Alright, so here’s the thing. Taking a stroll around outdoors, no matter the time or day, should not be scary or threatening, but it can be. As many of you have probably seen on your social media pages, bad things can happen to good people and though it’s unlikely that it’ll happen to you, everyone should still take precautions. Here are a few things you can do to stay safe and be prepared when you’re walking alone in Calgary or anywhere else.
STAY VISIBLE
If at all possible try only to walk in well-lit areas, stick to the right of the sidewalk and if you can – walk towards oncoming traffic (on the sidewalk, obviously.) Staying seen is one of the easiest ways to ensure your safety, especially in the evenings.
SHARE YOUR LOCATION WITH A CLOSE FRIEND
Whether it’s through Snapchat or find my iPhone, we’d definitely recommend having a check-in buddy. All you have to do is click on a contact and select ‘share location’ on the iPhone, or scroll all the way to the left on Snapchat, go to settings and turn off ‘Ghost Mode’ then just let someone know where you’re going and when. This is super easy and incredibly effective if you’re alone.
KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN
Walking with your headphones in? Keep the volume low enough that you can still hear the traffic. Being alert and aware of your surroundings can mean the difference between getting from point A to point B and danger.
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UTILIZE A COMMUNITY SAFEWALK
Going in a different direction than your friends? Most universities and colleges actually offer a safewalk service, ensuring you get to and from wherever you’re going in the company of someone else! After all, two is better than one!
DOWNLOAD A SELF DEFENCE APP
From location-sharing apps to alarms your phone can come in pretty handy when you’re alone. Kinetic Global, Parachute and iSharing are just a few of our favourites.
KEEP YOUR KEYS AT THE READY
This one is pretty commonly known, but keeping your keys out and ready for anything will not only give you more confidence, but it’ll also get you into your house or car where you know that you’ll be safe faster.
TRUST YOUR GUT
As far as we’re concerned everyone has a superhero-like reflex to danger. It’s called fear and it’s powerful AF! If you genuinely don’t feel like you should be somewhere or with someone trust in that.
Again, friends, this is not meant to scare any of you but in light of recent events, we just thought that giving you guys a few tips and tricks could boost your confidence in the streets. Please stay safe, stay alert and be smart when you’re walking alone out there, Calgary!
