from cover

What to do if: your car breaks down in an unfamiliar neighborhood; you have to work late at the office alone; someone is following you home; you have to ride on public transportation late at night; you receive obscene phone calls you see a crime in progress; you awaken to hear an intruder in the next room; plus advice about many other dangerous situations.

And how to: develop a public image that keeps muggers away; rehearse for the possibility of a problem; drive with security in mind; select appropriate self-defense devices; protect your home from intruders; travel in the 'safe and alive' manner; develop and practice street-smart behavior; includes hundreds of additional practical tips.

Terry Dobson is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of personal safety and conflict resolution. He provides security consultation for individuals and organizaitons and leads workshops and seminars in this area for major universities, corporations, and community groups. The author of Giving In to Get Your Way, he holds a fourth-degree black belt in Aikido, the Japanese nonviolent martial art. Mr. Dobson spent more that a decade in the Orient, where he apprenticed with the founder of the discipline.

Judith Shepherd-Chow teaches in the Social Work Education Department at San Francisco State University. She has supervised data collection in a national study on juvinile crime and has extensive experience in community development work and individual counseling. Ms. Shepherd-Chow holds a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley.

Contents

Preface; Acknowledgments
Part One-Prevention: Taking Precautions Before Incidents Occur
Chapter One-Precautions in Public
1 Not Looking Like a Victim
2 Restrictiong Personal Information
3 Tools of Self-Protection
4 Street-Smart Behavior
5 Security in Your Car and on Public Transportation
6 Playing It Safe: Beaches and Parks; Arenas and Theaters; Hiking and Jogging
7 Safety in Stores or Office Buidings
8 Travel Guidelines: Vacation and Hotel Security
Chapter Two-In the Privacy of Your Home
9 Basic Security Practices If You Live Alone
10 Safety at the Door
11 Safe and Alive Telephone Practices
12 Selecting Household Help and Providers of Services
Chapter Three-Protecting Your Home and Car
13 Thinking Like a Thief
14 Home-Protection Tectics
15 Doors, Keys, WLindows, and Locks
16 Alarm Systems
17 Professional Security Patrols
18 Sentry Dogs
19 Tools of Self-Protection
20 How Neighbors Can Help
21 Car-Protection Tectics
Chapter Four-Getting Special Instructions
22 Self-Defense and Phiysical-Fitness Classes
23 Canine Training
24 Handling Weapons
25 Home Security Checks
Part Two-Preparedness: When Prevention Isn't Enough
Chapter Five-Reducing the Risk of Harm
26 Gaining and Regaining Your Composure
27 Following Your iNtuition
28 Evaluating Your Strengths, Correcting Yoiur Weakness
29 Planning Specific Responses
Chapter Six-Options for Response
30 The Fight Option
31 The Flight Option
32 The Negotiation Option
33 Taking No Action as an Option
34 Surprise or diversion as an Option
35 The Blending Option
Chapter Seven-Securing Professional Assistance
36 Financial Help for the Victims of Crime
37 Assistance for Rape Victims
38 Help for Victims of Other Crimes
Ckhapter Eight-Providing Assistance
39 Repordting the INcident
40 Observing and Describing Assailants
41 Becoming a 'Safe and alive' Good Samaritan
Cnapter Nine-Protectiong Your Children
42 What Children Should Be Told
43 Child Molestation
Epilogue-A Soft Answer
Apendix-Survival Guide: What to Do in an Emergency Until Medical Aid is Available
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