BuzzFeed readers offer practical advice for staying safe in various situations, covering topics like vehicle safety, abduction prevention, finding safe havens, escalator etiquette, and personal security in urban environments.
As a Senior Staff Writer at BuzzFeed, I cover real-life stories that explore relationships, lifestyle , and the internet's most fascinating trends. In the comments, more readers shared their best"street smart" advice for staying safe in dangerous situations, and TBH, you'll want to grab a pen and take notes.
As a Senior Staff Writer at BuzzFeed, I cover real-life stories that explore relationships, lifestyle , and the internet's most fascinating trends.. In the comments, more readers shared their best"street smart" advice for staying safe in dangerous situations, and TBH, you'll want to grab a pen and take notes. Here's what they had to say:"Driver's ed teacher here. If you are being followed in your vehicle, pull into the nearest establishment with valet parking: a hotel, hospital, restaurant, etc. If you still see them, start blowing your horn — the more attention you attract, the better." "If you get abducted, spit on the ground, floor, pavement, wherever. If they get you into their vehicle, spit, leave a blood sample if possible, and leave fingerprints. DNA may assist in the arrest of the culprit, should the worst happen. Scratching/clawing also collects DNA samples from the perp." "For whatever reason, if you need a safe place to go late at night, try all-night diners, like Denny's, IHOP, or hospital emergency rooms. During daytime hours, try the children's section of the public library, community centers, or senior citizen center — even if it's just to ask a random reference question or verification of your location, especially if you're being followed.""Escalators can be deadly when full. 1) Stand to the right in a single file so others can walk past. It helps keep them from getting congested. 2) DO NOT STOP when you get off. Immediately and quickly step to the side, or there is a good chance that you will cause a people pile-up. There will be bruises, blood, broken bones, and a lot of verbal abuse directed at you.""I lived in NYC in my late 20s, and I was never robbed. Shopping in NYC is great, but never buy a purse that doesn't have zippers on all pockets. Never. Also, RFID blocking is 100% necessary, and always set your account to receive immediate activity alerts. It's annoying, but worth it."Be aware of your surroundings. Stop looking at your damn phone. Your life is worth more than some TikTok video. If you're walking toward someone, and they're looking straight at you , then they're sizing you up. Keep the keys in your hand at all times and put one between your fingers. If an armed attacker demands your wallet, give it to them. Everything can be replaced except your life.""Young parents, stop advertising that you have children. Don’t drive around with baby on board decals, 'my child is an honor roll student at ,' and personalizedor frames that say something about your kids. There are predators out there. My mother-in-law had a bumper sticker made without my consent that said 'Jack and Jill are the best grandkids.' She came out of a store one day and found a ransom note saying they had been kidnapped. Frightening.""Never, ever leave the seemingly most worthless item visible in a car. Put it in the trunk, as a thief can break a window or door to get to it, thinking it's valuable.""If you are about to enter an enclosed space, like an elevator, car, or even someone's home, and you are getting a bad vibe, just snap your fingers and say, 'Oh, I forgot something,' and turn quickly and walk away fast. I used to be afraid I might hurt someone's feelings if I didn't enter that enclosed space with them, but I have learned the hard way to listen to my body; it's saying something is off, then just leave. Don't worry about hurting some person's feelings .""Before leaving your home, always inform someone close to you who you trust of exactly where you plan on going and what time you plan on returning. Have your location on and shared with them so it would be easy to trace your whereabouts in case of an emergency, or if they need to get a hold of you. I live alone and have daily checks in with my parents over the phone, but weekly should be fine.""Always look in the backseat of your car before you get in. Never park on the right side of a van with a sliding door, and if one parks next to you, get into your car on the passenger side." "If you have to defend yourself, there are no rules and no such thing as a fair fight; use anything at hand as a weapon, make a scene if in a public place, run, and fight like hell if not." "If you see a paper or tissue/anything out of the ordinary on your door handle, do not touch it. A lot of the time, there are chemicals on it, and it sometimes will make your fingers numb or feel weird, making you an easy target." "People visiting a city, please, for the love of God, if you're not walking with the flow of traffic, move to the side. New Yorkers are some of the nicest, most helpful people you will ever meet. They are proud of their city, they want people to see it, but they also want to get to work on time. When tourists walk slowly and stop to look at every building, they end up late to work or whatever else they're doing. That's when you're going to get the pissed-off New Yorker experience."in my late teens and 20s. I learned very quickly not to look anyone in the eye when you're walking and always to walk briskly.""Don't ruin your vacation by being paranoid about safety. Yes, be aware, but you are a tourist and cannot fool anyone into thinking you're not. Just be aware, and keep your head up. If you're with someone else, have one person look at the phone and the other pay attention."If you're moving to a rough area in a large city, BE NICE TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE BODEGA/CORNER STORE. Not only will you get discounts and access to the products they keep hidden, but there were also two different times at two different spots they kept me safe from physical violence.""If you are alone on a subway platform or feel intimidated, wait near the nearest manned booth . If you feel the same, change to a more populated area if you are alone." "Always look serious and walk with confidence. This way, you don't become an easy target. And don't be quick to smile. It has worked for me for years; they said, That B looks so mean.' Haha.""If you must place your personal bags in a shopping cart, tie them to the handle of the cart. If you turn your back, someone can't take them and run." What are some other"street safety tips" that more people should know? Share your thoughts in the comments. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.
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