As of 2018, approximately a third of REALTORS® nationwide had experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety. During the Texas REALTORS® webinar “Stay Safe Out There,” Sergeant Robbie Barrera from the Texas Department of Public Safety shared her advice for staying safe on the job and what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.”
Below are takeaways from her presentation. Watch the entire webinar here.
Be Aware
Barerra says to think about the situations where you are most vulnerable. Are you paying attention when you get in and out of your car? Or when you unlock a home and your clients are standing behind you? There are plenty of daily situations where it’s easy to get distracted or go about your day, but Barerra says it’s safer to practice awareness in your everyday activities.
Play the “What If?” Game
What would you do if an attacker came into the room right now? Have you noticed how many exits are available? Would you be able to open or break a window if you needed a quick escape? Barerra says having a plan in mind in every situation will give you an advantage and keep you from freezing up. “Once your heart rate gets elevated, you lose your fine-motor skills,” she says. “Rehearsing plans of action will give your brain a memory to revert to when it becomes stressed in emergency situations.”
Fight Back
Don’t trust an attacker who says if you cooperate he won’t hurt you. “Once someone puts his hands on you … cooperation is no longer an option,” Barerra says. “I don’t care if he has a gun … he’s already hurt you by putting his hands on you.” Barerra says it’s time instead to resist and fight for survival. “Do not accept the role of a victim,” she says. “Active resistance or evasion can be disruptive to the attacker.”
Here homeless people have been found living in vacant houses. I try to always be aware and I carry a flashlight into vacant property. It has a tazer on the end of it.
I heartily agree. Excellent article and advice. Evil people seek out soft targets. Get trained so you aren’t one. I took Target Focus Training, for self defense/situational awareness taught by Tim Larkin. It’s simple, and empowers you to save your own life – even if you are small, weak, slow, handicapped, don’t see well, out of shape, etc. Takes a few hours to learn, and then you have it for life. People I shared it with have had to use TFT, and it kicks in without you even thinking about it. You just know what to do in the moment.… Read more »
I have an LTC and always carry and practice shooting regularly.
Just wondering how many of the realtor’s ” fear for their personal safety” was not due to a potential attack by another person….dog bites are the top of my list, along with rotten staircases too risky to climb, a hoader’s home with stuff stacked to the ceiling within 2 ft. of the front door (no I did not enter the premises), 8 ft poison ivy vines in the yard, drug paraphernalia in a vacant house, etc…..and many other unsafe property conditions that have had me turn around and leave immediately, and occasionally even call the police. If all of those… Read more »
I do carry pepper mace but I never do feel completely safe. Lord! If people only knew what we go through to have and keep our license I don’t think we would hear, “Can you give us a discount?”
I think of this all of the time and am surprised we don’t hear of more attacks.
a friend of mine told me to start carrying wasp spray. he said it is worse than pepper spray and will shoot further. just a thought!
Great Idea!!
Wasp spray is a huge bottle to carry. Id buy pepper spray gel not regular spray so it doesnt carry with the wind. THats the only problem with pepper spray. Im a retired state trooper and have used it all. I always carry a concealed firearm and teach my offices to do the same. there are many other things to do just dont be a victim because everyone is not nice. I also teach CHL. If I can help anyone let me know. Im at the Keller williams Weatherford office.