Recent high-profile attacks against women and new high-tech devices have more Tristate women reconsidering their self-defense options.

        In the last two months, two local women have died in domestic attacks. Actor Robert Blake made national headlines after being arrested for his wife's death.

 

A portable alarm

        High-tech, court-ordered monitoring devices, such as bracelets that warn Cincinnati domestic violence victims if their assailants get close, are being used but women also can buy affordable new products. Among them, higher voltage stun guns, mace visible under ultraviolet light and louder warning alarms.

        Traveling at night sometimes makes Barbaranne Irving uneasy. The West Chester Township resident is the mother of Cassandra Betts, who was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 2000. Ms. Irving also is a domestic violence survivor. She says she would buy something more powerful than a traditional spray.

        “I'd be more apt to use a stun gun than Mace, depending on my location and how I travel. I think Mace would be more difficult to use. Since I have children in the home, I'd be more apt to use it (a stun gun) than to get a (firearm).”
       

Online store

Sportstrobe flashlight doubles as an alarm

        Many local stores sell stun guns and warning devices. One of the hundreds of Web sites specializing in self-defense technology is D and K Self Defense. Dave and Kelly Lower launched the site last year after researching different business opportunities.

        Mr. Lower chose to open an online self-defense technology store because “it helps people protect themselves. In their own neighborhoods, people may be in a high crime area or victims of domestic violence. I think it's a good thing to provide this service.”

        His Web site carries everything from tasers ($100-$400) to personal alarms ($9.95-$15) to “nanny cameras” ($100-$200). A unique addition to the dot-com's catalog is the Cell Phone Stun Gun ($79). This 130-decible personal alarm with a shocking 180,000-volt jolt looks like a real cell phone.

        “We just started selling it a month ago,” says Mr. Lower, president of the Palmdale, Calif.-based online store. “We've gotten a lot of inquiries and really good response” to the high-tech protector.

        D and K also carries a Stun/Alarm Flashlight ($45) that looks and operates like a regular flashlight but has an ear-piercing 130 db alarm and carries a current of 80,000 volts.

        Mr. Lower says his big seller is the 625,000 volt Stun Master ($79.95). It can render an attacker immobile for up to 2 minutes.

        “You don't need that much, but most people like bigger voltage.”

        Women will find the 4- and 6-inch long stunners easier to carry, says Mr. Lower. They still boast a respectable 80,000 volts and come with a special clip-on feature and wrist strap.

 

SELF-DEFENSE CLASS

What: Self-Defense Class for women     When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 30     Where: YWCA, 898 Walnut St., downtown     Cost: $30, reservations requested     Information: 361-2116.

AREA SHELTERS

Currently, three shelters provide safe places for battered women and their children:     • The Battered Women's Shelter for Hamilton County, (872-9259 or (888) 872-9259),     • The YWCA Eastern Area House of Peace for Brown, Clermont and Clinton counties (753-7281)     • The Kentucky Women's Crisis Center, (859) 491-3335.

CRISIS LINES

Emergency and information lines are also available for crisis intervention:     • YWCA 24-hour crisis line 872-9259     • Ohio Domestic Violence Network (800) 934-9840 info line.     • Family Violence Intervention Project (859) 574-6440     • National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233 or (800) 878-3224 TTY (interpreters available for 139 languages).

CELL PHONES

Several organizations and companies are putting disconnected cell phones on the front line against domestic violence. In Cincinnati, Verizon and the International Association of Machinists keep a steady supply available for women in area battered women's shelters. Although not connected to an authorized carrier, the 911 feature of each phone can still send a signal to the local authorities in the event of an emergency.     The YWCA Cincinnati office on Walnut Street is accepting discarded cell phones for distribution to women in violent relationships. Executive Director Charlene Ventura is delighted to offer this community service.     “It provides protection for women,” says Ms. Ventura. “It's good for women to have in case they need it, if she feels she's in danger.”

        He also recommends pepper spray and Mace because of their portability.

        “I tell my customers to use it safely and cautiously,” says Mr. Lower. “These products are not for anyone under the age of 18. And check on local laws for your area. Some states or cities ban them or restrict their use.”
       

Best defense

        Whether in a small group or traveling alone, being acutely aware of her surroundings can be a woman's first line of defense, experts say. The second layer of protection is to carry one of the new high-tech safety devices created to maintain personal security. Even then, knowing how to use it effectively while under stress can mean the difference between life and death.

        Capt. Charmaine McGuffey of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department says people who carry protective devices have to be schooled in the proper way to use what they carry.

        “I see some women who have small Mace cans,” Capt. McGuffey says. “But with some, you have to turn the nozzle first or take the cap off, and if you don't maintain control, you don't remember how to use it.”

        Capt. McGuffey has taught a self-defense class for the YWCA for about 15 years. More than 1,000 women have taken the two-hour course. Lt. Earl Price co-teaches the class. The next class will be April 30 (see accompanying information) at the downtown YWCA.

        “We do go over (in the class) things to use that are legal (she doesn't endorse the use of bladed weapons or firearms) and what their uses are. We also discuss the drawbacks of having these weapons, because they can be turned against you.

        “A lot of people don't know that in a fear situation, the first things to go are fine motor skills. You lose the ability to grasp keys or dial a telephone. If you don't practice using them, it may hinder your defense.”

        Capt. McGuffey says devices to consider include Mace that gives off a spray that leaves residue detectable in infrared light and horns that emit a piercing sound to drive away attackers and attract witnesses.
       

Not a panacea

        Diana Cyganovich, Ohio Domestic Violence Network training coordinator, cautions that possessing a tool for self-defense does not ensure complete security.

        “We know safety is a primary concern, and we do encourage planning for safety,” Ms. Cyganovich says. “But we know there isn't one particular product or method that works for all women. If you're thinking of using it, think about who it's for and how to minimize its use.

        “We do not want women to use these devices if it gives them a false sense of security. Think through different ways of being safe. It will be easier if you practice a plan for protection.”

        Capt. McGuffey agrees that preparation is important when it comes to personal safety.

        “Women need to know you never run out of options” to protect yourself, she says. “No matter how desparate the situation, keep thinking about your options.”