April 6, 2020

Personal Safety Tips for Living in Big Cities with High Crime Rates

St. Louis, Missouri. Detroit, Michigan. Baltimore, Maryland. What do all three of these places have in common?

Crime. Living or traveling to these places can put your personal safety at risk, as these cities have some of the highest crime rates in the nation. St. Louis, Missouri alone has a violent crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 people, with 205 homicides each year. Detroit and Baltimore don’t fare much better, with violent crime rates of 2,057 and 2,027 per 100,000 people, and homicide rates of 267 and 342, respectively.[1]

But it’s not just violent crime and homicide that make living in a big city dangerous when it comes to your personal safety. The threat of theft, assault or simply being harassed can turn some people off to spending time in or moving to the city.

However, there are some simple personal safety tips that, when followed, allow you to enjoy living in or visiting the city, without fear:

Personal Safety Tips - Stranger Danger Tip: Be Alert.

When you’re in a city, you’ll be spending time around large numbers of people that you don’t know. And while most strangers are harmless and even well-meaning, you need to be alert, should you cross paths with a dangerous stranger. To remain alert, put your cell phone down and pay attention to your surroundings. This is an easy way to spot people and situations that may take a dangerous turn. So you can exit the situation and get away from the stranger as soon as possible.

If a stranger does approach you, do your best to get away as quickly and matter-of-factly as possible. Distance yourself physically from the person so that he or she cannot touch or grab you. If possible, move to a well-lit and well-populated area so there are other people around who could assist.

 

If the person becomes aggressive, immediately call – and yell! – for help from those around you. Sometimes others aren’t paying attention, and they wouldn’t even realize the stranger poses a risk to your personal safety until you cry out. And if he or she tries to touch or grab you, do whatever it takes – kicking, biting, hitting – to remove yourself from the situation.

Look Confident

Even if you’re unfamiliar with which subway stop you need to take, do your best to appear knowledgeable and savvy. Research the public transportation route beforehand, so you know where you want to get on/off. Don’t linger in the subway after you exit, either. Instead, immediately find your way to the exit and out to the street. If you’re walking, consult your smartphone’s map before heading out. So you are aware of the route, street names, etc. on the way to your destination.

While walking, hold your head high, maintain a brisk pace, and always keep one hand free. If possible, avoid walking alone, to reduce the appearance of being an “easy target.”

Carry Protection

To give yourself an added layer of protection and confidence, carry something with you that can be used to fend off an attacker. Mace, pepper spray, and even stun guns (where legal) are tools that you can employ if someone tries to attack you. Carrying your car keys between your fingers can create an instant weapon to jab an attacker with as well.

There are also companies that manufacture weapons like knives, tasers, and kubatons that come on a keychain. These weapons are discreet and easy to carry in your hand for that added feeling of confidence, too.

Carry the Silent Beacon Wearable Safety Device with You

personal safety tips for Crime areas

In addition to the previous personal safety tips, carry the Silent Beacon wearable panic button with you wherever you go. This small, lightweight personal safety device can be clipped onto a keychain or lanyard. This will provide you with instant access to emergency assistance with the press of a button.

 

The Silent Beacon safety device pairs with the free Silent Beacon app. Simply load up to seven contacts (including emergency personnel), set up your preferences, and you’re prepared for any emergency. In the event of an emergency situation, you can use Silent Beacon to call any number including 911 while sending multiple people your live GPS location.

With the Silent Beacon’s GPS technology, first responders will be able to pinpoint your location in real time. This will saving your precious time and energy trying to identify where you are. As you wait for help to arrive, you can continue speaking with your emergency contact. You can communicate directly through the Silent Beacon device.

In sensitive situations, disable your LED lights and audio to silently notify your emergency contacts without revealing that you’ve activated the Silent Beacon. When calling for help in silent mode, your voice can be heard through the Beacon, but your contact’s voice will be muted.

Unlike competing devices, Silent Beacon requires no monthly or hidden fees. Once you purchase your device and connect it with your smartphone or tablet’s Bluetooth®. You won’t have to worry about additional fees or setup costs.

Enjoying Big Cities

As you can see, you don’t need to fear cities. In fact, recent data indicates a trend where people are moving back to cities in record numbers. [2] Knowing this, you deserve to enjoy the nightlife, cultural events, and conveniences that cities have to offer – without fearing for your personal safety.

Follow the personal safety tips above, and you’ll be well on your way to making the most of living in or visiting the city. Plus, the Silent Beacon is ideal for people living in (or visiting) a big city, providing you with protection and peace of mind.

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