Personal Safety and Self Defense. Wichita Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center

Transcription

1 Personal Safety and Self Defense Wichita Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Training Center 1

2 Overview Body Language (non-verbal communication) Discuss the 5-Stages of a Violent Crime Personal Safety Tips Self Defense Weapons Neighborhood Watch Physical Self Defense 2

3 Neurological Aspects of Body Language Women tend to respond to stress by nurturing and seeking social support. This is called tend and befriend cycle. Men tend to respond to stress with a more confrontational fight or flight response. It is important to bear this in mind when communicating with men and women as well as boys and girls. This is why women are much better at reading social cues. 3

4 1) Body language is always constant. Our body language always communicates. We are all being read every time we set foot in public. 2) Body language is always determined by context. The social rules, the cultural implications, the group s expectations plays a huge role in what will work for you. 3) Body language can never be judged based on one single signal. Five Truths of Body Language 4

5 4) Body language reveals the discrepancies between what a person says and what a person truly believes. When a person is truthful their body language is in congruence with their spoken word. 5) Body language mastery allows you to tune into micro expressions. These are brief flashes or gestures that inform on inner feelings. Five Truths of Body Language 5

6 Seven Universal Emotions 6

7 1) Sadness Raised inner eyelids Horizontal lines across the forehead Eyelid droop Mouth pulled downwards Raised lower eyelids 2) Surprise Eyebrows curve and rise up Upper eyelids go up Mouth opens ~ lips apart Whites of eyes seen above and below the iris Seven Universal Emotions 7

8 3) Fear Eyebrows are raised and drawn together Upper eyelids rise up Lips are parted, pulled down and tense 4) Anger Brows are furrowed Brows get lower Gaze becomes intense Lower eyelids tense Nostrils flare Lower lips bulge Seven Universal Emotions 8

9 5) Disgust Forehead usually relaxed Eyebrows are lowered Wrinkle on the upper nose Tense lower lid Pursed lips 6) Contempt Wrinkles on the nose One lip often raised in a sneer Hips sometimes pushed forward Tight mouth with slightly raised corners Seven Universal Emotions 9

10 7) Happiness Relaxed forehead Crow s feet Lines under eyes Mouth corners turned up Hips slightly parted Top teeth showing Seven Universal Emotions 10

11 YES Gestures Open palms Forward lean Smile Enhanced eye contact Head nodding Cheat Sheet to Hidden Thoughts 11

12 NO Gestures Folded arms Tapping Hand holding up the chin Feet and trunk pointed in different directions Hands on the knees Hand over the mouth Increased fidgeting Constant eye movement Shaking head Scowl Eye squinting Cheat Sheet to Hidden Thoughts 12

13 Intimate Touching 6-18 Personal Close -1½ to 2½ feet Far - 2½ to 4 feet Social Close feet Far feet Public Close feet Far - 25 feet or greater Distances 13

14 What does the criminal need to make his crime successful? Desire Ability Opportunity 14

15 The Crime Triangle We can take control of our own personal safety by understanding how crime happens and by educating ourselves to become tougher targets. In doing so, we begin breaking the Crime Triangle. 15

16 The goal of this training is to remove the opportunity for the criminals to be successful by educating the public on crime prevention. 16

17 Crime is a Process Most people believe that crime just happens. What they don't realize is that crime is a process. If you understand the process, you can greatly reduce and/or mitigate your chances of becoming a victim. 17

18 Crime is a Process The goal of self-defense is not to get physical, but to avoid the situation altogether. The more you understand about how crime develops, the more aware you become to the subtle signs of potential danger. 18

19 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime Is an internationally recognized system which is utilized by police, military, firearms and self-defense instructors. The system works to outline the process that a criminal works through before the attack even happens. The first 3 stages are where effective selfdefense awareness training can get you out of trouble. 19

20 Stage 1 - The Intent (Desire) In its simplest form, the Intent is where the criminal is mentally and physically prepared to commit violence. By being able to recognize potential psychological and verbal "tells," your awareness should kick you into a state of orange, or warning mode. 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 20

21 Stage 2 - The Interview This is the criminal's attempt through verbal interaction to get a sense of you as a potential target. Verify ability to carry out plan For example, are you too trusting, do you allow them in close, do you exhibit fear in your body language? A sample interview would be asking for directions or the time. How do you react? 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 21

