Written by:

Jeffrey ScottCrash Tech

Crash Reconstructionist and DUI Enforcement Expert©2001, 2003

Awareness Education

Presentation prepared by Reed Richmond, Health Promotion,Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department

Alone,

Alert,

Alive…

Survive!

SRO Adam Gongwer

Ontario Schools

Officer ‘Adam’

D.A.R.E./SRO Adam Gongwer

12th year with Ontario Police (Ohio) 7th year as SRO HNT Member (2006) 2nd V.P. Board of Directors for ‘14-’16

Ohio SRO Assoc. (OSROA.org)

Previous Experience: JV Corrections Officer Youth Minister

Family: 4 Kids (7, 15, 15, 18) Married 23 years

SRO101.com go to downloads

#1 Question

…1991

#1 Question

…1991

Alone, Alert, Alive…Survive!What are the three reasons

women are easy targets for random acts of violence?

Easy Target?

1) Lack of Awareness – You MUST know what is going on

around you

2) Body Language – Confidence (Head, arms, posture)

3) Wrong Place, Wrong Time – DON'T walk alone or drive in high-crime

areas

Personal Safety

Personal Safety

Awareness: of yourself, your surroundings, and your

potential attacker’s likely strategies SURPRISE:

Studies have shown that criminals are adept at choosing targets who appear to be unaware of what is going on around them

Never let yourself or anyone that you know be the "closer" in any type of business (bar, store, restaurant, gas station)

Personal Safety (cont)

Dress to Kill Clogs, high heels, and tight skirts are

hard to run in or fight in Scarves / long necklaces & are easy to

grab Wear comfortable clothing when walking

You can always change later…Would you kick off your high heels or

hike your skirt up around your hips to run or kick?

Personal Safety (cont)

Make Eye ContactMay fear you will be able to identify them

Hands FreeKeep Eyes and Ears Open

Cell phone / headphonesmakes you easy prey for a predator

Personal Safety (cont)

Limit the number of bundles: use a backpack or ‘bag with a shoulder

strap’…hands free to defend Never open the door for strangers,

regardless of whether they claim to be a service person, police officer or any other professional. always verify identity, and do not be

afraid to appear rude

Personal Defense

Personal Defense

EYES: most vulnerable part of the body Poke HARD!

ELBOW: strongest point on your body Strike HARD!

NECK: vulnerable spot, MUST know where to grip, AND HAVE THE STRENGTH to cut off his breath

Punch HARD! KNEES: swift kick here takes anyone down

Kick HARD!

be forceful – one chance

Personal Defense (cont)

REACT IMMEDIATELY ABDUCTED: don’t let him get you to an

abandoned area DRIVING (you): crash your car while still

going 5 mph (car is useless) DRIVING (him): gouge his eyes. It is your

ONLY defense. While he is in shock, GET OUT

RESIST - Don't go along with him: Run, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

You DO NOT want to be a crime scene

Personal Defense (cont)

GUN: and you are not under his control ALWAYS RUN! Police only make 4 of 10 shots when

they are in range of 3-9 feet. This is due to stress. The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

STREET: Always keep your distance when walking past strangers on the street or in dark areas

Personal Defense (cont)

Escape: You are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured if you go with the predator than if you run away (even if he promises not to hurt you)

Run away, yell FIRE, throw a rock through a store or car window: do whatever you can to attract attention

Purse or other valuables: throw them one direction while you run the other

Self Defense Tools

Pepper spray: Pros and cons doesn’t work on everyone wind

Wasp Spray: Pros and cons Size

Tazer: Pros and cons Cost

Your Right to Fight: both the moral and legal right to do so statistics clearly show that your odds of survival are far

greater if you do fight back Aim for the eyes first and the groin second use the element of surprise to your advantage–strike

quickly, and mean business You may only get one chance

Car / Parking Lot / Highway Safety

Car Safety

LOCK YOUR DOORS Have a cell phone to call for help Keep a blanket, warm clothes, a pair of

boots, and a flashlight in your car for emergencies

Trunk of a car: kick out the back tail lights and stick your

arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody else will

Parking Lot

Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat, under the car

If you are parked next to a big van: enter your car from the passenger door

Look at the car parked on the driver/passenger side: If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get someone to walk you back out

Parking Lot (cont)

Scream "FIRE!" and not "help": People don't want to get involved when people yell "help" but "fire" draws attention because people are nosy. RUN!

Find an obstacle, such as a parked car, and run around it, like Ring Around the Rosie: Your last hope is getting under the car: multiple things to hold on to

Don’t be sympathetic: many predators play on women with sympathy

Parking Lot (Cont)

Just sit: (doing a checkbook, or making a list,

etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and

this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE

Avoiding a car-jacking Lock all doors keep windows up stopped at intersections, parking lots

Highway Safety

BREAK DOWNS: Make every effort to avoid this by

ALWAYS keeping your car in good working order

Walk away from the car (in your warm clothes) and go to some bushes, or some area AWAY from your vehicle

Hotel / Travel Safety

Hotel & Travel Safety

Social Media: Predators watch habits, postings, etc

Rubber doorstop: wedge inside (lock may be unreliable)

Carry a safety whistle  Watch your drink, and not getting drunk,

especially if you’re alone. Don’t accept a drink or food from stranger

Appropriate attire Be vague:

Casual conversation can expose privacy Never open the door for a stranger

Hotel & Travel Safety: Check-In

Ask for a room near the elevator so you won't need to walk down long, potentially ill-lit hallways

Be Lazy, Take the Elevator Over the Stairs. And when in the elevator, stand in front of the doors, then if someone you feel uneasy about gets on with you, you can step off immediately

Arrive during the Day Daily Spending Money only (credit

cards, passport, etc. tucked away)

Hotel & Travel Safety: Elevators

ALWAYS take the elevator Stairwells are horrible places to be

alone and the perfect crime spot Do not get on an elevator if there is a

‘weirdo’ already on there (Of course bad men don't always look bad)

Do not stand back in the corners of the elevatorBe near the front, by the doors, ready to

get off or on. Don't ride the elevator if you are not comfortable

Sixth Sense

Use your Gut instinct Learn to trust this power and use it to

your full advantage Avoid a person or a situation which

does not “feel” safe–you’re probably right

No one expects it, but we must be prepared and aware so that we:

HAVE A PLAN,BE PREPARED TO ACT! ACT FAST & HARD!

Alone, Alert, Alive…Survive!

Questions? Sro101.com (click on downloads)

Officer Adam GongwerOntario, Ohio Police

agongwer@ontpd.com419-529-2115

Resources

www.thenonprofits.com/safety.htm www.forbes.com/sites/elisadoucette www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthyWoman www.prweb.com/releases/women-safety-tips/safety-

tips-for-women powertochange.com/life/personalsafetytips/