With the weather in Florida being almost perfect, it’s no wonder that many people that live here are runners. Running in Florida is a means to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and be healthy all at the same time. While it is safer to run during the day instead of at night, people will usually let their guard down because they feel invincible when they are out during the day. When you let your guard down, you become just as vulnerable as you would be if you were to run at night in a poorly lit area. Here are some running safety tips from police, EMTs, and security officers to help you on your next run.
- Do not run alone
It’s an obvious answer, but it’s also one of the best tips anyone could have. Two people are harder to attack than one, so by running with others, you will prevent yourself from becoming an easy target. If you don’t have someone to run with, get a dog (or borrow one) to run with. Besides making yourself less-appealing to potential assailants, dogs can sometimes sense danger before you can.
- Change your routeWhether it’s on the news or on social media, stories about crazy ex-boyfriends and girlfriends stalking their former significant others have become more and more common. When you run the same route every day, you become an easy target for someone who may be after you. Altering your route can make it difficult for someone to stalk you, and it will also introduce new surroundings to you, helping you become more alert. Plus, it helps prevent you from zoning out on a run.
- Do not run with earphonesMost people will take a set of earphones on their run so they can listen to music. While it’s a great way to make your runs more fun and may even help with pacing, having music blasting in your ears prevents you from hearing a potential attacker approach you from behind. Wearing earphones will also prevent you from hearing oncoming traffic, so in the event that a car swerves onto the sidewalk, you won’t even hear it coming. If you must run with music, try running with only one earbud in, so you can maintain awareness of your surroundings.
- Run against trafficBy running against traffic, you will be able to see cars that are approaching you. It makes it harder for someone to drive up and abduct you, and it helps prevent traffic related accidents. After all, in 2015 there was an estimated 70,000 accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles.
- Run in an area that has security officers on-site
If possible, run in a park or community that has security officers on site. The presence of security officers is often enough to prevent any malicious activities from happening. Besides being there to protect the people in the area, security officers are also there to help in the event that you injure yourself during a run.
By following these running safety tips, you will be more alert and feel more safe the next time you go out for a run. It is also important to trust your intuition, so if something doesn’t feel right, be sure to find your quickest route to safety. And of course in the event of an emergency, call 911.
Apex Security is based out of Orlando, FL. If you feel that your Orlando community is in need of a security officer, contact Apex Security or call us at 407-846-1435. Our security experts are available to speak with you about your security needs.