SAFETY SPECIAL
Take Back
Control
I
n spite of all these frightening
stories, it is not all doom and
gloom in the world of running,
it is simply time for us to work
on making it better. So what can
we do? For starters, there are a
few proactive, protective items
and devices you could consider
carrying, such as Mace, the
world’s most popular brand of
pepper spray (available through
various retailers, including
Cape Union Mart), or a
pocket-size stun gun (available
through Takealot). You could
also purchase a Run Angel
wristband from We Run (https://
werunonline.co.za), which emits
an ear-piercing alarm when you
push the button, and pairs with
smartphones via a free app to
send out alerts in the event of
an emergency.
Furthermore, companies
like Cape Town-based ACT
Personal Safety offer courses to
improve situational awareness
and proactive strategies for
hostile confrontations. “We
also advise pre-planning and a
thorough understanding of the
risks and preventative measures
before deciding on self-defence
devices or strategies,” says
Kelee Arrowsmith of ACT,
adding that running groups
or organisations should avoid
over-sharing their crime-
prevention strategies, which
only serves to pre-warn the
criminals.
It is worth remembering that
if we all stay away from our
favourite running playgrounds
for fear of our safety, we only
serve to make them more
isolated, dangerous zones. In
short, the wisest advice seems
to be to get out there in your
numbers, take back the spaces
that make us all feel most alive,
and keep running!
Have your ICE Numbers Ready
It is vital to have the correct emergency numbers saved to your phone. In so doing, you can get help that much quicker if attacked and injured, and you position
yourself as a potential rescuer. Research the numbers for your specific area, but here are a few general numbers to begin with.
Central Gauteng
|
Johannesburg Central 011 375 5911
32
Ambulance (national) 10177
|
Roodepoort 011 375 5911
Spar Women’s Challenge | Joburg’s Most Beautiful Road Race
|
Sandton 011 375 5911
Flying Squad (national) 10111