The holiday season has the highest crime rate of the year, especially in terms of personal attacks such as robberies, thefts and muggings. This year law enforcement officials are cautioning residents about a further possible crime spike due to the current condition of the economy.

Each year at the start of the holiday season, Elite Personal Safety Systems and The Women’s Personal Safety Network, in association with Full Circle Martial Arts Academy provide the community with a free personal safety seminar to learn how to avoid being a victim.

The free seminar will be held on December 10, 2010 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM at 10835 Lanham-Severn Road, Glenn Dale MD 20769. Attendees must RSVP by:

• Calling 1-888-377-9776
• Visiting http://www.elitepersonsafety.com/freeseminar

Participants can look forward to a very educational, practical and fun experience…. You will learn firsthand what predators look for in victims, how to be aware of your surroundings to discourage an assault and how to quickly escape the most common attacks used by predators! (Without needing years of martial arts training!)

Founding members and Executive Directors, Samuel Scott and Hersh Sandhoo, have over 50 years of combined martial arts training, numerous personal safety certifications and have taught self-defense to thousands of people worldwide, including corporations, law enforcement, private security firms, government agencies and elite military personnel.

What others are saying:

“The instruction is very valuable for all ages, both young and old. I recommend this training which is very easy to learn for our senior citizens too.” – Sara Hamilton

“I have not been in a victim of a crime but I have been in situations where I felt very uncomfortable. Now if presented with the same situations, like being on elevators or stairs, I feel more confident that I could get away and buy myself more time. Thank you sooo much!!” – Arleen Linzau

“I would like to express my appreciation for the self-defense training workshops you hosted for us during our fall retreat. We found your techniques to avoid becoming victims of crime, as well as how to defend ourselves, invaluable. We learned so much and really enjoyed ourselves in the process. Know that you are welcome to return anytime. We are looking forward to it!”
- L. Germaine Cheatham
Director of Admissions, Delaware State University

Make sure to watch the video and see how this exact seminar saved an attendee’s life just a few weeks later!

RSVP Today! We have limited spacing and are expecting a very large turnout and media representatives to attend. So dress comfortable but also keep in mind we will be filming and you may appear on various media outlets.

Everyone has experienced the feelings associated with fear. The rapid heart pounding, shortness of breath, tunnel vision and the inability to move when our instincts tell us that we may be in danger. These physiological changes are referred to as an adrenal dump.

When we feel like we are being threatened our bodies enter into what is known as a fight or flight response. Instinctively we will react and experience an adrenal dump to allow us a better chance to escape a perceived danger either by confrontation or avoidance. There are two types of adrenaline our bodies release to help in each circumstance.

Flight Adrenaline (norepinephrine) is released to the blood stream under the stress of perceived danger. Such danger may be perceived under a non-dangerous situation, like giving a speech in front of a large crowd, in which you’re just anxious to get things right and not appear foolish. This gives your body strength and speed to flee from real danger.

Fight Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the one that gives your body speed, strength and ability to take more pain than usual while allowing you to focus on an actual threat. Remember that story of the super mother who lifted a car to save her child’s life?  That’s epinephrine.

In order to take advantage of fear when in danger of being abducted or abused, you must be familiar with how your body reacts and make sure you allow it to function well by reducing stress, getting enough rest and eating right as these things may cause an adrenal fatigue. By not being fit and healthy, your body may not give you the adrenaline edge during a fight and may lessen your chances of being safe.

Remember in the cases of an attack, you should always fight back! If you prepare and train yourself to turn fear into fury you will greatly increase your chances of escaping an attacker. In order to do so:

1. In a safe and controlled environment, expose yourself to things that cause you fear. Examine what happens to you internally and physically when your survival instincts sense danger. Try to gain control of that response.
2. Understand the difference between perceived danger and real danger.
3. Take care of your body by proper nutrition and exercise.
4. You must believe that you are a survivor and condition your mind and body to believe it.
5. Practice awareness skills and physical self-defense training in a reality based training setting.

