HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-10-06, Page 5Wednesday, October 6, 1999
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5
In the News
Safety precautions can deter assaults
Sy Kato Monk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — Women'
should not get into
situations where they are
vulnerable to assaults but
if they find themselves in
potentially dangerous
settings such as a dark
parking lot, there are
steps women can take to
lessen the risk.
That was the message
of OPP Senior Constable
Doug Graham, who spoke
to the Mu Epsilon
Chapter of Beta Sigma
Phi at a recent meeting in
Hensall about travelling
alone.
Graham emphasized
women can take
precautions to reduce
their chices of being
attacked. While most
assaults in rural areas
stem from relationship
problems, assaults in
urban areas : can also be
by strangers.
Graham's presentation
included safety tips for
walking from a building
to a car, driving and
staying in motels.
Keep alert in
parking lots
Women should always
have their guard up in
parking lots, especially
when walking from a
building to the car.
Graham's first
suggestion was to park
in a well lit area if
there's no parking spot
close to the entrance.
South Huron District High School student Brian
Harrigan donates blood for the first time under
the watchful eye of Heather Coleman of Canadian
Blood Services at the Monday clinic at the Exeter
high school.The Exeter Rebekahs and Oddfellows
sponsored the clinic.
Capsule Comments
with Ernie Miatello
Vitamin B-12 is very important to our diet and
occurs only in animal foods (including eggs and
dairy products). A good supply of stomach acid
is needed to extract the B-12 from the food we eat. If you are
over 55, there's a good chance that you aren't producing
enough stomach .acid. Try taking a daily multivitamin contain-
ing 25mcg B-12 in it.
There's another reason to keep your B-12 levels up. Early
research is showing that women in their 60's who have normal
hearing ability have higher levels of B-12 in their bodies than
those with hearing problems.
You'll be happy to know that the style of a man's underwear
has no effect on wearer's fertility. New York urologists tested
the theory that higher temperatures were harmful to sperm
and since briefs were tighter than boxer -type shorts, it might
lead to higher temperatures and lower fertility. No so.
What is "Vitamin 0"? The "0" is for oxygen and authorities in
the U.S. have cracked down on some manufacturers who say
this product will remove moles, treat cancer and help sexual
dysfunction: Oxygen Is not a vitamin and one product adver-
tised contained only salt water. Buyer beware.
VW
Phone 235-1982 440 Main St., Exeter
"Your Health Care Pharmacy"
RON MINEIRY .0
Lights are a deterrent
and increase the chances
of the attacker - being
seen and identified.
Graham said women
should have their keys in
their hand before leaving
the building. This allows
a person to keep alert by
not having to focus on
finding the keys in the
purse and the keys can
be used as a weapon in
the event of an attack.
When walking to the
vehicle, look towards the
vehicle to see if someone
is standing near the
vehicle and look under
the car to ensure no one
is lying beneath it
waiting to attack.
Graham said ' he
believes women's
intuition "gives a shot of
adrenalin" and if a
woman senses
something is wrong, she
should "go with it" and
get out of the situation
rather than panicking.
Experts say people
should get in the habit of
looking under their cars
during daylight and
intuition will ensure it's
done in the dark.
Graham said mall
security guards will
escort people to their
vehicles. Another option
is to wait for someone
else to walk through the
parking lot at, the same
time.
People should also look
inside their car before
entering.
"Just because you get
back to your car and it
appears locked, doesn't
mean there's no one
inside," he advised.
Once inside the vehicle,
lock the door. Graham ,
said there is not . one
single case where an
attacker has broken into
a car with a person in it.
Abduction survival
rates are sobering —
only 10 per cent of
people abducted survive.
Graham said a victim
can turn the tables by
"putting up some sort of
a fight.
"If someone tries to
abduct you ... fight for
your life," Graham
advised. "Do whatever
you have to do to get out
of there."
If a tire starts to go
flat, Graham
recommends continuing
to drive on the shoulder
of the road with the four-
way flashers activated
until reaching a safe
location.
"The. only damage
you'll do .is to the rim,"
he said.
If the car becomes
unsafe to drive because
of mechanical problems,
Graham recommends
putting a "Call Police"
sign in the window and
waiting until a police
officer arrives. A person
has- never been attacked
when they've had a "Call
Police" sign displayed in
their car window.
Having a car equiped
with a cell phone is
another way to get help.
He recommended
women be wary of
strangers who offer help
and should second guess
their motives.
"People who (abduct
women) look safe. You
can't go by looks,"
Graham said, using the
example of Paul
Bernardo who was found
guilty of murdering two
girls.
"They will say anything
to get you out of that
car," he said, calling, the
car a person's safety
cage.
Graham said police
officers and people in
'1110111111111111 Mir"
Have you thought about
how quickly Long term dare
cosh could deplete your life
savings?
Come to our Seminar on
Wed,OcWDCf��7 p.m.
Ranch House, Main
Speaker: Eileen Cunningham - Long Term Care Agent
Asking the rightquestion will ensure you'll receive the quality of
care you want with the dignity you deserve
• Do you know what it would cost b purchase nursing and
homemaker support that will allow you b stay in your house
fortis brio as you wont?
• Are you aware that he Government. will not cover all
health core expenses you will need?
• Are you aware that a stay in aterm care facility could
cost you between $ 15,400 and $22,000 a year depending
on the type of acconwnodallon you choose?
Eileen has the expertise b answer your questions on tong term.
care costs.
To reserve your seat cal
Mark McUwaiin's office
235-1344 or 1-877-235.1344 poll free)
before Oct. 18th ,
houses identified as
Block Parents are the
only strangers that can
be trusted. Everyone
who lives in a Block
Parent home is
criminally screened.
Graham said }
should never raise ti, r
car hood because it
partially blocks the field
of vision.and takes away
reaction planning time
when , someone
approaches the car A
raised hood also exposes
the car engine to
attackers.
When being followed
by a suspicious vehicle
through a built-up area,
go to a Block Parent
home. In a rural area,
look for a
Neighbourhood Watch
area.
"Don't arbitrarily pull
into just any laneway,"
he advised.
Graham also discussed
precautions to take while
walking alone.
"In a major city, you
shouldn't be walking by
yourself at night," he
said.
In a city, a bus driver
will drop off women
between stops at their
homes if it is on the bus
route. Graham warned
bus stops are good
places for an attacker to
wait for a lone woman
exiting the bus.
Banking machines are
also dangerous places
and he recommended
using a drive-through
cash machine if a.
woman has to get money
at night.
If walking alone at
night, women should
walk on the most lit side
of the street.
While women may be
tempted to carry
weapons for self-defense,
Graham warned the
weapons could be taken
and used against them.
"Weapons are your
choice," he said. "I'm not
telling you not to carry
them but just be aware
they can be used against
you."
Graham said personal
alarms are effective in
that the noise will either
scare away the attacker
or will attract help.
When staying In
motels, Graham said
women staying alone
should stay on ,. the
second floor near the
elevator or lobby. .
Not wanting to deter
the audience from ever
leaving their homes,
Graham said taking
these precautions will
minimize the chance of
being attacked.
Graham is available to
speak to groups about
travelling alone.
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A 1:._M...,. 151