Personal Protection for Seniors

How safe are you in your neighborhood? Do you feel safe there? The answer you give probably has a lot to do with where you live. Some areas are more dangerous than others. While national newscasts often focus on crime in big cities, those stories typically have little impact on people who live in small towns and rural areas. While it’s true that we’re a mobile society and criminals can travel, the fact is that they don’t often do so. When a gang commits a drive-by shooting in Washington, DC, they probably won’t hit the road and start shooting up the streets of Washington, NE. According to Pew Research, “Both the FBI and Bureau of Justice Statistics data show dramatic declines in U.S. violent and property crime rates since the early 1990s, when crime spiked across much of the nation.” The report went on to say that FBI data shows that violent crime in the U.S. dropped by 49% between 1993 and 2022. That’s not something most news sites mention!

While the streets may be safer today than they were in the 1980s, violent crimes still happen, and they do occasionally happen close to home – even your home. Small cities and towns are often safer, but that’s not always true. For example, that same Pew Research report states that violent crime rates are particularly high in New Mexico and Alaska, two less populous states. So, how can you tell how safe your neighborhood is?

Most police departments have a community service officer or a similar person whose focus is on crime prevention and community outreach. Community service officers sometimes work with organizers of neighborhood watch programs, so they can have very good insight on the specific crimes being reported in the area and may be able to offer tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

As crazy as the world can seem, based on news reports and online stories, you’re probably pretty safe as you walk the local streets. Even so, bad guys still exist, and one may be just seconds away from crossing your path. That’s not something to worry about; it’s something to calmly consider and plan for. Fires are relatively rare, but they do happen too. Since childhood we’ve participated in fire drills to practice what we should do in the event of a fire. I remember back in school we had teachers who would ask what we would do if there were to be fire in the hallway or in a classroom. Where would we go? How would we get out? Not thinking about the what-ifs can be deadly in the event of a fire. It could also be deadly in an encounter with a bad guy. What if you’re attacked? Would you know how to respond? Could you escape an attacker on the street? What if someone broke into your home? What if…? How would you respond? 

It always makes sense to stay alert while outside. Watch for suspicious cars and people in the area. You don’t want to be paranoid, just alert and aware of your surroundings. It also doesn’t hurt to have a personal protection option or two available to you should you ever need to defend yourself. Non-lethal self defense options can be inexpensive while offering reliable protection. Personal alarms are easy to carry and activate – producing an ear-splitting siren to frighten off a potential attacker and alert witnesses and possible rescuers. Stun guns are small, easy to conceal, and fit easily into a pocket or purse. They’re safe to use, and they come in a variety of styles and colors. Some are even small enough to fit on a keychain. Pepper sprays and gels can also offer excellent protection in an emergency. The small canisters are also safe, easy to carry and handle. Of course, just carrying a personal protection device isn’t enough. You need to go through all the “what-ifs” to prepare yourself – so you’ll know what to do if you ever really need to use it.

The news is full of stories about honest people who are attacked and robbed, beaten, or worse as they go about their daily routine. Of course, TV news has always looked for the most sensational stories to get folks to tune in and keep watching. The old saying was/is, “if it bleeds, it leads.” Online, many news oriented websites look for sensational stories to use as “click bait” to get people to visit their domain. The reality is that the streets are often less dangerous than “news” reporters lead us to believe they are. Seniors can count on EscapeUnharmed.com for safe and effective non-lethal Personal Protection devices at great prices. We have the tools you need to defend yourself in public and at home!