Smart Tips for Safe Travel

By Jane Farrell

Traveling can frazzle your brain. Between trying to remember if you locked the house or put your ID back into your wallet, thinking about personal safety in airport parking lots is the last thing that may be on your mind. However, poorly lighted parking garages, arms full of luggage, confusing parking signs, forgetting where you parked and keys buried in the bottom of an overflowing purse can make you an easy target for predators. To help you stay safe while traveling, Krav Maga Worldwide, a leading company in the teaching of the self-defense technique Krav Maga, has put together a list of personal safety tips to keep in mind when at the airport, train station or in an unfamiliar city.

1. Stay aware of your surroundings by scanning your environment. No matter how busy you are, do not allow your mind to wander. It might seem important in the moment to be making a to-do list in your head, but if you are worrying about what you need to do when you get home you might not notice someone following you to your vehicle or sliding a hand into your purse.
2. Park in well lighted areas. If you are renting a car while traveling, when you park avoid spots next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows. You want to keep your car and yourself as visible to as many people as possible, and you should also avoid parking next to tall shrubs or plants that could block views of your vehicle.
3. Don’t wear your purse so that the strap crosses your body. Wearing a purse strap across your body makes you more connected to your bag. If someone tries to steal your purse, you will be pulled with the strap. You can become unbalanced and put into a vulnerable position or you could end up in a physical altercation with the assailant. If your purse is draped on one shoulder you can easily let go of it.
4. Dress casually and comfortably. During transit is not the time to make a fashion statement. It is better to leave the high heels and flashy statement  pieces at home or in your luggage until you arrive at your destination. Jeans and sneakers will help you blend in and if needed enable you to make a quick getaway. Avoid wearing large and expensive looking jewelry that can draw attention.
5. Always keep one arm and hand free of luggage and other gear. Many people travel with multiple bags, purses, laptop cases and other paraphernalia. But, if your arms and hands are tied up with bags you have no means of defending yourself from an attacker. Luggage that can stack together securely and be pulled by one handle is a safer choice than wearing and carrying numerous bags.

About Krav Maga Worldwide

Founded in 1997 to promote Krav Maga, the self-defense system used by the Israeli Defense Forces, Krav Maga Worldwide trains and certifies instructors and licenses over 150 authorized Krav Maga Worldwide training centers in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South America, and Europe, as well as over 800 law enforcement agencies and military units. For additional information, visit: www.kravmaga.com.