Personal alarms

[MorePotatoSalad]

I'm contemplating getting one of those loud decible alarms again.

I had one at University and accidentally let it off at the end of a night out and could not get the key back in. My boyfriend had to dismantle it while it was still going off which nearly ended our relationship.

Now in my more mature days it would be for daytime park walking, running, walking through town in winter.

I've looked on Amazon but all of them I've seen worry me about being set off easily. Any ideas on what to get?

And by walking through town in winter, I mean afternoon shopping, not late at night.

I've got one of the small rounded type with a pull cord to activate it. I've never accidentally set it off. I haven't actually carried it with me recently (but will probably start again after recent news reports) but used to keep it in a side pocket of my bag and then just carry it in my hand when out walking etc. I did test it at home too and it was easy to put the cord back in to stop it.

Is there any evidence they are effective? As more than reassurance to the person carrying it?

Freezing is the more common reaction to a threat.

You can get a personal alarm on your phone by using the Hollie app. I believe it also sends a distress message by text if you have activated the alarm.

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They are not widely encouraged as the sensible advice is too avoid risky situations and having one might make someone more complacent.

Its mainly for reassurance, for me and to an extent for elderly family living far away.

I'm not sure about evidence, they are very loud.

I am an absolute freezer. I was in the park this week and a parent had 'lost' their toddler and understandably was panicking and asked if I had seen anyone suspicious. Even in that situation I froze for a moment before offering to help (she found them).

I can't run (fast) as I have a lung condition, so it probably does make sense and would give me peace of mind to have one I guess.

I'll have a look at the round ones again. There was also a clip on wrist one.

I suppose the curious thought is if women carried them as standard would that be a deterrent? A bit like the face mask effect having an estimated 10% impact on the spread of covid. Just ponderings.

@Lindy2

You can get a personal alarm on your phone by using the Hollie app. I believe it also sends a distress message by text if you have activated the alarm.

Thanks will look at this!

@Hopdathelf

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Just looked and it also has a flashing strobe.

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I wear a wrist based alarm when running alone so it is easy to activate in a panic situation, it's just there like a watch. Fumbling in pockets in a panic would not be helpful.

I have it to put more element of surprise on my side, and because it would attract more attention. Not necessarily to expect help, but it would potentially help with witnesses from having caught their attention that something unusual was happening.

I bought it a few years back when there was a serial preditory sex attacker operating in neighbourhoods too close to mine. He's behind bars for a long time now, but you just don't know who else is out there.

My gran gave me one when I went to uni and I managed to set it off in my bag during a lecture and I couldn't get it turned off. I had to leave the room (was sat in the middle of the row of course) with the stupid thing making a godawful racket. Endes up with some guy jumping on it do rme so we could break it and get the batteries out. It was a really piercing noise, it would definitely give an attacker a fright and maybe knock them off balance enough for you to get away.
I was thinking the other day about maybe buying one again.

Defender Security Products sell police approved personal alarms. These are the best around.
defendersecurityproducts.co.uk/