Self-Defense is Not Just Reading Safety Tips

Personal security is an issue that concerns everyone, especially women. With the rise in crime rates, it is common for individuals to seek tips on how to stay safe. However, while these tips may be well-intentioned, they can actually do more harm than good. This is because they only provide a shallow means of approaching the issue, and do not equip individuals with proper knowledge and skills to protect themselves. Follow-through is important.

For instance, telling a woman to hold her keys in her hand as a weapon may give her a false sense of security. It does not necessarily help her avoid potentially dangerous situations or recognize the warning signs of a looming attack. Furthermore, it does not instill the necessary mental and physical readiness to defend herself. Therefore, rather than relying solely on surface-level advice, it is crucial to seek out comprehensive, practical training that covers both prevention and response strategies.

Not too long ago, the most popular piece of advice given to women as a safety measure was to have a small can of pepper spray attached to their keyring. This small canister was usually protected by a cute leather holder. While it is always suggested to have pepper spray on hand, there was often no additional guidance provided. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much discussion on how to use it safely and effectively. Nor was there any explanation given regarding its dispersion pattern, let alone the strengths or limitations it had.

As a result, many women ended up with an untested canister of pepper spray rolling around on the bottom of their bag, never once practicing with it. Worst yet, it was nowhere near readily available to deploy at a moment’s notice. This was a situation that I’ve seen more than a few women end up in, and it’s concerning given the importance of having reliable safety measures when out and about.

An important aspect of owning any self-defense weapon or firearm, it should never be taken lightly. It is important to understand that pepper spray, stun guns, and firearms are not toys. They are self-defense weapons that require proper handling and training. It is not enough to simply purchase Mace Defensive Spray or a stun gun and leave it in the car without proper training. It could potentially lead to accidents, misuse or not having it available when you need it.

Though it may seem like a hassle, investing time in training and practice will ultimately give you the skills and confidence needed to handle self-defense tools with safety and precision. The time investment and any cost of proper training is worthwhile for your own safety and the safety of those around you. So, whether you are a man or a woman, I strongly urge you to take your safety and security seriously and ensure that you are properly trained to handle and use your self-defense weapon.