Personal Safety, Queen! This month is heavy for us and to break up the sharing of stories we want to share tips as well! Via and I shared inside our Facebook Group a few times already! Let’s get into it. 😉
This year for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) the theme is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” This April’s campaign calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us to build racial equity and respect. Read more about this here.
- Listen to your gut! Whether this is an online interaction or IRL trust your intuition, it will keep you safe!
- Home Security! Installing a video doorbell like Ring or the various ones I found here on Amazon is inexpensive (most were under $60) and will give you peace of mind.
- Set Safety Guidelines for Dating. Setting boundaries (and sticking to them) will set the foundation for the relationship so BOTH parties know what is acceptable and alert you to red flags.
- First Date Tip! Always meet in a public place, preferably during the day. Make sure to tell a friend/relative about your date. Send them your location and a photo of your date. If the date goes sideways these details can save your life.
- Keep YOUR Location off Social Media. We live in a digital age and technology is evolving daily. Keeping yourself safe also means keeping your location off social media. Don’t put your actual address on your FB or Instagram. If you film your content outside, try not to mention the exact location. Instead of “I’m at the Chessman Park today, it’s gorgeous out!”, Say “I’m at the park today, it’s gorgeous out!”
- Single Parent Alert! Children do not need to be aware of your dating life. Don’t introduce your first date to your kids. This keeps you and them safe.
If you have been a victim of sexual violence- or are unsure- please contact the following hotlines:
National Sexual Assault Hotline- 800-656-4673
Crisis Text Line for Sexual Abuse- text ‘HOME’ to 741741
Want more tips? Click here!