By going through this process you will also develop more confidence, which manifests itself in your body language. This alone may protect you from many attacks, since predators are always looking for an easy target and someone who appears fearful and compliant.

In the United States, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act makes it a misdemeanor for a person having the intent to capture an image of a private area of an individual without their consent under circumstances in which the individual has a sense of privacy. These days almost everyone carries a small camera capable of snapping pictures and recording video regardless no matter where they are.

Voyeurs often get a camera low enough to snap pictures under women’s skirts or dresses by hiding them from view on gym bags or in their own sneakers while walking behind them. Others may place a tiny camera under the table where you are sitting to film you. It is quite scary but you should always be aware of your surroundings and be aware of who’s close to you at all times.

Cameras are very small and can be hidden almost anywhere in bathrooms, showers, hotel rooms and changing rooms in clothing stores. Cameras are now really small and are designed to be difficult to detect but, if you do find you one keep in mind to stay calm, cover the camera’s lens and notify the local police.

Mobile phones now have built-in cameras for snapping pictures and taking videos making it even easier for voyeurs to record you. In the US, a proposed law would require such devices to produce a loud shutter sound when snapping pictures without letting users disable such sound. Some phones already sport this feature and, along with the low, it is aimed at reducing the instances of upskirting, a voyeur practice that has become quite popular, where a video or photograph is taken to expose the up skirt view and private areas of a woman.

Unfortunately, laws like the Video Voyeurisms Prevention Act do not go far enough because they only make it a crime to capture naked or undergarment covered images of a person where the person has an expectation of privacy. For example, a woman standing at an ice cream booth caught a man who had lowered his video camera and was secretly filming up her dress. Believe it or not, he is not guilty of a crime because the law does not apply to filming people in public places, even if it is underneath their clothes.

Here are four steps you can take to avoid being exposed in public:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Be conscious of who is behind you and don’t allow anyone to stand too close to you.
• On escalators, turn sideways while holding onto the rails to observe those behind you.
• While sitting in a public place be conscious of how you position your legs if you are wearing a dress or skirt.

Heading to college is a very exciting time in most people’s lives. It is often the first experience we have for freedom away from our parents and the chance to be responsible for ourselves. We have the opportunity to experience so much academically, socially and to really find ourselves. It is a wonderful experience.

It can also be a very dangerous and traumatic time as well if you are not careful. Predators are often looking to exploit the innocence of young women on campus. Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are more likely to be raped than any other age group. In fact, the Department of Justice conducted a study that found one out of every four college women polled was sexually assaulted within four years at college. Additionally:

• 62% of college rapes are committed by classmates and friends
• 2.8 % of college women are raped in the first 6 months of college
• 40% of rapes will occur in your own home or dorm, 11% near your residence and 11% at or near a friend’s home/dorm.
• Over 80% of rapes go unreported and less than 5% of rapists spend anytime in jail.

The easy access to alcohol and drugs are also a recipe for disaster. It is estimated that at least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they assaulted their victims. Lines also get blurry at parties where both the man and woman are drinking and date rape drugs are very common on college campuses.

The long term effects of an assault can be long term and devastating. Victims of rape often manifest long-term symptoms of chronic headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, recurrent nausea, decreased appetite, eating disorders, menstrual pain, sexual dysfunction, and suicide attempts. In a longitudinal study, sexual assault was found to increase the odds of substance abuse by a factor of 2.5.

Victims of date rape are also 11 times more likely to be clinically depressed, and 6 times more likely to experience social phobia than are non-victims. Psychological problems are still evident in cases as long as 15 years after the assault.

This is why it is imperative to be proactive about your safety on campus and not have the mentality it can never happen to me. Follow these steps to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of assault at the university.

Prior to selecting or arriving to school:

• Request information on crime statistics from your school of choice.
• Go to the Department of Education’s site to check the status of campus safety at http://ope.ed.gov/security/
• Check with family members and friends to see if anyone had attended your campus of choice.

