Staying Safe

Following an unidentified man attacking a woman in Kingwood’s East

End Park, the Lone Star College Division of Public Safety offers tips for
how to stay safe while exercising outdoors.

While Runners, joggers and others who exercise outdoors also offer their
advice on how they protect themselves while exercising in Kingwood.

Exercising in Paul Willingham, the Chief of Police of the Lone Star College police
department, encouraged students and others who chose to exercise
outdoors to run with a partner, to wear bright clothing and to run in well-
Kingwood populated and well-lit locations.

“Being visible is important so you don’t blend in,” said Willingham.“Bad

By Rachel Byrd guys don’t like being seen, so make it hard on them.”

Willingham also said students ought to notify friends of the route they
intend to take and not run the same route at the same time daily in order
to protect against planned attacks.

He also recommended that those exercising outdoors follow their

instincts while they are out and about.

“Trust your gut,” said Willingham. “If you sense something is amiss, trust
yourself—don’t ignore it.”

Willingham adds that runners ought not to run while listening to music.

“I know this is not popular,” said Chief Willingham, “but when you are
jamming to music you are eliminating a vital sense needed for self-
preservation.”

Professor Charity Combs, who enjoys running on the greenbelts in

Kingwood, spoke of the trade-off of fun and awareness that comes from
having headphones in while running.

“I like to listen to music,” Combs said, “but it means I do not hear other
people when they are passing me.”

For runners who like to listen to music while running, Combs suggests
that readers find an option that allows them to listen to music and still be
able to hear the world around them, such as bone-conductive speakers.

Cameron Gilmore, a student said, he make sure all his things are with
him.

“I make sure that there isn’t a danger near me or some type of hazard by
me.”

Professor Combs adds that, while her son was still young enough to fit in
a stroller, she would keep a knife in one of the stroller’s pockets to
defend herself and her son against attackers. Even so, Combs admits that
awareness is not enough.

“One thing I would add is a basic self-defense course will only teach of
awareness,” said Combs. “You have to practice if you want to actually
pull off anything they teach. The same [goes] for weapons. If you carry a
knife, you better know how to use it or all you have done is give your
attacker another weapon to use against you.”

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