Move aside hot girl summer—this season we are focusing on our safe girl era.
Here are some safety tips straight from a law enforcement professional to keep Dateline on your TV and out of your life this summer.
1. Stay Alert: When adventuring solo, always maintain your sense of hearing—yes, even on your hot girl walk. This means a maximum of one earbud in, and at a low enough volume to hear what is going on around you. Avoid looking down at your phone. Have your playlists made beforehand so that you’re not distracted by choosing your next podcast or song.
2. Location: Change up your routes or timing so that your routine is unpredictable to someone interested in tracking you. Always inform somebody by sending a quick text to a friend of where you are going and the time you expect to return. Even better: share your location with a trusted friend or family member (Find my Friends on iPhone or Life 360 are good options).
3. Be on the Defense: Pepper spray is an inexpensive tool you can clip to your keys or keep in your crossbody. Inexpensive Taser devices that can serve as a flashlight and alarming noisemaker are available on Amazon. Have something on you, especially if you are alone.
4. Fight Hard: Always put up a fight, whether it be with these lines of defense, your voice, or your body. If in a compromised position, aim for the “soft” spots (meaning nails in eyes or kicks to groin).
Remember: always trust your gut feeling. If you sense that something or someone in your surroundings is off, do your best to get yourself out of the situation safely.
