What If . . . 20 Warnings and Practices That Could Save your Life!

                   
While the odds of something happening are remote, it is very important to consider, in advance, things you could do to help yourself if faced with an emergency situation. These tips are not presented to cause you to be overly afraid but to make you aware of possibilities and the precautions you can take and  actions you can implement if the need ever arises.  If they are thought out beforehand chances are great that they will be automatically recalled in a time of need, allowing you to act “instinctively.”

As the world continues to increase in darkness, it becomes increasingly important to be cautious. Desperate and drug-crazed individuals do not wait for what we would consider logical (i.e. isolated) locations or times to make their moves.

It is very important to always listen to your intuition or the promptings you receive.  This is usually the Holy Spirit whispering to you. DO NOT IGNORE THESE FEELINGS even if you feel they are inconsequential or would cause possible embarrassment.

1. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead!)

2. POLICE OFFICERS WOULD MUCH RATHER RESPOND TO A “FALSE ALARM” THAN TO AN ACTIVE CRIME SCENE.

3. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, whether alone or with someone, whether walking for exercise or pleasure, or going to and from your responsibilities or activities — even in familiar and common areas; even in daylight.

4. USE EAR BUDS & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH  GREAT CAUTION. Whether you are walking or stationary, these can cause dangerous distractions making you  less in tune to promptings,  less aware of your surroundings, and  unaware of suspicious noises and activity --- ALL MAKING YOU EASY PREY FOR A CRIMINAL!

5. Tae Kwon Do Tip: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

6. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you...Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

7. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

8. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator can be watching you, and this provides the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side of your car. MAKE IT A HABIT TO LOCK YOUR DOORS AND LEAVE AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOU CAR.

9. If someone is in your car when you get in DO NOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT! Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything solid, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

10. ALWAYS lock your car; even when you leave it for just a few minutes----                                


11. and ALWAYS re-lock it as soon as you get in it.


12. ALWAYS have your keys out and at the ready when going to your car. And, if anything seems amiss, as you approach, push the alarm button on your key. This may scare the perpetrator off, or at least attract attention in your direction.


13. ALWAYS be aware--look around you, look into your car before entering, both on passenger side floor and the floor and seat in back. Glance under your car as you are approaching it. Individuals have been known to hide under the car and slash your Achilles Tendon, disabling you, as you go to open your door.

14. ALWAYS enter your car from the passenger door if you are parked next to a big van. Most criminals attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.


15. ALWAYS look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, your workplace or wherever you were and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.


16. In a multi-story building you should take the elevator instead of the stairs. In our health-conscious society, stairs seem the ideal way to get a bit of exercise, but stairwells are lonely and provide an easy crime spot. This is especially true at night.

17. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig-zag pattern!

18. Women are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!  It may get you raped, or killed.Ted Bundy, the serial killer from the 1970's was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He sometimes walked with a cane, or a limp, sometimes wore a fake cast, and asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

19. BE AWARE IN YOUR HOMES — Don’t automatically act on the “out of the ordinary.” Individuals intent on doing evil are inventive!  Keep your car keys by your bed and if you hear noises or something that concerns in the middle of the night, press the key alarm.  (Try this in your home during the day to see if you are close enough to your car to set the alarm off. I was amazed when I learned about doing this, and I was doubtful it would reach that far, but it did.) Stay alert and keep safe. Again, the police would much rather respond to a false alarm than a tragic event.

Situation One: A woman heard a crying baby on her porch late one night so she called the police     because she thought it seemed weird. The police told her “Whatever you do, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR..” The lady then reported that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window. The policeman said, “We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.” He told her that they think an attacker has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls from women reporting baby's cries outside when they're home alone at night.

Situation Two: If after dark you hear, or are awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of your outside water faucets running or what you think is a pipe that has burst, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! This ploy has the attacker turning on your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and he can attack.

20. ONCE AGAIN----

We are children of our Heavenly Father. He leads us, guides us, and walks beside us, and helps us find our way.          

We need to live our lives so the Holy Spirit can always reach us.  We must always be available and receptive to the Spirit. It is very important to always pray for guidance and listen to all of the promptings we receive.

We must never IGNORE THESE FEELINGS.  We must never feel these warnings are inconsequential.   We must overcome our natural inclination to help when the Spirit tells us otherwise---even when doing so seems rude.

Sharing this information with loved ones and others may help save them from misfortune.


 A special thanks to Betty S. and others who contributed to this important message.