FROM KRISTEN:
Helpful websites and phone numbers:
These websites should be looked at by parents first before allowing children to view. Some have graphic details and language, though most are alright for kids, be sure it’s something you want your child to watch first. They do offer great ideas and advice for adults however J
www.7most.com
Crisis Clinic of the Peninsula 360-452-4500
www.freeselfdefensevideos.com
Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-562-6025
www.freeselfdefensedvd.com
Safehome/Sexual Assault 360-452-4357
www.self-defender.net
Rape Relief 360-452-4357
www.theselfdefenseco.com
Healthy Families 360-452-3811
www.protectivestrategies.com
24hr Crisis line 360-452-HELP
www.howtofightandwin.com
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Program 360-385-5291
A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER….
The idea is to get away with your life, not stick around for the fight….pay attention to your surroundings…safety in numbers, don’t walk alone if you don’t have to…LISTEN TO YOUR GUT INSTINCTS, THEY ARE RARELY WRONG, and if they are…BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!! Every 6 minutes, there is a forcible rape…every 22 seconds, 24/7, there is a violent crime taking place…walk with confidence, even if you don’t know where you’re going, walk with purpose…don’t look like a victim, know where you’re going and where you could get help along the way if you need it..grocery store..coffee shop..fire dept..etc…know where your exits or escape routes are…keep your car key fob next to your bed, if you hear a noise..push the panic button on your car alarm, it could scare off a would be intruder..never ever let an attacker take you to a second location, it will be secluded and nothing good will come of it…scream..make noise..cause a scene and don’t be embarrassed, it could save your life and bad guys are looking for good, quiet kids who won’t put up a struggle or fight them, your life is worth making a big scene over, better to look a little silly and be wrong about someone, than to be too shy to shout ,and be right about someone you have a bad sense about…fight smarter, not harder..surprise your attacker with the first hit if you know for sure you’re about to be attacked, it may throw them off guard enough for you to get away and at the very least it will tell them you may not be worth the fight…lock your car door as soon as you get in…don’t hang out in the parking lot going through your purse or receipt, especially alone at night...bad guys are real…when someone shows you who they are...believe them..if someone can’t take “no” for an answer they are disrespecting your wishes, and saying what you want does not matter...this is a red flag...don’t be afraid to use dirt, rocks, sand..or other substances to throw in your attackers eyes, he won’t fight fair, and neither should you…if you know where and how to hit, size doesn’t matter…eyes, groin, knees, feet, throat, temples, nose are all sensitive area’s when hit, pulled, stomped, or twisted…adults ask other adults for help, not kids..this is a red flag..Listen to your gut and get away fast! Do not stop..do not give up until you are safe and have gotten away…the palm of your hand shoved up at an attackers nose real hard will most likely blur the vision, possibly break it and cause enough pain to drop a grown man long enough for an escape…people will call for assistance when you yell “FIRE” more often than when you yell “HELP”…few people yell fire without meaning it, but people playing around yell help all the time and it goes unnoticed…whistles are louder and take less energy than your voice when you’re panicked and lose your breath, keep one handy & ready to use if walking alone, if it’s in the bottom of your purse, you won’t have time to find it when you really need it, be ready for anything….. if you can keep calm, you have a much better chance of survival...if you are attacked..TELL SOMEONE, don’t think you will be in trouble for something that happened TO you, being attacked is 100% the attackers fault, not yours…mace, bug spray, household cleaners, mouth sprays, hairspray or anything that says “AVOID EYE CONTACT” can be used as a weapon in a pinch if attacked in your home..sounds silly, but keep your doors locked while you’re home, and curtains or blinds closed at night, we can see in…you can’t see out and have no idea who’s watching or for what reason…just because you know the boy who wants to take you to the dance, doesn’t mean you put your guard down, self preservation above all funky chickens! Adapt and overcome, if one method fails, try another tactic, your attacker will...you should too….kids must keep their parents informed on where they are and when plans change, if we don’t hear from you, we’ll come looking, and if we don’t find you where you said you would be, YOU’RE GROUNDED for making us worry and lying. Keep parents informed and you’ll get so much more freedom than trying to be sneaky to get it...we’ll find out anyway, so do your selves a favor and make life easier on yourself, keep parents informed on all change of plans…group dates are fun and safer than one on one dates..and keeps unwanted pressure and advances to a minimum…warning signs are almost always present in abusive situations, you only have to pay attention and recognize them, then listen to them…and get out of the situation immediately…know you have the power to help yourself out of a bad situation if you don’t give up.
we live in a small community, one that still has crime, violence, murder, rape, and has more than its share of creeps out there, we need to be looking out for our neighbors, girlfriends, children, and each other, to keep safe now days. School is about to start, it’s hunting season for perverts trying to do our kids harm while they are walking to school alone in the dark mornings of fall, I urge parents to make arrangements with a friend or relative to take kids to school in the morning, which is when most attempts seem to occur, let’s not give the pervs anyone to hunt this school year since they can’t seem to control themselves. If they have to walk, maybe another walker can walk with them so they aren’t as approachable as if they were alone. Giving our children confidence that they can be street smart, be safe, be able to take care of themselves if put in an uncomfortable situation is important for their self esteem. The higher their self esteem and confidence, the less they look like a victim. Listen to your kids if they come to you telling you of being attacked or abused in any way, stay calm, and be there for your child, then seek the proper help for the situation.
Christin would be so proud of every one of you who are taking the first step in learning how to protect yourself. These tips won’t stop a bullet..if you are being mugged, and there’s a gun involved, give up the watch, wallet, wedding rings if demanded…be smart, those are JUST things..not people..they can be replaced..you can’t be, don’t be a hero over $20, but if there is no gun involved or other weapon you don’t think you can avoid, what you’ve learned here today very well could protect you enough to give you a chance to get away, and after all, if you get away, you win. Don’t let anyone take your power from you without a fight.
Thank you so much for participating in this important event...with enough interest, we may do a follow up class, as you can never have too much practice learning to protect yourself. I would also like to thank the following supporters of our event and our cause, for without them, it would be me in a field trying to entertain all of you, and that would only be worth $7.50 at best…so, thank you :
Jefferson Elementary School, Mrs. Olsen, The Tribal Edge Training Center, Officer Dropp and the Port Angeles Police Department, Excel Designs Inc., Estes Builders, all of our wonderful talented trainers and volunteers, some of which were willing to get pummeled for our good cause J, Miss Paige at the Peninsula Daily News, and Healthy Families
Please keep an eye out for our next event, thank you all again for coming, please stay safe!
Kristen & Jason Chittick and the Christin Stock School Zone Safety Fund