You can prepare yourself to survive different threats by practicing before hand, how to quickly react and how to do it effectively and safely. One way would be by learning some basic self-defense techniques.

Unfortunately during a confrontational situation your imagination may not be fast enough to recognize the weapons that common objects represent, so pre-planning by thinking about the things around you or carrying defensive weapons like pepper spray, stun-guns or personal alarms will give you an advantage.

If you choose to carry a defensive weapon you must practice how to quickly and effectively use these items before they are needed.

First and foremost in any self-defense strategy is preventing confrontation. You do that by avoiding the places and situations where confrontation can occur, and by doing the following.

• Be Aware. Awareness is one of the most important Self Defense techniques you can master. By being aware of your surroundings, many potential threats can be avoided
• If you see or sense problems in your way, change your route or go to the other side of the road. Then prepare to run or defend yourself if necessary.
• Never wear conspicuous jewelry when you are walking in public.
• Never hitchhike! it is always safer and better to use public transportation.
• Never act or look like an easy target. Walk with confidence but not arrogance.
• Most "fights" are won before they start. Aggressors will back down if you maintain eye contact and are not intimidated by them.

Using your environment
In any confrontation, everything at hand can be used including things that are around you, on or with you. Wherever you are everything has the potential to be a weapon.

A life threatening situation is a matter of survival and the person being attacked should aim to win by using anything that is available.

Remember there is no such thing as a fair fight where your life or safety is concerned.
There is only one rule if you are attacked, SURVIVE. You have to do everything you can: Scream, scratch, bite, hit or kick, attack with common objects, do all that is in your power to end the threat or to give you enough time to escape.

Think about the things that surrounds you.  Anything and everything is a potential weapon. Indoors for example: ashtrays, chairs, bottles, kitchen utensils etc. can all be used as weapons. Outdoors, sand, dirt, stones, coins from you pocket, or pieces of metal or pipe. Bricks and wood can be used to strike with or throw at your opponent.

An opponent can be thrown against sharp pointed gates, railings and walls or pushed to the ground. You can even drive over your opponent.

Remember this: “It is better to be judged by twelve then carried by six”
Objects such as stones, dirt, or the coins in your pocket can all be thrown in order to hurt or distract an attacker.

Objects like, pencils, sticks, crochet or knitting needles, etc. can be used to attack someone. You can even use your cellular phone like a stone, but only as a last resort, because you will need your cell phone to call the Police

Any aerosol can, hair spray, spray paint, bug spray can be used as personal defense items and are very effective at distracting or disabling an attacker.

Due to the awareness of violence, people sometimes take it upon themselves to carry illegal self-defense weapons. These weapons are usually quite obvious and even though they may successfully ward off attacks, they can bring a lot of legal difficulties if you use them.  Many effective, and perfectly legal weapons which will produce a similar results, may be carried instead.

At any one time people unconsciously carry many potential weapons. For example, belts may be used as a garrote or a whip with the buckle, coins may be thrown into the face of an opponent to stun and blind him, and your clothes may be used to whip at your attacker in order to ward off an attack.

Most women carry handbags which can also be used to strike or strangle. In addition, these handbags contain an arsenal of potential, legal weapons e.g. a lipstick case to poke into the eyes, a hair brush to scratch across the eyes, perfume to spray into the eyes etc.

Most people are often unaware of the amount of potentially legal weapons that they are carrying with them most of the time. Unfortunately, during a confrontation situation people’s minds often freeze up and prevent them from thinking about all the things they posses that can be turned into defensive weapons. This is why you must think about these things before hand and plan for any attack that might confront you.

When choosing or planning how to use common objects, consider the following:

• All the different ways the items you have may be used.
• All the different areas that can be attacked
• All the different ways to escape once you distract your attacker.

Practice and Awareness are the keys. How you quickly and effectively use the things available to you may mean the difference between life and death or serious injury when you are in danger. Do not hesitate to use everything at your disposal. Attack quickly and at the vulnerable areas on your attacker’s body like eyes, throat, testicles, shins, knees or feet. Always use as much power as you are capable of using. Remember: You might have only one chance to defend yourself or escape, do not lose it by hesitating or trying to fight fair.

James Jensen is a retired Law Enforcement officer with over 30 years of experience working at the city, county, state and federal level. He was licensed by the State of Michigan as a professional Security Agent and Private Investigator and is a certified Work Violence Prevention Specialist who has taught and lectured on Workplace Violence Prevention for many years. He has also authored dozens of articles on Personal and Business Security.