I've been binge watching nine seasons worth of Forensic Files thanks to Netflix and have learned a lot from it. Mainly personal safety lessons. The overall take away from it is, No matter what crime is committed time and technology will catch everyone involved. Still I've decided to take the time to point out some of the best advice I've garnered from the show.
1. Let someone know where you go, especially at night.
If you're heading to a party, date, a bar or any other event either let someone know or make a note of it on a calendar/phone app/Facebook. Your goal here is to leave a traceable timeline of your activity. This is in case the worst should happen so the Cops can find your assailant fast and get justice for you.
2. Don't help strangers when you're alone.
Most of us are happy to help someone make a call or render whatever aid we can in a crisis. But these moments can be taken advantage of by would-be criminals. If someone knocks on your door or flags you down on an isolated road and asks to use your phone or asks for a ride, don't help. Instead offer to call a professional to help them. While keeping all windows and doors locked while while doing so.
3. If you're having problems with someone, tell loved ones about it.
No matter if it's a guy or girl, if they make you worried about your personal safety...Tell Someone! Don't internalize it or rationalize it away. Again if you can't talk to someone leave a note at home in a journal, scrap of paper or the computer. I've done this for the past 16 years. It feels odd at first but I'm still alive.
4. Being Pulled Over.
If you suspect that the person trying to pull you over is not a police officer (for example, he or she is driving an unmarked car), you do not have to immediately pull over. Instead, put your flashers on, indicate that you acknowledge the "officer’s" presence by waving at him, continue driving at the speed limit towards a busy, well-lit area, and call 911. Inform the 911 dispatcher that you are worried that someone posing as a police officer is trying to pull you over. Tell the dispatcher your current location and direction of travel as well as the make and model of your car. Do not get out of your car until the 911 dispatcher can confirm that person trying to pull you over is a real police officer. If the dispatcher cannot confirm that the person, carefully drive to a safe place such as your local police station and follow all of the dispatcher’s additional instructions.
5. Punch, Kick, Claw and Bite!
If you're being attacked, Fight! This is how violent crimes are solved the fastest. Leave your mark on the bastard! Get their DNA under your finger nails. Bite them and draw blood, put your Foot in their Ass leaving shoe prints or bruise the hell out of them with fists of steal! If the fight is too prolonged some attackers will give up and run/limp away. *But do this only if you're being attacked*
If you're abducted by someone and can't escape in the first few moments, comply and observe until you can. Keep your dignity. It is generally psychologically harder for a person to kill, maim or otherwise harm a captive if the captive remains "human" in the captor's eyes. Do not grovel, beg or become hysterical. Try even not to cry. Do not challenge your abductor but show him/her that you are worthy of respect.
Submission to force doesn't mean you can't leave your mark in other ways. Try to put your finger prints everywhere you can. The harder to clean area, the better. Under toilet seats, beds, pictures, faucets, anywhere that would be hard to explain by the criminal when caught. Even peeing some where other than the toilet can help prove you were there.
These are only 5 safety lessons I learned from the show. There are a few more but these five are repeated throughout the different episodes. Just be sure to stay alert and safe out there. If there are any other safety tips you want to add please leave them in the comments below. But before I go here's a bonus tip:
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