Personal/Rape alarms, do you carry one?

[mum22ttc#3]

As the title says, do you carry a Personal/Rape alarm?
Do you think they would actually deter an attacker?
If you do carry one is there any you would recommend?

Just a few news stories not far from me got me thinking about buying one. Just wanted to see what others opinions are of them.

I only have to walk at night once a week and then its only 8.00 o'clock but do have to walk through alleys on some of my journeys which can't be avoided. The alleged attacks have been happening during the day though so thats why it got my thinking?

 

[MrsBop]

The only time I had to carry one was to take my old work places takings across town to the post office, I hated doing that job and I'd told my boss if anyone made a grab for it I'd let them straight away, wouldn't have time to say 'hang on let me just rip this thing out of my alarm' however what kind of attacks are we talking about? Stranger on stranger? That would make me feel really uneasy and I wouldn't do the 8pm walk, can you not get a taxi seen as though it's once a week? As I've got older I've found I've become a right fanny about things and scared of everything, even my own shadows scared me before

 

[Wriggley]

If it makes you feel safe then go for it.

But just because you cant accidentally knock it - someone once told me they took there LO to see a HV and the HV accidentally set it off and it freaked their poor LO out

 

[Tegans Mama]

I don't, but I don't go out at night unless I'm driving, and if I did go out at night I probably would. If it makes you feel better then go for it x

 

[Lucasmum]

I do, not sure of the make, but its bloody loud, work gave one to all the females after one of the girls was mugged on her way home, was about 2 years ago and I have never had to use it, but there is no parking near work so I sometimes have a 10 min walk at anywhere between 9pm and 3am so it just makes me feel a little safer especially at the weekend when all the drunk idiots are around!

 

[mum22ttc#3]

TBH it's only a 10-15 minute walk and I do do it with the kids as well. The attacks are stranger on stranger attacks, allegeded sexual on both women and young girls? I'm not entirely sure wether it is fact or just rumour but even the thought of it worries me.

I just wonder If I'm being a bit of a wimp though, I do think I've got worse as I've got older though lol a couple of years back and I wouldn't have been worried in the slightest

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

I don't go out at night, i read a report that says that most people would just ignore them anyway :/ like when you hear your neighbours car alarm of house alarm go off everyone just ignores it, seems sad but i think it is quite likely, if it makes you feel safer though then get one x

 

[AP]

^ I was thinking that too but I guess it's still something to send the s***ters outta someone

 

[smokey]

I do but mainly because I have to walk home from work anytime between 8-11pm and the rout is right near a pitch black section of the river, its a main road but there is allys that lead from the road to the river the whole way along.
Plus on a friday and saterday night you get alot of drunk gobby lads.
I keep the strap around my wrist and the main part im my handbag with the zip done up so all I have to do is lift my hand away from my handbag to set it off.
I also keep my door keus in my hand so if someone does try to grab me they are a weapon, swipe to the face will hopfully make them think twice or worst case can leave a identifiable scar and leave you with dna on the keys (not a nice way to think of it I know)

I think its one of those things thats better to have and never use rather then not have and wish you did.

 

[Bevziibubble]

I've never used one, but I don't go out at night? I only go out in the day in places where there are a lot of people, so touchwood I wouldn't need one. But if it makes you feel safer then it's a good purchase xx

 

[Sarahkka]

You know what I would suggest instead of an alarm?
Go take a women's self-defence course.
You'll get all sorts of strategies and useful info.
I really enjoyed the ones I took when I was younger. That was over 20 years ago and I still remember the different moves and advice.

 

[aliss]

No and I wouldn't bother.

I was a 911 operator for almost 10 years. Stranger sexual attacks are rare - I *personally* would advise any woman to be constantly doing a 360 check around her and turn around and stare/yell at any guy who seems off.

Rapists are cowards - they seek vulnerable looking women. All the self defense classes and rape whistles in the world cannot compare to a woman staring a dodgy guy in the face and telling him to fuck off. I know the main impression from people is that they suddenly jump from the bushes but tbh, all the ones I've ever dealt with, the men tend to pretend to just be normal pedestrians behind them, it's how they scope out if it's clear or not to make the attack.

Just IMO.

 

[Sarahkka]

No and I wouldn't bother.

I was a 911 operator for almost 10 years. Stranger sexual attacks are rare - I *personally* would advise any woman to be constantly doing a 360 check around her and turn around and stare/yell at any guy who seems off.

Rapists are cowards - they seek vulnerable looking women. All the self defense classes and rape whistles in the world cannot compare to a woman staring a dodgy guy in the face and telling him to fuck off. I know the main impression from people is that they suddenly jump from the bushes but tbh, all the ones I've ever dealt with, the men tend to pretend to just be normal pedestrians behind them, it's how they scope out if it's clear or not to make the attack.

Just IMO.

Actually, walking and confronting with confidence are skills taught in a typical women's self-defence class. It was one of the main messages in the ones I took. Just FYI.

 

[teal]

I personally wouldn't bother.

 

[pinklightbulb]

No. But when I was a teenager my dad made me carry one.

 

[sparkle_1979]

I never go out when its dark alone, but yes good idea and I prob would if I was out alone

 

[RileysMummy]

I don't and I don't think I'd bother. I would however think about self defence lessons.
x

 

[Emma&Freya]

No I dont and I wont bother. I got mugged years ago and the last thing on my mind was to scare them off.

 

[Natsku]

I have one that I was given at Uni but I never carry it around cos I'm scared I'll accidently set it off when its not needed
I don't feel the need to carry one anyway, where I live is incredibly safe, I'm happy to walk around alone at night, even when I was in the city I felt very safe walking around late at night, no one's ever bothered me except for one guy offering to escort me home but that was sweet rather than scary (still said no anyway but had a nice chat)

 

[MrsPear]

Where I used to live was very dangerous with gangs, it was even recommended by police at one point not to walk outside in the evenings and try not to go out alone even during the day (luckily the people responsible for the police making that warning were fairly quickly arrested and sentenced to prison).

Anyway, would a rape alarm have made it safer? I'm not sure it would actually. Those people were lawless, they left people for dead (no one died tho), they attacked without reason, and they attacked in groups. They wouldn't have cared about a rape alarm. In my opinion, a rape alarm would make people wrongly feel safer and take more risks, when in reality sadly the only solution is to keep yourself out of the danger in the first place.

Also, I did get a free rape alarm at university, it was SO loud, but when I set it off accidentally in my bedroom, it couldn't even be heard in the next room, so the noise didn't actually carry well.

I just don't think they actually make people any safer unfortunately.