I remember when I would walk alone at night calling a friend on my phone as if that was enough security to get home. For some reason the familiar voice and brisk walk allowed me to feel distracted enough to be considered safe. The truth is crime happens, especially in a city like Chicago and if you plan on traveling alone you’re going to need to find ways to defend yourself and prepare for the worst. Here are some safety devices that you can carry to allow you to feel safe and potentially deter criminals:

5 Devices You Can Carry for Personal Safety

Keychain Alarm

First on the list is the keychain alarm. Keychain alarms allow you to create a noise distraction without having to carry anything that looks like a weapon. The keychain alarms work when the main device is removed from the keychain portion, afterwards it plays a loud noise accompanied by a flashing LED. Although this might not be the brightest, loudest option having something feels better than nothing.

Whistle Keychain

Similar to the keychain alarm, caring around a whistle keychain allows you to create a loud noise to deter or alarm attackers without worrying about electronic bits. The key chain whistle is very common among people who walk through greenery and nature areas because the noise deters animals. With the previous item and minds, using your whistle as a way to create noise and attract attention will alow you to use it the same.

Pepper Spray Keychain

Next on the list of safety devices that you should carry while walking alone is pepper spray. Pepper spray is a tricky one especially if you’re outside in a windy area. Not being prepared to use it and using it too early may discharge the spray onto you instead of your intended target. I definitely recommend watching videos or even asking a professional on how to use this device safely and legally before you use it as a means to protect yourself.

As of me writing this, you’re only allowed to use pepper spray in the city of Chicago if you’re over the age of 18 and outside of an enclosed space. Please be sure to do your own research to make sure the legalities have not changed since this blog has been published. I want you safe and legal while you are traveling in Chicago.

Flashlight

My favorite on the list is the flashlight. Not only is it convenient with shining dark spaces, but you can also shine a light on any shady people or have it in hand to defend yourself. Whenever any space is too dark for me and unfamiliar, I make sure to pull out my flashlight and illuminate the area that I’m going to be in. Even it’s super handy that all of our phones come in with a built-in flashlight feature, getting an actual flashlight will be way brighter and save your battery percentage.

Keychain Security Bundle

If you aren’t sure of what type of protection you’re comfortable with carrying, purchasing one of these security keychains with multiple options might be for you. Different outings call for different tools. My favorite feature is the versatility of taking a piece of the keychain off instead of taking the whole thing with you. Finding a bundle that will match your style is just important so you actually use it too!

Do you carry any of these?

Although these security devices don’t prevent crime, they do allow you to defend yourself in case you come across it. Potential theives are opportunists and will scurry away if the process gets too complicated. The only difference I feel while carrying a safety device while traveling alone is the extra confidence knowing I have a few tools in my corner.

Do you carry any safety devices for protection or have you only traveled to places with low crime rates? Unfortunately, when living in a big city with all types of people, you’re going to come across someone on a bad day. If you’re someone like me who carries most of her belongings on their back then I understand why you would want to protect it and yourself.

Still looking for things to do in Chicago this Summer?

I wrote a list of 25+ FREE things you can do in Chicago today and it includes a few tourist things but mainly gems that I enjoy myself even as a local. I also shared tips on planning transportation around Chicago, traveling to Chicago alone, and other tips for women travelers. Definitely use my Chicago blogs as a resource to build your Chicago itinerary. If you have more time to expand from the city, I also recommend you check out my Illinois blogs to add a couple of those locations to your bucket list.