Personal safety tips

This is the stuff nightmares are made of.  You're walking alone at night and are suddenly grabbed from behind by a predator. How can you help protect yourself and stay out of harm's way? These guidelines will give you some potentially life-saving pointers.

Criminologists know that bad things are more likely to happen to those who make themselves more attractive to muggers. How? By walking along looking lost, distracted or vulnerable. Stay aware of your surroundings and adopt purposeful, assertive body language that projects confidence. That doesn't mean that you should try to come off as tough or threatening. Just don't act like a potential victim.

If somebody is following you, your natural instinct may be to get home as quickly as you can and lock the doors. After all, that's what they do in the movies, isn't it? In truth, though, heading for home is a bad idea — you don't want your stalker to know where you live.

"If you are being followed, never lead the person back to your home," the US State Department instructs its overseas diplomats. "Do not stop or get out of the car. Drive to the nearest public place." There you'll be safe and can take your next action, which is to call the police.

If you think you're being stalked while on foot, don't wait to be sure. Use your cell phone to call the police immediately. No phone around? "If you're in danger, try to attract attention," advises the Citizens for Crime Awareness, a non-profit crime prevention organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba. "Scream, run and yell, if you are able."

You're being attacked by a predator; sexual assault might be imminent. What's your best plan of attack? According to the Hingham, Massachusetts, police department, your best defence is your common sense. Your goal isn't to fight the offender, but to make an opportunity to escape from him.

• This can be done passively by claiming to be pregnant, sick or having a sexually transmitted disease.
• You can also try to discourage him by saying that a friend or family member is on the way over.
• Using items on your person, or in your immediate environment, can be your key to surviving violent confrontations.
• You can use the most mundane things to defend yourself, including glass bottles, aerosols (throw the can at your attacker, or spray him in the eyes), silverware, sand, bricks and even furniture.