| College is back in full swing. Our kids are off to | | | | Well, what if it does happen to them? Will your |
| school, away from home and in a new world. And | | | | daughter (or son) be prepared for such an event? |
| that could be a very dangerous world! | | | | What will they do to protect and defend |
| You just have to hear the words "Virginia Tech" and | | | | themselves? |
| uncomfortable, even fearful feelings come to your | | | | Try this scenario. Your daughter sees a person who |
| mind. | | | | looks threatening and who wants to do more than |
| Because of this and other tragedies, colleges are | | | | just say hello. She should open her purse and pull a |
| quickly adding better security to their campuses. And | | | | pepper spray canister out as well as her personal |
| that's great because our kids have it hard enough | | | | alarm. Better yet, especially if it is dark, she should |
| trying to adapt to college life on campus. They want | | | | have a personal alarm in her hand and the pepper |
| an education -- but how about some safety | | | | spray on a keychain hanging on her purse. No, this is |
| education! | | | | NOT paranoia -- it's just being smart and prepared. |
| Today, unlike years ago, there are many kinds of | | | | Most personal alarms have a very loud alert that |
| personal safety and self protection devices available. | | | | everyone will hear. This alone will stop most people in |
| Personal alarms are small and fit in any purse or | | | | their tracks, and cause them to run away. But, if the |
| pocket -- they even clip to your belt. These alarms | | | | attacker continues to approach, then it's time to |
| give off a very loud sound that will get anyone's | | | | spray him with pepper spray. |
| attention. Also, pepper spray comes in different | | | | Even though pepper spray is non-lethal, the bad guy |
| camouflaged containers -- pagers, pens, key chains | | | | will feel like he's dying when his nose and eyes begin |
| and even lipstick! | | | | to run and his throat constricts. All he will be worrying |
| Think of how it was when you went to college or | | | | about for the next 20-30 minutes is trying to breathe |
| high school. If you were lucky, your classes were | | | | -- tell your daughter to immediately run away and call |
| close to each other. If you were like me, each class | | | | 911 and let the cops handle him. |
| was in a different building, scattered all over the | | | | If your daughter is on a date and the guy tries |
| campus, usually on the top floor. The library was | | | | something that she's not happy with, a camouflaged |
| never next to the dorm ... | | | | pepper spray such as a lipstick or a pager will do the |
| When I went to college, it wasn't like it is today. | | | | trick. These items look just like the real McCoy. He'll |
| Coeds could walk alone at night on campus and feel | | | | never know what hit him until he's on his knees |
| fairly secure. But today, with colleges becoming so | | | | coughing and wheezing. Then she should set off her |
| large, the parking lots, labs, study halls and the library | | | | personal alarm to attract attention, run away and call |
| seem to be in darker and more distant locations. | | | | 911. |
| Kids, being kids, will brave the dark and look for | | | | So, with this information in hand, send your daughter |
| shortcuts. They don't realize what can happen to | | | | (or son) off to college as prepared for personal |
| them. "It can't happen to me" seems to be the | | | | safety and self defense as they can be. |
| ongoing thought. | | | | |