On any given day in Scottsdale, there is no shortage of residents exhibiting poor self defense behavior like running with headphones or walking through a parking garage, distracted on a cell phone. Given that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, self defense should be as routine as wearing a seat belt in a car and MUST BE practiced every day.
The most common misconception about self defense is that it is predominantly physical in nature. The truth is that self defense is predominantly mental, but it must become second nature to a person to practice it effectively. The number one self defense mental technique is awareness and if a person is aware of their surroundings then they will likely spot danger approaching prior to becoming a victim.
Running with headphones is the single most dangerous behavior that a walker or runner can exhibit because it diminishes the most important of the five senses, hearing. Without the full ability to hear, awareness of a person's surrounding is severely crippled. Not only can headphones prevent a person from detecting a car following closely behind, but it also prevents a prospective victim from hearing noises associated with danger from a distance thus reducing escape time.
By removing distractions while in public places like headphones and cell phones, it forces a person to look around and take in a deep breath of life...call it a self defense benefit. If Scottsdale residents want to practice safe behavior in an effort to reduce the chance of becoming a victim, then awareness is the first self defense criterion that must be adopted immediately and daily. Not only will awareness of one's surroundings help keep the entire community safe, but it will also help to remind everyone to "stop and smell the roses" because all other distractions are removed.
To learn more on how to avoid dangerous situations, please visit the RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) website or contact Shieldher. Be safe!
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