This is a more serious post, and much needed during these times.
I was originally writing this article in hopes to spread awareness and tools for prevention for date rape, and girls being taken advantage of. I have now since found out that these products are still in the making and won't be available to the public until hopefully September of this year, but still worth talking about all the same.
My father taught personal safety and self defense most of my child / adult life. He taught and spoke in Universities and colleges across the country teaching women and children to stay safe. My sister and I traveled with him in training's showing techniques on what to do when coming across these situations. I strongly suggest any woman to take a course at some point in their life to know the basics on how to protect yourself.
Having products such as Undercover Colors, and cups to detect spiked drinks is a major breakthrough for women, yet still, there are some things that women should just know and be aware of while being out in the world.
Number one. The buddy system, I can't tell you how many times this has been ingrained in my head and how simple and crucially important this is. My dad told me this my whole life, and it wasn't until I was a young women that I came across a situation where I found myself In, where it saved my life. ALWAYS bring a buddy. I don't care if your 14 or 45. Go to the bathroom with a friend. At concerts, with a friend. Meeting a stranger, being in an Uber, WITH A FRIEND. The chances of you being harmed risks is greatly lowered, but on the off chance that it does, you will have a person you trust with you who can get you out of there.
Don't accept drinks from strangers. You know those things that we were taught as kids? Don't take candy from a stranger, same rule applies.
You don't need another person to buy you drinks. Be and independent woman.
Having said. I myself as well as close friends that I know have been in groups with people that they/ we knew, and still have found ourselves comprised. BUY YOUR OWN DRINKS and don't trust another human being you do not know.
Undercover Colors
I have not tried this product nor do I know first hand how well it works. I do not have the means, access or testing available to personally back these claims but am merely passing information along.
There are two companies that have come up with a way for young women to help stay safe and protect themselves in a world where we know it's unfortunately not, and while in situations where there thinking and these predators know may be comprised.
Undercover Colors is nail polish developed by 4 male college students from North Carolina University, and has been featured in Huffpost.
It is a nail polish that detects GHB, xanax and Rohypnol when dipped into your drink, your nail color simply changes, and you then know to not be safe. It is currently being developed and more information can be found on their Facebook page.
There is another product developed by 3 highschool girls that was featured in FORBES. The straw detects foreign substances that should not belong in your drink.
While these are great inventions, there are still things like your gut, and a little knowledge that can help to keep you safe.
When parked in a parking garage alone, always walk to your car with your keys in hand, that way you can easily access your car, use your alarm to bring attention, or last resort as a weapon to defend yourself.
Always look in the back of your seat of your car before getting into a vehicle.
And last but not least, hopefully noone ever finds themselves in this situation but if you ever find yourself in a the trunk of a car. They now have pulls from the inside of most trunks, but the very worst thing you can be is actually in the car. If you find yourself there, you are to kick out the back tail lights throught the inside with your feet. You can then hopefully when stopped at a light, stick your hand out through where a passer by can see you.
Hope some young women, and their parents find this helpful. Young men to should be aware, it's a double standard and the world we live in can be a dangerous place. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to know of a self defense class and or group.
Stay Safe
xo Cait
RAINN | National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org
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