22 Stage 3 - The Positioning Positioning is another word for opportunity. Just like when we discuss the crime triangle, without opportunity, there can be no crime. Opportunity is about the criminal placing himself in a place where he can successfully attack you quickly and effectively. Are you aware of your surroundings? Are you isolated? Do you have an escape route? Can you reach help quickly? 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 22

23 The next two stages are about the act of violence, where your physical self-defense skills may have to be utilized. They also only happen when the above three stages work. Meaning, if a criminal can't set you up, he most likely won't attack you. 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 23

24 Stage 4 - The Attack The criminal has now decided that you are a safe target and is starting the attack to get what they want. Your goal in any attack is survival and escape employing whatever verbal or physical self-defense tools you have available to you. 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 24

25 Stage 5 - The Reaction The reaction is the most dangerous of the five stages. It's how the criminal feels about himself for what he has just done; and how he views your reaction to what he has done. The volatility at this stage can turn an assault to a rape to a murder. The goal of self-defense training is to; Provide you with the tools that increase your response options. Reduce the likelihood that a criminal will identify you as a soft target and reduce the opportunities for attack. 5-Stages-of-Violent-Crime 25

26 How to Avoid Being A Victim Two reasons a person could be targeted Body language Be confident Walk confidently, keeping aware of the people in front of you, behind you and to your sides Lack of situational awareness Always have a mentally rehearsed plan of action, Such as what you would do, or where you would go in the event you were victimized in some way. 26

27 Basic Safety Do not assume that because you live or work in a good area that you can relax your guard. Always trust your instincts, if you feel something is wrong, act on your feelings. Always be physically and mentally prepared to run or escape an attacker, or as a last resort, to fight back. Have a plan of action and keep it simple. There are no absolutes and nothing will work in every situation 27

28 Basic Safety Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. If you feel that you are in danger, never feel awkward or embarrassed about enlisting the help of others. If someone attempts to rob you with a weapon, try to keep very calm and do not make any quick movements. Cooperate with the predator by giving them any valuables they may be demanding from you. 28

29 At Home Bright lights on porches and walkways Don't leave keys "hidden" outside the home. Leave an extra key with a trusted neighbor or colleague Lock windows Especially on the ground floor. Have locks installed on your fuse boxes and external power sources. If you have burglar or intrusion alarms, check and use them. Get to know your neighbors 29

30 Walking in public Never walk alone Walking with two people with you reduces the chance of being a victim by 90%, Walking with one person reduces your chance by 70% Avoid unlit and unpopulated areas You can t see the criminals and others can t see or hear you. 30

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33 Walking in public Walk in familiar locations You know what looks right and wrong in familiar areas. Mix up your route Change the time you leave or return and change your route. Take the elevator, stairs are good hiding grounds for predators 33

34 Rural Areas Don t listen to music in isolated areas. Earphones also keep you from hearing oncoming traffic. Avoid jogging in the early hours or at night. Consider your clothing. Wear reflective or light colors and proper footwear to avoid injury. Take a cell phone with you. This comes in handy if you end up spraining your ankle. Always double-tie your shoelaces to avoid trips. Switch up your routine. Never run the same route more than a few times. 34

35 Parking Lots Walk straight to the building and/or the car, don t wander Have your keys out and ready Park in a well-lit area If something doesn t look, sound, or feel right, go back and get an escort Look in your car before you get into it 35

36 Inside Your Vehicle Keep your doors locked when you re in the vehicle Don t leave packages or valuables in plain view Don t leave the engine running unattended Stay on the main roads Don t leave the garage door remote in plain view 36

37 Automated Teller Machines Avoid being alone at night using an ATM Use ATM s in public areas QT Dillon's Kwik Shop Make sure no one follows you from an ATM Use familiar ATM s 37

38 Body Language Keep your head up Make eye contact (criminals don t want to be identified) Keep eyes and ears open, hands free Cell phones and headphones are distractions Swing your arms Ready to react Stand straight up Display confidence 38

39 Purses Don t swing by straps. Wear strap across your body If no straps, carry like a football Carry money, id, credit cards in a separate place. Watch the items at all times, keep control. 39

40 Beware of your emotions Experts suggest some people tend to be more sympathetic than others DON T BE History shows criminals often play on those sympathies to lure their intended victim into dangerous situations If someone asks for help at a different location, be courteous but keep moving You can assist by making a phone call from a safe place. 40

