Because of what happened to me, I spend a lot of time thinking about and discussing ways to make our lives safer from sexual assault.

I've never met a group of women who couldn't come up with hundreds of great ideas to prevent sexual assault. Here are a few examples to get you started thinking about how to make your own life safer.

1. Think about how you carry your car keys. Do you hold your keys in the hand you are most likely to use to defend yourself, your dominant hand? Learn to open your car and house doors with either hand. Consider wearing your keys on a bracelet-style chain; then if you let go they won't drop.
2. What information are you giving out without even realizing it? Carrying your mail in plain view, for instance, gives anybody who looks the gift of your name and address.
3. If your answering machine says, "Hello, this is Susan," it may sound like you're a woman living alone. If it states your phone number, know that people can use that to find out where you live. Consider what you want phone callers to know about you. And then have some fun with it!

For more safety tips, go here or here.

next: Safety Precautions to Prevent Rape