Pepper Spray For Self Defense?

When parents send their kids to college, most worry. However, they tend to worry about their son or daughter’s achievement in school, their funds, roommate relations, and personal choices. Now they have to face an even more terrifying reality, one in which violence is growing on university campuses.

With the recent case of Annie Le – the murdered Yale med student-, parental horror just ticked up another notch. The story is even more disturbing because she went missing while at her employment on campus during the middle of the day. Her suspected murderer wasn’t a local transient or drug dealer but a fellow student.

Now parents have to face a cruel new reality that, when they leave their students at school, they may never see them again. Instead of the usual weekly call about dates, projects, or roommate fights, they may instead get a phone call saying that their child has been injured or is missing.

With missing students, unsolved murders, sexual assault, and college shootings, students really need to be wary and watch out for their wellbeing. In 2005, there were 16 million students attending 4,200 college and universities. Of all violent crimes on campuses, barely 35 percent were reported according to estimates.

Granted, school campuses are safer than society as a whole. But are they safe enough? Are there adequate emergency poles around campuses that students can get to in time? Do students feel like they can come forward and report violent crimes against them?

These are questions that schools and administrators are continually trying to address, but, in the meantime, students need to be on guard for their safety. All college students think that they’re pretty tough and can manage themselves, but can they? Even if they say they’re fine, here are some ideas that can help them remain safe:

1. Carry pepper spray or mace.

2. Don’t walk alone at night- especially if you’re a small girl. Remember the old saying, there is safety in numbers. Plus, it’s more enjoyable to be with other people anyways.

3. If you’re going on a blind date, go on a group date with friends. This will not only be more fun in case the date is a little uncomfortable, but your friends can help look after you if your date turns out to be a suspicious character.

4. Be trained and use defensive techniques like karate. Your elbow is the strongest bone in your body, so use it and aim for weak areas of the body like the nose, eyes, and other areas. The more you’re able to protect yourself, the more likely you will be able to get out of the situation.

5. Listen to your intuition and leave if you feel troubled. This may get you out of a sticky situation before it gets out of control. What’s the worst that will come to pass if you leave? You could miss out on an activity.

6. Even though I’m not advocating the use of guns, and many schools prohibit their students from having them, quite a few students have opted to carry a concealed weapon. They have a more secure feeling when they have them because they can protect both themselves and possibly others.

7. Yell at the top of your lungs. A police officer gave me a sound piece of instruction. He said if anyone ever tries to kidnap or hurt you, scream as loud as you can because most perpetrators will hurry and run off if you make too much commotion. Their number one priority is not getting caught.

Although you never know what will happen from one day to the next, you can prepare yourself by educating yourself and remembering some of these ideas into your life. This may not keep you out of harm’s way, but it will give you every chance you have to survive and get out of the situation.

Diane Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about current events, politics, college degrees, online education, and the office.