Self Defence at Home

Home is where we want to feel safe. Unfortunately, we need to consider the risk of criminality and the complications associated with the need to share accommodation. Ensuring you are safe at home is a key part of your self defence plan

Planning and Preparation

Developing situational awareness of your home and surroundings is critical to staying safe at home. Make sure you understand your environment, trust your instincts about situations and ensure adequate lighting in the general environment.

If you live in shared housing such as an apartment, ensure you understand what security is around shared areas such as access corridors, access points and surroundings.

Ask whoever is responsible for the building for their safety plan (hint: they probably won't have one..but by asking you might prompt action), if it's not satisfactory, make very specific requests include:

• Lighting
• Monitoring
• Access control
• Emergency response

Secure You Home

Install strong locks on all doors and windows.

Use a security alarm or security cameras to monitor you home when you are away or sleeping. Where possible and reasonable use internal as well as external camera, so you can investigate situations without from safety.

If you are living in rental accommodation and the landlord has not provided a security system, take responsibility and install one of the many portable and easily installed systems, such as Blink by Amazon.

Clean the Environment

Remove any potential weapons that could be used against you, like heavy objects, blades, or flammable liquids. Keep kitchen knives and another household object that could be used against you in unobvious locations.

Make Your Bedroom a Panic Room

Your bedroom should be the safest room in your home. Reinforce your bedroom door and have a door stopper or jammer to prevent the door from being opened.

Stock your bedroom with self-defense essentials like:

• A fully charged phone to call for help in an emergency.
• A personal alarm to draw attention and scare off intruders.
• A fog horn or klaxon to make loud noises to deter assailants.
• Tools to break a window if needed for escape or to signal for help

Sharing with Others

When living with others, vet everyone as much as possile. Establish clear agrrements on shared access and guests to avoid unknown individuals entering the home.

Manage high-risk housemates carefully:

• Leave the situation if your safety is compromised or at risk
• Avoid confrontation if neccesary use your safe room or get help

Have an Alert System

Let friends know if you are worried, have a code you can text or say in a phone call that alerts them you need help,

Practice and Prepare

Practice escape routes and emergency plans.

Consider taking a Self Defence class

Run through scenarios with different lighting, locations and conditions

Home should be a sanctuary. By being careful and taking some extra precautions, we can keep it that way.