Upon arrival:

• Check the access availability to the residential halls.  Can anyone enter the dorms?
• See if there is a residential aid,  sign in requirement for guest,  security presence,   security cameras and emergency phones nearby.
• Get to know the security personnel. Ask about previous crimes on campus.
• Make friends with like-minded students and look out for each other.
• Survey the campus at night to see if it’s well lit, especially along walkways and around the buildings.
• Walk about the campus with confidence, display good posture and constantly be aware of your surroundings.

Dorm area:

• Be sure doors and Windows have strong locks. Always keep them locked at night!
• Never give out your room key or combination. If lost, replace your locks immediately.
• Be mindful of who you let in your room. Make a pack with your roommates not to let strangers in the room.
• Keep your cell phone on at night. Program security’s number in your phone.

Dating:

Although your primary focus should be on accomplishing your goal of getting your degree, if you do decide to date, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t rush into any relationship. Take your time and get to know the person.
• If you do go out with him, tell a trusted friend his name as well as where you’re going and what time you’ll return.
• Go to a public place with lots of people present.
• Avoid wild parties and alcohol. Statistics show that over 70,000 students between 18 and 24 have been victim of “alcohol related” sexual assault.
• If you feel uneasy about the person, pick up the phone and contact your friend and let her know your feelings, then leave at once.

By taking these simple steps, you will make your college experience an enjoyable one without the risk of becoming a victim. Remember; awareness and avoidance is 90% of prevention!

It’s back to school time for you and “Peak Season” for the predator!

As you go about the business of preparing your child for school, beware of the petty thieves and robbers lurking in the malls and parking lots. Statistics show that August and December are peak crime months for petty thieves and robbers.

They know that you’re going to be out in numbers spending large sums of money on school clothes and supplies. Contrary to popular belief, predators are very smart. They watch the news and read the paper to see where the big sales are going to be. They survey certain department stores and malls to see which ones have security and quick escape routes. Then they sit and wait for the race to begin.

Here is a list of preventive measures you can take to avoid being a victim:

• Be aware of your surroundings while out at the malls and parking lots.
• Stay off your cell phone, while shopping, so you can stay alert
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash. Use your credit or debit card for large transactions.
• Carry your purse over your shoulder, pulled slightly to the front of your body.
• Avoid shopping at night. If you must, be sure to bring someone with you.
• Place all of your items in the trunk of your vehicle. This will reduce your chances of being a victim of a “smash and grab”.
• Do not place your purse in the shopping cart… keep it with you at all times.
• Be sure to keep your hands free when exciting the store. Use a shopping cart to transport your bags to your vehicle.
• When exciting the store, scan the parking lot and walk down the center of the street.
• Keep your keys and cell phone in your pocket, so if your purse is stolen you can still call for help and get home. This also helps prevent the robbers from having easy access to your house.
• Look in, around and under your vehicle before entering.
• With ID theft being a major concern, keep all of your receipts handy and match them against your online statement for accuracy.
• Be sure to carry a personal safety item, such as the Defender Safety Keychain, with you at all times.
• If approached, unless you are trained in self defense, do not fight or chase after the thief. You can always replace your items. (You only want to fight if they try to physically harm or kidnap you)

By taking these simple steps you will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim!

17 Year-old Lily Burk was running errands for her mom in the afternoon when she was kidnapped in an attempted robbery then killed hours later in an alley.

Our hearts go out to Lily and her family. Please take this opportunity to learn from this tragic event and share this article with your friends and family.

How to Avoid Being a Victim in a Similar Attack

The best way to stop an attack like this is to always be aware of your surroundings. Often times when we approach our car we are distracted – fumbling for our keys, talking on the cell phone or trying to put our shopping bags in the trunk. Take the time to look around the parking lot and your car before approaching it. If you see someone suspicious, turn around and go to a safe place with other people around.

If surprised by an attacker, NEVER go with him to a second location. While it is unclear whether Lily’s attacker had a weapon, it should not affect your strategy in this situation. ALWAYS fight back and do not believe for a second when the attacker says, “If you do as I say, you won’t get hurt.” That is a way for the attacker to try and verbally control you into submission. The majority of them just want an easy target and not one that will fight for their survival.

