Keep Safe
Ideas (best practices) from 8/1/21 Women’s Virtual Caravan, in no particular order.
Topic of the Caravan: Within the nomadic community, what strategies and tactics do you (or will you) employ to keep yourself safe around predators, especially the ones that present themselves as a friend.
- Google search person to see if information comes up
- Tell others if there’s a person who is a predator in your midst
- Intuition — use it, act on it, see if others have it, practice acting on it
- Contact others if there’s a “red flag”
- If “red flag” happens in chat or Facebook, copy/past and send to admin/facilitator/host
- Take a women’s self-defense class
- Project (even if you don’t feel it) an air of self-confidence
- Stay aware of your surroundings, look around was you walk (don’t get be distracted by your phone)
- Give yourself permission to say “no” … hold your hand at arms length to physically block them from coming closer
- Develop a “hard” exterior (opposite of being naive)
- Learn to read people
- When hiking, take a large bright flashlight
- Know where your keys are
- When camping with someone you don’t know, invite a trusted friend to camp with you
- Don’t answer personal questions online
- Limit exposure to those who drink or drug
- Don’t respond … you don’t have to say “hi” or answer a question or acknowledge their presence
- Be aware of the intelligence information and clues you are giving away so that a possible stalker or predator can’t find out even more information out about you.
- If you have a predictable routine, change it up.
- Communicate on a “need to know” basis.
- When talking with someone for the first time, tell them only a little bit about yourself, remain a mystery, listen to their story instead.
- Create pretend situations with a friend to practice saying “no” and setting boundaries with a person who keeps pushing
- Don’t take people at face value
- Be like Janell (send words to song to SuanneCarlson@homesonwheelsalliance.org)
Possible “tells” that someone is a predator:
- They don’t take “no” for an answer
- They don’t respect boundaries
- Their FB page is new or has little information about them
If I missed something or you have more to add, email me. Other ideas, email me. Need clarification, email me. SuanneCarlson@homesonwheelsalliance.org