Last month the former head of the powerful International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was charged with chasing a housekeep around his penthouse suite and forcing her to perform sex on him in his $3,000-a-night room at the Sofitel New York Hotel. Hotel housekeepers say they often feel a twinge of fear when they slide the keycard, turn the door handle and step into a room to clean it, not knowing what they might find?
For Argelia Rico, it was a naked man who touched himself as he ogled her. For Kimberly Phillips, it was a pair of dogs that tore into her leg.
Labor groups and housekeepers reported at least 10 other attacks in the U.S. last year, from New York's Sofitel to remote roadside motels in Gaithersburg, Md., and Grand Island, Nebraska. Many more are hushed up because the victims are illegal immigrants, or the hotels are wary of reporting such incidents for fear of scaring off guests.
But personal attacks, sexual or otherwise, are not something exclusive to hotel housekeepers and maids. They can happen to anyone, at any time, for any number of reasons. There are many steps you can take to help safeguard yourself, but one of the easiest and cheapest ways is to carry a personal alarm with you at all times.
Personal alarms are designed to draw attention to you should you ever need help. They are small, portable, yet emit a loud sound that makes people come running. You simply activate the alarm when attacked by an assailant, or when the threat of an attack seems likely. The loud siren-like sound draws attention to your situation, and in turn scares off the assailant. The last thing an attacker wants is drawing attention to himself, and his first impulse is going to be to run.
A personal alarm should be standard in every home or apartment, especially if you're there alone at night. Keep it by the bedside. If you should be awaken by sounds of somebody breaking in, grabbing your alarm is much easier than going for your handgun, stun gun, Taser, or MACE spray and going out to confront the would-be burglar. One blast from your 130db alarm will create enough attention that he won't be able to flee the scene fast enough.
Other uses for a personal alarm are when you're…..
Out jogging
Walking the dog
Traveling; especially if traveling overseas. Unlike other protection devices, there are no laws against carrying a personal alarm with you.
Anyone whose work takes them to residential neighborhoods where they may encounter dog attacks.
Real estate agents who are constantly showing vacant homes to prospective clients.
Walking to your car late at night
Security guards on night patrol
Students away at college. Worried about your daughter walking back to her dorm at night? Campus Security may not always be in sight, but they will surely hear the 130db alarm when the trigger is pulled.
Camping. If you have kids who like to explore the woods, give each an A MACE Personal Alarm Clip to clip on their belt or pocket. If they become lost or hurt, simply pushing the button will emit a loud 120db alarm. It's also useful at sporting events, as a location device during emergencies, refereeing, or dog training.
Falling asleep at the wheel. All of us at one time have become drowsy while driving and then suddenly jarred awake by perhaps the horn of an oncoming car. The Nap Zapper, which is worn over the ear, has an electronic position sensor that sounds an alarm when your head nods forward.
A person is most likely to be attacked at night while walking to or from their car or home. The Key Alert with Flashlight easily attaches to your keys so it's always within reach. Many other personal alarms can be difficult to use in a panic situation.
These are only a few uses of personal alarms. All the personal alarms we carry are small, lightweight and portable, but with loud emitting blasts that can be heard ¼ mile away. Choose between aerosol or battery. Some also come with strobes and flashlights, and can be clipped to your belt, placed in your pocket or purse, worn around the neck, or simply come as a keychain. A few of the alarms will also convert to a portable door or window alarm and can be set for motion activation. This is especially handy if you're traveling.
Below, is a small selection of the alarms we carry. I invite you to look through our category of Personal Alarms at http://www.thecoverteye.com/Personal_Alarms. I think you'll find for the price, these alarms provide the biggest measure of personal security of any other device.
Lipstick Alarm
Keychain Alarm
With flashlight
Dual Purpose
Personal Alarm
Care Go
Smart Alarm
The UFO Alarm