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Professor Steven McLaughlin shares some good advice to residents and visitors in Hawaii on how to be safe and to avoid an assault at home or while traveling.
Prof. McLaughlin should know, as the founder of  Kupale (Kupale means to protect) he has taught over 5,000 people how to be safer in their homes or while working or traveling, or going to college. He has been teaching women & children's domestic safety and assault prevention classes for over 35 years. He notes that males should also be aware of the same general common sense rules apply.
Many factors can increase the risk of assault, but the individual's preparedness and response can make a difference in the outcome of a potentially dangerous situation. Travel safe and sleep well with these 5 tips on keeping safe in Hawaii.
Here are five areas of improving Domestic Safety & Assault Prevention:
* Awareness
* Avoidance
* Escape
* Dog Attack
* College Campus Advice
AWARENESS:
Pay attention to your intuition!
Most assaults are done by someone you have met!
Wearing headphones while jogging or walking may distract you from being aware of your surroundings.
AVOIDANCE:
Most assaults in Hawaii, are not in parking lots, but rather in homes.
Keep a good lock on your front and back doors. Get another lock for your bedroom door.
Build a safe room in your house. Convert your bathroom to a safety vault. Keep an extra cel phone charger there too.
Make a family plan. Discuss, communicate, prepare, prevent
Mother or fathers and their daughters take assualt prevention classes together
ESCAPE:
Know what to do if you are followed.
If you are followed or stalked, DON"T GO HOME!
Don't show your follower where you live. Go to a well lit and public place. A good suggestion is to drive directly to the emergency entrance of a hospital.
DOG ATTACKS:
Don't run or turn your back. Don't put out your fingers or hand! Stay calm as you BACK AWAY. Cover your throat with your hands.
COLLEGE CAMPUS ADVICE:
Use the buddy system, even at parties. Keep an eye on eachother and communicate.
Bring your own water or accept drinks that are in unopened containers if you have concerns. Keep your personal drink or container with you (even to the bathroom!)
Use the elevators and avoid stairwells after dark.
Summary:
Program 911 under the "9" key on your cel phone, but don't be shy to use it! Remember that it can take time for police to respond.
It's okay to resist or fight back. Most women I've interviewed wanted to fight back but didn't know how. Sometimes all you need is 60 seconds to escape.
Learning how to fight takes a long time to learn. But learning how to escape from your attacker is easier than you might think.
Assistant Laura Shannon-Madeja was once a WAPC student. “I took the class in 2005, and I was intimidated because I heard it’s affiliated with a martial arts school. But I was surprised at how low-tech and accessible the skills are to women of all athletic levels.”
Prof. Steve McLaughlin, with 38 years Women’s Assault Prevention and Self-Defense & Domestic Safety teaching experience, instructs this course. Professor McLaughlin is a Shihan of the Bushidokan Federation, Sensei of the HZJK, 8th Degree Black Belt in DanZan Ryu JuJitsu and holds Black Belts in several other martial art disciplines.
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