time | | | | is that it can be fired from a distance of 15 feet |
| to attend, there are many instructional DVDs that | | | | instead of having to be right next to the person |
| can be found online, taught by masters of | | | | as with the stun gun. As the barbs attach |
| everything from street fighting to Israeli special | | | | themselves to the attacker, 50 thousand volts of |
| forces hand-to-hand combat. All of these videos | | | | electricity pass through the wires into his body, |
| will teach you how to take control of any attack | | | | knocking him off his feet and giving you time to |
| situation and quickly disable your assailant. | | | | escape. It also works as a regular stun gun if you |
| 3. Pepper spray. This comes in many forms and | | | | happen to miss your target when you fire. |
| sizes, even disguised as a lipstick container, | | | | You will need to check your local laws before |
| jogging weights or a stunning ring. They are all | | | | purchasing pepper spray, stun guns or Tasers for |
| very effective in disabling your attacker long | | | | any restrictions or licensing. |
| enough for you to escape and seek help. | | | | These are some of the main options you have to |
| 4. Stun guns. These also come in many shapes | | | | help protect you and your family with and give |
| and sizes, some of which are disguised as items | | | | you the confidence you will need if you are ever |
| such as cell phones or lipstick containers, making | | | | confronted by an attacker. |
| them the perfect defense weapon for a date | | | | It's far better to have any of these defenses and |
| rape situation. Stun guns come in many different | | | | never need them than to need them one day and |
| voltages and are all effective in knocking down an | | | | not have them. Be safe out there. |