Going out alone can be a liberating experience, whether you’re exploring a new city for the first time or a brand new country! However, you want to enhance this experience further by making sure you pay attention to a few safety tips that will keep you feeling confident. Read on for a few safety tips you really shouldn’t ignore when out alone!
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Keep Your Music On Low
First of all, we’re going to tell you why you shouldn’t have your music blasting at top volume. Having your music on loud can be an immersive experience when you’re getting lost in your own world, and it can be great for places like the gym, but it isn’t great when you’re unfamiliar with an area, or sometimes even if you are! Having music on loud takes one of our key senses away. I’m super guilty of this- I’ll just be walking along lalala listening to music when I should probably be paying attention to my surroundings. Our ears can quickly alert us to danger, whether that’s a passing car or a criminal. You’re actually at much more of a risk of suffering from a pedestrian accident when you have your music on loud, as you can’t always hear oncoming traffic – the music distracts you. By all means wear your headphones, but don’t deafen yourself. It’s bad for your hearing, and could jeopardize your safety.
Download A Map Of The Area
If you’ve never traveled in this area before, download a map of the area before you go out. You should hopefully be able to find wi-fi to connect to and do this easily enough. Use the map to get around, find shops, places to eat, and more. Just don’t forget to charge your phone before you leave the house – ideally, you’ll have a portable charger on hand should you need one!
Read Up On Local Forums
Want to know what to look out for when exploring a new area? One of the best ways to do this is to read up about the area on forums. You may be able to find out about any scams or people to watch out for in the area. You may discover a place to avoid. Just don’t let forums put you off visiting!
Tell Somebody Where You’re Going
Stay connected with your friends and family when going somewhere alone. Just drop them a message and ask them what they’re up to, before telling them where you’re going. You never know what’s around the corner. I’ve started really using the feature on Uber to let Kendall know when I’m in a car. Even though he’s currently on the other side of the country, it gives both of us piece of mind. I also send these updates to friends if I’m meeting them out.
Carry Something With You For Peace Of Mind
Carrying something with you for protection will give you peace of mind. Pepper spray is an idea (check out the legality of carrying it with you), but a simple alarm carried around your wrist or in your hand could be great too, especially when you’re on your own once it gets dark. Just don’t make the mistake of keeping the alarm or spray in your bag. It’s best to hold it in your hand or at least your pocket while you walk. You want to know you have access as quickly as possible!
Stay safe when exploring alone, and most importantly, have fun.
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Thank you for sharing these tips! Living n a major city like Philadelphia I have to follow these tips on a regular basis but it’s easy to forget that people who aren’t regularly exposed to large cities might not think of these things beforehand!
xx Chelsea
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