| With the crime rate as high as it is in some cities, | | | | going off. However, if the victim is also screaming "Fire, |
| anyone can be targeted as a victim. Everyone should | | | | fire!" it will create more attention in a hurry. |
| have some means of protecting themselves. For | | | | Yet even though there are some disadvantages with |
| those of you who don't want to carry a lethal gun or | | | | personal alarms, they are worth having if you have no |
| even a stun gun or pepper spray, you may be more | | | | other form of protection. But they are especially useful |
| willing to carry something like a personal alarm for | | | | when combined with other self-defense products such |
| protection. These are small hand-held devices that will | | | | as stun guns and pepper sprays. You can then disable |
| fit in a pocket, purse, hand or on a belt and emit a high | | | | the attacker and summon help at the same time. |
| pitched extremely loud siren-type sound when | | | | Disabled individuals are perfect candidates for using |
| activated. They will definitely attract attention, which is | | | | personal alarms. Unfortunately they can be targeted |
| what an assailant does not want, and hopefully scare | | | | victims because of their inability to defend themselves. |
| him off. | | | | But these devices can be attached to a wheelchair or |
| But there are some down sides to using only a | | | | possibly even strung on a necklace of sorts for easy |
| personal alarm as a self-defense mechanism. For | | | | access. |
| starters, the most obvious disadvantage is that they | | | | Some of the electronic personal alarms are also put to |
| do nothing to incapacitate the assailant. Disabling an | | | | good use as protection on doors of hotels and motels, |
| attacker is the most important step in self-defense. | | | | motor homes and trailers when traveling. They come |
| Stun guns and pepper sprays will do this. But the | | | | with a thin switch that fits between the door and the |
| sudden ear-piercing sound of an alarm will only startle, | | | | frame and are activated when the door is opened. |
| distract, irritate and anger the assailant. If he is able to | | | | The special switch is inserted in place of the pin that is |
| grab the alarm from you, he can probably muffle the | | | | otherwise pulled out by the wrist strap. |
| sound with his hands and you might get injured in the | | | | So, yes, these devices may save your life if you have |
| process of him grabbing it. So being armed in this | | | | no other means of protection and if they are not taken |
| manner only gives you no control over the situation. | | | | away from you. Optimally, though, they are best |
| Another problem with personal alarms is that they | | | | combined with some other form of self-defense such |
| sound similar to car alarms. A personal alarm may be | | | | as pepper spray or a stun gun. |
| ignored, thinking it is just another false alarm on a car | | | | |