LIFE SKILLS &VALUE EDUCATION – Class—XII – UNIT – 5 Safety

When you were a child, your parents created many rules for you to follow so you could be safe. For example, you had to look both ways before crossing the road. Now that you are older, you know that new and unpredictable situations keep coming up all the time. You need to make safety plans for them. If you are not sure what you should do to be safe, discuss with your parents and teachers in advance what you can do in each situation to be safe. For example, if you are walking home from tuition class and someone starts following you, what should you do? There are many things you can do, but it helps to think about this ahead of time so that you are prepared if such a situation arises.

What this means is that you need to be alert to all kinds of situations – not just what happens to you, but also the things that happen to your friends, or what you hear about on the news. In each case, think: What if this were to happen to me?’ Then, make safety plans for it.

What if you are the only passenger left on a public bus?

What if you are at a friend’s house when some other friends come, and you begin to feel that it is not a good idea for you to be there?

What if your tuition teacher starts talking to you in a way that makes you uncomfortable?

What if your younger sibling falls sick suddenly, and you need to take care of them while ensuring the security of the house?

It is unsafe for you to tell anyone your personal information like your name, address, phone number, your parents’ names, your school’s name, etc. Decide with your parents how much personal information should be shared with whom, and on which forum. Always follow the safety plans you have made with your parents.

• SEEK SAFETY
• AIM SAFETY
• FOLLOW SAFETY
• ENSURE SAFETY
• TEACH SAFETY
• YIELD SAFETY

Self Defence

Anything that allows you to be safe is self defence or anything that makes you more aware, more assertive and more able to distract the wrong doer, and keeps you safe is self defence…….

That is why it can be learnt by anyone, no matter their age, size or fitness level. Self-defence techniques also include how to identify potential threats, how to remain calm in unfavourable situations, and why and how to fight using words. Remember, there is no guarantee that we can protect ourselves. What self-defence training does is that it gives us more choices of how to act and helps us prepare our response. You might be surprised to know that the best response for someone faced with an attacker is to slow down the attacker, try to calm things down as much as possible, and prevent the attack. Self-defence is a tool. Like any other tool, the more you know about it, the better will be your decision to use it or avoid using it, in a given situation.

It is important for you to understand that physical self-defence is a need, not a want.  A good self defence programme does not “tell” someone what they “should” or “should not” do. Instead, it offers options, techniques, and a way of analysing situations to help the person make a good decision. A good self-defence programme empowers us to make good decisions when faced with unfavourable situations.”

Safety Tips

• If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in a situation, act on it. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
• Keep calm, think straight Even the best martial artist will not be able to defend themselves if they panicked.
• Set clear boundaries If you feel that someone is invading your ‘private space’, tell them clearly to back off. Make direct eye contact-don’t look down/look away.
• Better safe than sorry – you feel that you are in trouble that someone stalking or eyeing you, try to avoid walking alone or walking in an isolated area.
• Even if you’re alone, you can walk close to another group. If you cannot do that, stay very alert. Keep the exit points in mind-that is ,areas by which you can escape. If you feel uneasy, you can also shout or make a loud noise to startle the other person.
• If possible, try varying your routine. It becomes easy for a potential perpetrator to plan something if they know your regular time and route. At the very least, you should know an alternate route in case of an emergency.
• Walk and talk confidently People who appear confident are much less likely to be targeted as compared to someone who looks timid.
• Be aware of your surroundings -Try to avoid places with low visibility and lighting.
• Walk in the opposite direction of traffic -This way, you can look at oncoming traffic. Also, walk on the footpath, not the road. It makes it harder for others to snatch your valuables or to kidnap you.
• When taking a public bus, avoid one that has few or no passengers, and avoid taking roadside cabs and autos.

You should have your parents’ and other trusted adults’ phone numbers on speed dial on your phone so that you can call them instantly in an emergency. If you have a smart phone, install emergency apps that can send SMS to known people and can even dial the police’s number with a single click in case of an emergency.

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