41 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention These crisis moments do not sprout into being without roots there are almost always warning signs that let you know an individual s behavior is escalating. By following the tips listed here, you can often intervene before the crisis becomes dangerous. 41

42 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention 1. Be empathic. Try not to judge or discount the feelings of others. Whether or not you think their feelings are justified, those feelings are real to the other person. Pay attention to them. 2. Clarify messages. Listen for the person s real message. What are the feelings behind the facts? Ask reflective questions and use both silence and restatements. 3. Respect personal space. Stand at least 1.5 to 3 feet from an acting-out person. Invading personal space tends to increase the individual s anxiety and may lead to acting-out behavior. 42

43 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention 4. Be aware of your body position. Standing eye-to-eye and toe-to-toe with a person in your charge sends a challenging message. Standing one arms-length away and at an angle off to the side is less likely to escalate the individual. 5. Ignore challenging questions. When a person in your charge challenges your authority or a facility policy, redirect the individual s attention to the issue at hand. Answering challenging questions often results in a power struggle. 43

44 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention 6. Permit verbal venting when possible. Allow the individual to release as much energy as possible by venting verbally. If you cannot allow this, state directives and reasonable limits during lulls in the venting process. 7. Set and enforce reasonable limits. If the person becomes belligerent, defensive, or disruptive, state limits and directives clearly and concisely. When setting limits, offer choices and consequences to the acting-out individual. 44

45 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention 8. Keep your nonverbal cues nonthreatening. The more an individual loses control, the less that individual listens to your actual words. More attention is paid to nonverbal communication. Be aware of your gestures, facial expressions, movements, and tone of voice. 9. Avoid overreacting. Remain calm, rational, and professional. Your response will directly affect the person s behavior. 45

46 Ten Tips For Crisis Prevention 10. Use physical techniques only as a last resort. Use the least restrictive method of intervention possible. Physical techniques should be used only when individuals are a danger to themselves or others. Physical interventions should be used only by competent/trained staff. Any physical intervention may be dangerous. 46

47 When It s Too Late 10.If you end up in a violent situation the first thing to remember is to: REACT IMMEDIATELY Run, Run, Run Defend yourself (making the first move the most forceful) Try anything to get out (offering your wallet, cause an accident, signal others) 47

48 Types of Self Defense Weapons Whistles Effective in alerting people around you Body alarms Designed to be worn on a belt or waistband Stun-guns You have to touch your attacker 48

49 Types of Self Defense Weapons TASERs Allow you to maintain distance from attacker Pepper Spray Effective on people and animals Handguns Laws vary from state to state for carrying concealed in public 49

50 Neighborhood Watch The Sedgwick County Sheriff s Office Community Liaison Unit offers several programs that can be given to community groups, church groups and many other organizations at no charge. Please call for more information or us at communitypartners@sedgwick.gov It s not just a program to report suspicious activities and crimes, but to confront and resolve safety problems within the neighborhood. 50

51 Neighborhood Watch Neighborhood Watch is a program based on neighbors caring about neighbors. 51

52 Physically Defending Yourself Criminals have a plan planned out attack You must act to counter the plan Disrupt their plan with a physical counter Scenario 52

53 Four Components to Surviving Breathing an Attack Allows you to not have tunnel vision Relaxation See options or opportunities Posture Maintain balance / structure Movement Allows to exploit what suspect gives 53

54 O. O. D. A. Loop Situation 55

55 What Does OODA Mean? OBSERVE Take in stimulus of surrounding environment ORIENT Brain processes current information and compares it to past experiences DECIDE What plan of action to take ACT Implement your plan/action 56

56 Crime Statistics Current crime-statistics show that about 31 million total crimes are reported in the U.S. annually. That's about one crime per second. Victim rates of violent crimes have increased. Without warning, a situation can turn from safe to sorry And, most people who are victimized never imagined that crime would happen to them. It always happens to the other person. 57

57 Crime Statistics The crime-statistics indicate that in the next hour, somewhere in the United States, the following will happen: 900 Thefts 189 Violent Crimes 124 Assaults 66 Robberies 24 Sexual Assaults 12 Rapes 2 Murders Do you have the necessary knowledge and skill set to protect yourself against one of these crimes? 58

58 Crime Clock Statistics 59

59 Conclusion Personal Safety Tips Self Defense Weapons Neighborhood Watch Physical Self Defense 61

60 QUESTIONS 62

61 Thank You 63