In recent times, there have been a lot of nurses especially females going missing around the country. The gruesome rape and murder of Ruth Eshun, a Community Health Nurse in February 2020 is still fresh in our mind. It appears nurses have been targeted by some evil individuals. It is gradually becoming unsafe for female nurses in this country. Here are 9 useful tips for female nurses that can be useful in kidnapping situations.
Situational Awareness and Self-confidence
One of the most important tips is being aware of your surroundings. Be on the lookout for things that are out of the ordinary. Always trust your intuition. If something does not feel right, it probably isn’t. If you are walking in a strange place, pay attention to anyone behind you. Walk confidently with your head up, watching people around you and making eye contact with people who strangely stares at you. If a kidnapper knows that you have already seen them first, they are less likely to attempt because you have taken away the advantage of catching you off guard. Do not just keep playing with your phone.
Keep Low Profile
I have seen a lot of nurses revealing almost everything they do on social media. They post their location, places they are going, what they will wear, even having their bedroom and entire household pictures on Facebook. What is most surprising is student nurses posting on social media about their allowances being paid to the extent of taking pictures with money and posting them. Always be careful not to reveal too much about yourself or your family members on social media. Be mindful not to discuss your plans with strangers and avoid excessive display of wealth.
Do not Accept “Lifts” or Rides from Strangers
As tired as you may be after your shift, do not accept rides from strangers especially at night. Even though there are a lot of good people out there, you cannot differentiate between a bad and a good person by just looking at their faces. Once you get into their car, you are at their mercy. They could lock the car and drive you away before you could call for help.
Shout for Help
Most of the time one may be overpowered or outnumbered in such situations. When you are in danger of being kidnapped, do not hesitate to shout for help. Shout with every single breath you have. Keep shouting to draw people’s attention.
Tell Close Friend or Family Where You are Going.
Make sure a close friend or family member knows where you are going even for your normal routine. If you are meeting a new person, make sure someone knows where you are going and who you are meeting. Give them details of the person including name, contact number and any important information.
Get Basic Defense Weapons
If you mostly find yourself in strange places or your commute to work is prone to attacks, robbery or kidnapping make sure you carry along basic defense weapons. The most common is pepper spray which is easily able to blind your attacker long enough for you to get away. They are normally inexpensive, very portable and long-lasting, and they can also be camouflaged as a normal item in your purse.