Sometimes,

Almost always,

your brain can avoid a situation your fists will find hard to crack…

Drink only from safe looking containers you opened (water bottles, alcohol ) and only if saw the drink being brewed in a safe looking establishment in front of you (coffee, tea, beer). Give your details to no one – the taxi driver does not need your life story, your dating status and whether or not you lock your window at night. Carry some money in your pockets so you do not take your wallet out at small purchases – Void if you live in the Emirates… Carry a RFID resistant wallet and passport cover or at least carry the cards in RFID resistant envelopes. Place the minimum amount of personal information on luggage tags and in filling forms online and in hotels. Do not post revealing details about yourself and close ones online and limit the spread of personal data as possible. Use WIFI and computers that do not belong to you with care to not type account numbers and private information. Use a code to lock your mobile device and not your fingerprint and cover your self as you open your device in public or avoid it. Avoid as much as possible walking and talking on the phone. Avoid standing and looking in one direction all the time. Look around yourself casually as you stand or walk outside and use reflective surfaces to help see around you. Make friends slowly – it is not wise to trust too much too fast. Especially when traveling or when coming to a new place. Note local customs and adhere to local norms when possible and moral. Carry a small first aid kit and learn how to use it. It is time well spent. Use a dummy cord when packaging your gear and important items. It is good to go through airport security without loosing gear and deter pick pockets and snatchers on the street. Mark all your products when traveling. It is annoying but helps in avoiding misunderstanding and shoddy people with authority. Play mental chess with yourself in making the next two moves in your head before you encounter the need to make a pin point decision. Check your location fully when you enter and when you leave. Never leave a hotel door or window open and do not leave information and valuables in display. Assume people are listening to your conversations. Avoid giving details as addresses, codes and the like with company. Carry a cheap pen or something of the like for use as a self defense tool. Keep in mind that a backpack is a shield to some extent. Place yourself with your front or side to the opening where you move around with your vision when you have multiple entrances to a location Find out ahead of time where the fire escapes and general exits. Carry a small flashlight. Darkness is a big factor in finding your way or just finding your keys in the dark parking lot as you listen to the scary music playing in your head… Have copies of keys and documents (encrypted Disk on key for example) for use in case of an accident and theft Check out the local currency and how to spot fakes. It is even interesting to note the methods organizations use to create a hard to duplicate item. Listen to your gut and act when uncomfortable. Getting out of the way of a train, figuratively speaking, is easier than stopping it when it plows you.