| As the population in the U.S. ages, seniors continue | | | | Wedge the keys between fingers and you have a |
| to be the fastest growing segment in the | | | | home made kubaton that can be a dangerous |
| country. Life expectancies are rising and baby | | | | weapon. |
| boomers are living their retirement years pretty | | | | 3. Know Where to Hit - Don't be afraid to gouge |
| well. Because they represent a 'soft target' for | | | | eyes or jab at the throat of an attacker. We are |
| crooks and bad guys all over they are more at | | | | taking about defending your self here. Don't be |
| risk than most. | | | | bashful. Be aggressive. |
| This generation of seniors is the most active to | | | | 4. Be Alert and Prepared - The bad guys thrive |
| date which in some ways accentuates their | | | | on surprise and deception as part of their |
| vulnerability. | | | | strategy. Seniors who are distracted make for |
| Seniors are more vulnerable to property crimes, | | | | easy targets. |
| including vehicle theft and burglary. Roughly 92 | | | | 5. Learn - Some basic Self defense techniques. |
| percent of crimes against those aged 65 and | | | | Besides potentially saving your life it is good |
| over are property crimes. Approximately one in | | | | exercise. Get a group together and have some |
| five personal crimes against seniors involve theft. | | | | fun learning something new and useful |
| Rather than beating attacker with their canes | | | | 6. Make noise - Most attacks on seniors are in |
| various organizations who have large senior | | | | dark secluded places with few people around. |
| constituents have taken to providing self defense | | | | Screaming yelling and using an alarm will draw |
| tips for seniors. Here are some common sense | | | | attention and may scare the bad guys away. |
| tips from one senior to others to keep you safe | | | | 7. Fight Back - The bad guys don't expect |
| an out of harm's way. | | | | resistance. When you start fighting back they |
| 1. Carry - Some Self defense products like a | | | | may just take off. |
| personal alarm, pepper spray, or stun gun. They | | | | A well rounded self defense strategy should |
| are all easy to use, inexpensive and allow you | | | | feature a basic self defense techniques course, a |
| time to get away from a dangerous situation. | | | | good pepper spray and stun device. These self |
| 2. Use What is Available - No self defense | | | | defense products can be your best friends in a |
| products? No problem. Use your cane or walker. | | | | time of need. What are you waiting for? |
| Ball point pens or keys make great weapons too. | | | | |