For a woman to physically fight off a man without specific training can be difficult. That is why we recommend carrying a safety device of some kind. We personally carry and recommend the Defender safety keychain. It is high effective, easy to use and is with you at all times! We’ve put together a little preview clip with two possible scenarios of an attacker approaching a woman as she is going to her car and how the defender is able to give you an advantage over your attacker:

In a kidnap attempt even if you do not have a safety device, still fight back. Use your elbows and knees instead of your hands, repeatedly scream “Help! Help! I don’t know this man” and run away from the attacker. Yelling “Fire” may get other people’s attention but they are less likely to help if they think it is a domestic dispute.

Over 70% of attacks are committed by an unarmed assailant but even if they have a weapon statistically your odds of survival are exponentially better if you fight back and run away. Often times an attacker will say he was a weapon when he does not or will show you his weapon as a scare tactic – it could be in his belt covered by a jacket that he flashes you. Keep in mind by the time he pulls out the weapon you could have put a very good distance between the two of you. If you are screaming and drawing attention to yourself he will most likely not pursue you. Predators are looking for easy targets.

Even with a gun, the chances of the assailant being able to hit a moving target are low. Remember to keep your head down, run in a zig zag pattern and do not stop until you are in a safe location.

In Lily’s case surveillance cameras showed the attacker driving away from the kidnap spot in her car while she was in the passenger seat! If you find yourself in a car with the attacker, wait for the vehicle to slow down then quickly unlock the door and jump out of the car. You can also grab the steering wheel and force the car to crash. Whatever you do, don’t go without a fight! Statistics show that when most victims are taken to a second location they do not survive the attack.

More than ever it is necessary for women to take responsibility for their personal safety. Join the Women’s Personal Safety Network’s free online community for exclusive access to the latest safety information and resources.

82% of women who resisted an assault say it helped their situation.
ONLY 18.9% OF WOMEN WHO RESISTED SAID THAT IS WORSENED THE SITUATION.

Of those who were helped by resisting:

39.9% AVOIDED INJURY OR GREATER INJURY
38.3% ENABLED THEMSELVES TO ESCAPE
21.7% SCARED OF THE OFFENDER

Although over 70% attackers are unarmed, even if they do have a weapon, you have a much higher survival rate by resisting and trying to escape. Virtually ever victim who goes with an attacker to a second location is sexually assaulted and/or killed. If the attacker has a gun, run away in a zig zag pattern and the chances of him shooting and causing a fatal injury greatly reduces.

Here are some useful tips that can help prevent sexual assault.

• Always be aware of your surroundings and stay in well-lit areas as much as possible.
• Walk confidently, directly and at a steady pace. A rapist looks for someone who appears vulnerable.
• Walk on the side of the street facing traffic.
• Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes and alleys where rapists can hide.
• If you think you are being followed, walk quickly to areas where there are people and lights.
• If a car appears to be following you, turn and walk in the opposite direction or walk on the other side of the street.
• Be careful when people stop you for directions, the time or money. Always reply from a distance and never get too close to a car.
• If you are in trouble or feel you are in danger, don’t be afraid to attract help any way you can. Scream, yell or run away to safety.
• Always lock your car door. Keep your car locked when you are away from it to keep someone from hiding and waiting inside.
• When you are inside the car, lock the doors for safety.
• Look inside and around your car before you get in.
• Be aware of other people in parking areas, especially those close to your vehicle.
• If you think you are being followed, drive to a public place or police station to get help.
• If you car breaks down, open the hood or attach a white cloth to the antenna. If someone stops to help, stay inside your locked vehicle and ask them to call the police.
• If you choose to carry any type of weapon for self-protection, give careful consideration to your ability and willingness to use it. Remember there is always the chance that it could be taken away and used against you. We recommend The Defender Safety Keychain and accompanying DVD.