Protecting Your Children

The idea of a child being abducted is every parent's nightmare. WHIZ's Katie Jeffries spent time with the Muskingum County Sheriff today to get tips on moves your children can use to stay safe.

It is physically impossible for a child to over power an adult, but with the right techniques, every child has a chance to get away from a possible abduction safely.

Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz says with children, there is safety in numbers.

"I always think it is best if they are in numbers. Anytime there is one individual child somewhere the risk is going to go up, So I think if you know where your child is at, know who they are with, kind of control the environment they are in, that has a lot of do with it," says Sheriff Lutz.

Deputy Sheriff Dave Neal walked me through what a child should do if he or she is grabbed by an adult.

"Scratching...yelling 'stranger, stranger', stomping, kicking, biting, yelling all the time.. also grabbing here (abductor's arm) holding on to create dead weight. Also coming down here (abductor's leg) sitting on the foot and holding onto the leg as dead weight and the whole time screaming, yelling... never giving up on the screaming," explains Deputy Sheriff Neal.

The same techniques apply if a child is grabbed from behind.

"If I go dead weight your arms are going to come up a little bit, so you can bite and you can stomp and hair pull and yell.. yell as loud as possible," tells Deputy Sheriff Neal.

Children who are not strong enough to fight should use the dead weight technique .

"If a child is not very strong, to sit on the foot and grab the attacker's leg and just be dead weight. Hold on for dear life and make it as difficult for that person to take the child as possible," says Deputy Sheriff Neal.

Sheriff Lutz says taking kids through these scenarios will better their chances of a safe getaway.

"You can't be too prepared for those kinds of things and any kind of scenario that you go through with them, they will be more prepared in the future," explains Sheriff Lutz.

If children can get away from an abductor teach them to run toward a crowd and never toward a secluded area. Also, parents need to keep a close eye on their children when out in public, because most abductors are not strangers, but people they or their children already know.

Sheriff Lutz says if parents notice anything or anyone out of place in their neighborhood always call the police or sheriff's office right away.

http://tinyurl.com/yg7aztn

Best Self Defense Classes

If you are looking for a Self Defense class and not necessarily just a martial arts class you should inquire if the program teaches and emphasizes awareness, avoidance and physical self defense with the tools you possess all time; ie hands, feet, elbows, knees, head, etc.. Many, but not all, Martial Arts classes will teach you these techniques but not until the higher belts. Do your research before you sign any contract---make sure you are getting what you want and need. Many schools will allow you to take aprox 2 weeks free and let you sit in the room that their teaching--take advantage of this.

If you would like some input with your decision drop me a note.

Self-Defense Instructors Say to Stay Aware

Rochester, N.Y. -- Self-defense instructor Ryan Fredericks says there's no set way to handle an attack, but with proper training you can be prepared.

“You definitely have to have a mind set and a skill set to back what you're going to do on the street as far as protecting yourself,” says Fredericks, who runs Close Quarters Combat in Rochester.

He says the first thing everyone can do is pay attention to what's going on around you.

“Don't fumble on your cell phone text messaging or calling anybody,” Fredericks says. “Have your keys ready to get into your vehicle, look around look under your vehicle... Make sure no one is following you.”

He says if someone does approach you with a weapon, give them what they want, but don't let them take you to the next location.

“You basically want to do everything that they say in the hopes that giving them your money, your wallet, your purse, is going to be enough,” says Fredericks. “If they're looking to take you somewhere, do not go and put up a fight.”

Fredericks says only with proper self defense training should you try to disarm someone, but if you do find yourself fighting back, he says going for the groin doesn't always work and that there are better spots you can target.

“You might be grabbing the sides of someone’s skin, their love handles, gripping onto their neck, pulling an ear…. Go to the face. Don't worry about the groin because it's not necessarily going to do that much damage until you're in a position of dominance.”

Reported by: Edward Moody
Email: emoody@13wham.com
Last Update: 10/08 7:46 pm
http://tinyurl.com/yfyt3p6

Victim of a sexual assault

If you are the victim of a sexual assault:

• Seek medical treatment immediately, even if you don’t feel you have any physical injuries; you may have internal injuries, which require treatment. You can also receive medication to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases and, if you choose, medication to prevent pregnancy.
• Do not wash, change clothes, comb your hair, or wipe yourself after urinating. Even if you do not wish to pursue legal action against the perpetrator, by collecting evidence, you give yourself the option of pressing charges in the future.
• Seek counseling or support from someone you trust or a mental health professional. After a sexual assault, many women are in shock and may feel fine and able to “cope,” but there can be a delayed reaction to the assault.

National Center for Victims of Crime: 1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx


Information came from the following link
http://bgh.kaleidahealth.org/services/services_display.asp?SID=350&CID=3

Best Defense

"You're best defense is to look at your lifestyle, figure out what kind of threats you are most likely to face, and implement strategies that reduce the chances of them happening." http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/self-defense.htm

Quote

Train for what happens most and you will be able to handle most of what happens. Marc MacYoung

Awareness, De-escalation, Physically Defending

Awareness

Awareness is defending yourself by avoiding danger altogether by thinking ahead, or making good decisions. Examples include parking in a well-lit area, not wearing music headphones while jogging (so you can use your sense of hearing to pay attention to your surroundings), or looking under your car/in the backseat before entering to ensure there is no one waiting for you.

Due to its non-physical nature, awareness is emphasized heavily in women's self defense classes where it is assumed that the attacker will probably be larger and stronger than the victim.

Awareness: http://tinyurl.com/mah5w

De-escalation

De-escalation is the use of voice, tone, and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violence actually ensues.

De-escalation: http://tinyurl.com/mah5w

Physically Defending

****LEARN TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS****
If you choose to run away from your attacker, be careful to make sure to run to a safe place, where other people are that can possibly help you.

****If you do run your attacker will be behind you and you will not see what and where they are****

****There is the possibility of your attacker being able to out run you****

Men and women have different socializations. A man expects a man to stand up to them, and an assailant will use this to talk the man into a fight. Men who choose to attack women are cowards but dangerous. A man does not expect a woman to stand up to them, and a male assailant will often back down when she does.http://tinyurl.com/mah5w