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Personal safety is an escalating issue for most women. Walking confidently, driving alone or trying to engage in social activities alone comes with certain risks. Read on to discover safety tips that every woman should know.

Protect Your Valuables

You most likely have several expensive items in your home, car, and handbag, including your phone and jewellery, that are difficult to replace. It’s always a good idea to keep a list of your valuables if you happen to be a victim of theft. Some items are insurable to ensure their replacement should they get stolen. To protect yourself from unwanted attention, ensure you keep your valuables out of sight when you are outdoors.

If you are a victim of theft, you can use the FREE-to-use iER App to connect to a 24 hour emergency centre that can dispatch police units to your location.

Avoid Things that Impair Your Judgment

Alcohol consumption and using related substances can affect your judgment and reduce your ability to recognise potentially harmful situations. When you are under the influence of substances, it isn’t easy to make reasonable assessments. This can put your life at risk and compromise your safety in an emergency.

If you go out for girls’ night, tell your friends to download the iER App to access a selection of silent and general one-touch alerts. The emergency centre is available 24 hours a day to provide immediate response.

Maintain Situational Awareness

Did you know that your situational awareness is linked to improved safety? It’s important to be remain alert to what’s happening around you at all times. Even if you don’t have the means to withstand an attack, you can remain safe if you do the following:

• Being mindful of your surroundings.
• Identify potential exit points that can be useful when faced with an emergency.
• Observe the people around you.
• Limit distractions such as being on your phone since it can increase vulnerability in unfamiliar surroundings.
• Trust your instincts if you feel like you need to remove yourself from imminent danger.
• Be aware of suspicious body language and odd behaviour.

Maintain Strength in Numbers

The benefits of going out as a group go beyond creating new memories and cherishing experiences together. In most cases, it can be an excellent way to ensure everyone is safe. Being in a group setting provides more protection if anyone is a victim of crime.

Moreover, it provides more witnesses if you need to report an incident. If anyone becomes intoxicated while out, there are more people to watch over them and ensure they get home safely.

Consider Self-Defence Classes

Having the physical and mental capacity to ensure your safety during an unexpected attack is important. Self-defence classes can help you improve your situational awareness and identify potential threats to maximise your safety and personal security. They are a practical way to prevent incidents and prepare for physical attacks.

Other benefits of self-defence classes include:

• Boosting your self-confidence.
• Improving mental and physical health.
• Conditioning your mind to withstand challenges.
• Protecting yourself physically.
• Managing anxiety and relieving stress.
• Building a supportive community.

For most women, these have become standard practices in their daily lives. Even though these tips can improve awareness, there is a way to receive the help you need when you need it. This is why the FREE-to-use iER App is your trusted safety companion and provides instant and 24/7 access to over 14,000 medical and non-medical emergency response units.