Defense Tactics for Confrontations

Occasionally, even in good old Provo, there are predators that take advantage of people, particularly women, walking or running alone. Use these points to minimize the risk of this occurrence.

Preparation for the Run

Always run with a partner. The buddy system is a tried and true principle.

Plan your run in populated places.

If running at night, run in well lit areas with high population.

Let roommates/family know where you will be and when you plan to return.

During the Run

Always stay alert. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are. Think about possible escape routes in case of a confrontation.

Take notice of who is ahead of you and who is behind you. Know where the nearest public sites are with some general activity - there is usually safety in numbers.

When in doubt, follow your intuition and avoid potential trouble. If something seems suspicious, do not panic, but run in a different direction.

Run clear of parked cars, bushes, dark areas.

Run against traffic so that you can observe the approach of automobiles.

If the same car cruises past you more than once, take down even a partial license number and make it obvious that you are aware of its presence (but keep your distance).

If Confronted

Keep as calm as possible. Try to fix a description of the attacker in your mind.

Call attention to your situation and attract others by making as much noise as possible.

Do not show fear or plead - this intensifies aggression in most cases.

Try to talk to the aggressor and look for an escape opportunity - a moment of indecision or distraction on the attacker's part.

Do not fight or struggle with the attacker unless there is clearly no other way out, especially if you are untrained in self defense.