During summer, young people are out and about more, and that means they need to be aware of how to keep themselves safe.

Maj. Richard Dixon, of the Regional Police Academy in Augusta, says people can't wait until they're attacked to decide how to react. Here are some tips on avoiding unsafe situations and what to do if attacked.

Reach Sarah Day Owen at (706) 823-3223 or sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.

SELF-DEFENSE TIPS

Maj. Richard Dixon, who has taught women's self-defense classes, offers tips on avoiding threatening situations and what to do if attacked.

- Be aware of your surroundings.

- Be careful when contacting strangers. Never give out too much personal information.

- If you are in danger, make noise. Carry a whistle or something else you can use to draw attention.

- Maj. Dixon tells rookie police officers to follow their gut: "If you think something's not right, it's not right."

- Teen girls should be wary of older guys. If, for example, a 14- or 15-year-old girl is dating a 17- to 18-year-old guy, she is more susceptible to attack.

- Stranger-on-stranger attacks are rare, but they happen, Maj. Dixon said. Most victims know their attacker, at least casually.

- Keep up with crime threats in the area and get trained in how to defend yourself.

- "Try to keep yourself in shape both physically and mentally," Maj. Dixon said. This is advice he gives to police cadets and women in his self-defense classes.

EXTRA CREDIT: Maj. Dixon recommends reading The Gift of Fear, by Gavin de Becker.

HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

Johnny Hughes, an instructor at CSRA Defensive Arts and a third-degree black belt, offers this advice on avoiding and responding to threats:

- Use common sense and do not go to places where you know there could be trouble.

- Try a simple "punch, punch, kick" and then run.

- The moment you feel contact, react.

- Block and fight hard: "If you're smaller than someone, you can still take them down," said Summer Foster, 12, a rising seventh-grader at Aiken Middle School

HOW TO REACT

If someone grabs you from the front:

- Push the heel of your hand under the attacker's jaw.

- Scratch your assailant with your nails as you pull your hand across his face. This can yield DNA evidence.

- Shove away and run.

- Maj. Dixon said the most vulnerable point on an attacker isn't the groin, but the eyes.

- If someone grabs your wrist, Mr. Hughes said, try to pull away the thumb. This is easier than trying to dislodge the four fingers.