Suggestion for any and every get together. Role playing.
A week or so ago there was a news article: http://www.kvoa.com/story/32802386/pcsd-arrests-2-in-connection-to-robberies-that-targeted-elderly . I had just seen the pepper spray video mentioned in the SAFETY ON THE ROAD forum: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Pretty-good-pepper-spray-tutorial and had dug out my small can of pepper spray. I had added a string tie to it, then left it home. :huh:
I did a few errands, then stopped for gas at a station that I had used once before. This was about noon, on the corner of a major street, bright sunny day. My van was between me and the station, so I was not visible from inside the store. I was trying to pump gas, but the nozzle kept quitting on me, and I was getting frustrated, not paying attention to what was going on behind me.
I was working to keep the gas flowing when I heard a voice behind me. I turned to see a tall young man-teenager-type, approaching, saying something. I was trying to pump gas, frustrated, and make sense of this stranger coming up behind me.
I said "WHAT!!"
He stopped several feet away and asked for a dollar and a half, he wanted to take the bus to downtown. I really should have screamed at him--get back! something, but I dug out the money and he did leave. I have since regretted my actions. Rather than stopping what I was doing, I wish I had had the ATTITUDE --the PRACTICE--to yell at him.
When I think of it now, I was vulnerable. I will never again park where I cannot be seen from inside the building, and I hope the next time there won't be a next time, but if there is, I can scream GET BACK GET AWAY whatever.
I think this kind of role playing would benefit all of us.
I'm elderly, and have NEVER in my life had that kind of experience.
Wish I had had it as a training experience.
Set up situations where one person is busy (or not) and approached from behind, and have the other defend him/herself by yelling, raising a small something to mimic the pepper spray. Just to give practice on appropriate response. Maybe even have a volunteer or two go around to surprise others over the days for practice. THOSE people should have ID visible so there's no question that they are role playing...
Just having that practice may help save someone's life.
.
A week or so ago there was a news article: http://www.kvoa.com/story/32802386/pcsd-arrests-2-in-connection-to-robberies-that-targeted-elderly . I had just seen the pepper spray video mentioned in the SAFETY ON THE ROAD forum: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Pretty-good-pepper-spray-tutorial and had dug out my small can of pepper spray. I had added a string tie to it, then left it home. :huh:
I did a few errands, then stopped for gas at a station that I had used once before. This was about noon, on the corner of a major street, bright sunny day. My van was between me and the station, so I was not visible from inside the store. I was trying to pump gas, but the nozzle kept quitting on me, and I was getting frustrated, not paying attention to what was going on behind me.
I was working to keep the gas flowing when I heard a voice behind me. I turned to see a tall young man-teenager-type, approaching, saying something. I was trying to pump gas, frustrated, and make sense of this stranger coming up behind me.
I said "WHAT!!"
He stopped several feet away and asked for a dollar and a half, he wanted to take the bus to downtown. I really should have screamed at him--get back! something, but I dug out the money and he did leave. I have since regretted my actions. Rather than stopping what I was doing, I wish I had had the ATTITUDE --the PRACTICE--to yell at him.
When I think of it now, I was vulnerable. I will never again park where I cannot be seen from inside the building, and I hope the next time there won't be a next time, but if there is, I can scream GET BACK GET AWAY whatever.
I think this kind of role playing would benefit all of us.
I'm elderly, and have NEVER in my life had that kind of experience.
Wish I had had it as a training experience.
Set up situations where one person is busy (or not) and approached from behind, and have the other defend him/herself by yelling, raising a small something to mimic the pepper spray. Just to give practice on appropriate response. Maybe even have a volunteer or two go around to surprise others over the days for practice. THOSE people should have ID visible so there's no question that they are role playing...
Just having that practice may help save someone's life.
.