9 Steps to stay safe:

[Gunther]

Originally intended for women, but seems applicable to men as well.

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself with these things to do in an emergency situation… This is for you and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these nine crucial tips, send them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you. Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit. (Doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head and tell you where to go. As soon as you get into your car, lock the doors and leave.

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head, DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your air bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A. Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor and in the back seat.
B. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall or work and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Also, better to be paranoid than dead.

6. Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at night.

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, always run! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then it most likely will not be a vital organ. Run preferably in a zig-zag pattern.

8. It is common for a woman to be sympathetic to someone with a problem. STOP! It may get her raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good looking well educated man who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane or a limp and often asked for help into his vehicle or with his vehicle which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another safety Point: Someone told the author of these safety tips that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch one night recently and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her, “Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.” The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, “We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.” He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby’s cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby’s cries outside their doors when they’re home along at night. DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.

The Crying baby theory was mentioned recently on America’s Most Wanted when they profiled a serial killer in Louisiana.

[FloobieDoobie]

Elbow works great, I've used that too many times. And If you're a big guy with a large skull your forehead works amazingly also. Laugh if you want but I've had more than a few people get in my face and jaw at me only to have my forehead pulp their nose when I headbut them. While they are dazed take control according to the situation, you will have a few seconds while he is trying to figure out wtf just happened.
I employed this trick a lot when bouncing in my younger life.

[BCoop]

The knee is also enormously powerful. Muay Thai fighters have had their knee strikes measured on dummies at a couple thousand pounds of force. If possible, pull the attacker into your knee strike for extra damage.

[rhonnin]

I keep one of the chambers on my derringer loaded with rat shot, a face full of that wont be lethal but will make it a really bad day. If they keep coming then they can have the hollow point.

[luvpeebo]

Yeah, don't do what I did one early morning when getting into my car:

What, four guys walking towards me behind my apartment building as I get into my car? It's dark outside, and they look creepy. I'll show them...

*continues walking*

Talk about stupid pride. I think I even told them good morning and gave them a curt little nod. As soon as I got into my car I was shaking like a leaf. Probably the dumbest thing I'd ever done.

[Axey]

Carrying a small weapon is actually not a bad idea, either. Many of my friends carry pocket knives, and just a week ago one used his to counter a mugger on campus. Late at night, some guy asked him "You got a wallet?" so my friend reached into his pocket and got his knife instead saying "No, how 'bout I stab you?" The guy backed off and said "Hey man, I was just kidding..." so my friend walked on to the other side of the building and called the police. The attempted-mugger was arrested. True story.

[FloobieDoobie]

The knee is also enormously powerful. Muay Thai fighters have had their knee strikes measured on dummies at a couple thousand pounds of force. If possible, pull the attacker into your knee strike for extra damage.

Knees are good but the problem is that the shifting of your body to use them gives you away. Anyone who doesn't watch thier opponents body language will very soon be the looser.

[cApNhOwDy]

Pepper spray, it can be your best friend. Just make sure that it's pointed AWAY from you.

Another thing I've noticed since I have this problem of people forcing/bumping me off of the sidewalk alot since I'm a small person, I carry a sharp pencil in my hand on the inside of the path. I never intend to use it, but just having it there makes them make space for me. Yes, 2 people can fit on a sidewalk, deal with it.