What You Don't Know Can Kill You

There’s an old saying, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” Unfortunately, when it comes to self-defense, what you don’t know may very well get you killed.

I was at the ATM today and couldn’t believe what I saw. A woman left her car running, door open, while she “ran in” to get some cash. When I warned her that she was leaving herself open for someone to 1) steal her car or worse 2) hide in the backseat waiting for her to return to do whatever, she looked stunned.

Very few of us leave our homes every morning with the intent of being robbed, raped or beaten. We wander through life with rose colored glasses on believing that Utopia is here, and no one is out to hurt us. We do not believe crime can happen to us.

If you listen to the nightly news, you know that Utopia is a fairy tale and that criminals lurk in every nook and cranny they can find. Colleges, white collar neighborhoods and churches, once thought to be safe havens against crime are now being exposed to the darkness of violence.

Personal safety is not something you turn on and off. You create safety habits so that you are prepared at all times. Just like the fire triangle consists of oxygen, heat and fuel to create a fire; the crime triangle consists of opportunity, a criminal and a target – you.

You control two of those facets – opportunity and you. When you take away the Opportunity, there is no crime. The key to your personal safety is awareness .

Don’t give criminals the opportunity by being aware of your surroundings.

**Angie M. Tarighi is the CEO/Founder of Women's Self-Defense Institute and EasySafety4U.com providing self defense training, education awareness & personal protection products empowering women to fight back against crime.