Using Self Defense in College

Women may agonize over what they would do in an assault situation. Often there are stories in the newspapers about how women have killed their husbands after they’ve been assaulted one too many times, only to receive a life sentence in prison. How can you protect yourself against an attacker if you can’t use force?

To some extent, this isn’t true. You can still use personal defense in college, on the street, or at home. These are instances that arise that may come your way in which you have a reasonable belief that the threat you face can lead to serious harm, permanent disfigurement, or the potential for bringing about death.

Personal defense is just that, you’re personally defending yourself against an attacker. When you’re defending yourself, the goal is to:

1. Get away from the attacker.

2. Raise the alarm so a passer-by calls for security/police.

3. Incapacitate the attacker, so you can run away. 

4. Get the attacker to drop a weapon.

5. Scare the attacker so they run away. 

Using excessive force to attack a person, whether man or woman, beyond these reasons and escalating the violence beyond self-defense, is considered criminal intent. It’s up to the courts, and not you, to determine punishment if you over do it. So take heed and use caution since you are at their mercy should you go to far and do great bodily harm or cause something worse to happen.  This means that if the attacker has let go of you, or is down on the ground in pain, it’s not within the law for you to continue beating them unconscious or worse. If you can subdue them while calling the authorities, that is fine. 

These are good reasons to use your personal defense training while you’re being physically attacked, but when can you use force in other situations?

One of the issues you may face is that a man is waiting for a physical attack from a woman in order to punch her back hard. This is why it is never a good idea to hit a man who has been verbally threatening or harassing you. In these instances, it’s best to record it on your smart-phone and take it to campus security. You can also use your own verbal cunning to attempt to diffuse the situation. Many verbal attackers will stop when you tell them that what they are saying is inappropriate, offensive, etc. 
It can also be tricky to figure out what to do if you’ve been pinched or patted. If you know who did it, record the details and report. If they’ve slipped into the crowd, there’s not much you can do. Always be aware of the people surrounding you, and step away if people get too close.

If someone does physically hit or punch you, you can take a step back and get away from them. If they go after you, then you are within your rights to hit or kick back. But remember to stop as soon as they are down, and call for security.

You can also carry the DRINKGUARD kit with you to parties where personal safety may be an issue. This kit will test for date rape drugs in your drink and is also a form of personal defense.

The more you can prepare yourself for personal defense, the better you’ll be able to use it to your advantage, but still stay within your legal rights as a person.

Campus Safety and You

When you’re in college you may approach campus life thinking this environment is safe and away from the world outside and that there will peace and safety for everyone. All too often though, you soon learn that even on college campuses there are predators and rapists there too. That being the case, survival under current circumstances dictates that you must be prepared to protect yourself against them. Campus safety is not only an issue that is applicable to women, but men are affected too. Crimes against men are more under-reported than rape and assault is for women.

Campus safety begins with an awareness of campus crime. If you can avoid risky activities, dark pathways, and other questionable circumstances, then do so. Invite a friend to walk with you to your car if you are out late at night, or else take a cab to your destination. Don’t get into a car with strangers (or drunk persons) or for that matter, even persons that may be familiar to you, but not really known to you. Using your common sense in these situations goes a long way to keep you out of harm's way.

Campus Security is another safe resource to help you to reach your destination safely and you can access them with only a simple cell phone call. Did you know that most colleges offer some form of self-defense classes? These are beneficial so that you can have a better knowledge of methods in which to defend yourself. They also have practice sessions to learn to fight effectively with a hands-on approach. Though you may not have as much experience as an attacker, you will have a better chance to scare the attacker off and get away or to until help comes.

Other aspects of campus safety involve you never letting strangers or acquaintances into your dorm room. It’s not just your personal safety, but theft could be an issue too. Make sure to keep the door to your room closed and locked at all times, even if you’re just heading to the washroom or to visit another room. Even if the building is off-limits to non-residents, there are still ways for criminals to get in.

If you’re on the ground floor of your dormer room, close and lock windows at night. If it’s a hot summer, leave your window open only a few inches, and use the latch or a block of wood to keep it from being pried open enough for someone to enter.

Always go to parties with a roommate or a friend. Purchase a nice thermos, so you can sip your alcoholic beverages. This will make it more difficult for someone to drop a drug in it.

You can also purchase DRINKGUARD, which is a date rape drug detector. Each kit contains 20 test strips that you can tuck into your purse. They’re simple and easy to use. If you’re at a party where there is a lot happening, and you may have turned your back on your drink for a moment, you may wish to test your drink for GHB or Ketamine.

These two drugs are known as the date rape drugs because they have the ability to loosen your inhibitions, and allow someone else to control you. They may also make you feel like you’re paralyzed, while your brain is still awake. The next day you’ll forget the activities of the evening. It’s against the law for someone to give date rape drugs, and the intentions that go with it.

To test your beverage for rape drugs, you simply place a drop from your drink onto the test strip, and let it dry. Once it’s dry, the test will inform you whether your drink contains one of these drugs or if it’s safe to drink.

The test kit costs under $10, and provides an additional form of campus security for you. You can purchase kits from greatwalldefense.com and get FREE SHIPPING.