The Scoop: Hannah Ware, digital marketing specialist at SABRE, shares her insights into the brand’s collection of personal safety products and how daters can use them to stay protected–whether on a first date or simply heading somewhere unfamiliar.
Founded in 1975, SABRE is best known as “the world’s #1 brand of pepper spray.” But aside from its best-selling spray, the company also stocks an extensive collection of safety products ranging from personal alarms to stun guns.
More than 100 million users rely on SABRE to keep themselves and their loved ones safe–and daters are among them. In a world where meeting someone from a dating app for drinks is commonplace, it’s important to have resources at hand to protect you should the date go south.
Hannah Ware, the company’s digital marketing specialist, sat down to provide her first date safety tips and introduce daters to SABRE’s products. Read on to learn more about the steps you can take to feel more confident meeting up with that Hinge match.
You just might find yourself purchasing a lipstick-shaped pepper spray you didn’t know you needed.
Essential Tips for a First Date
Before even agreeing to meet for a first date, there are a few precautionary steps you can take.
If you met this person on a dating app or website, scan their profile for glaring red flags–little to no information listed in their bio, or catfish photos that seem like they could be ripped from another person’s Instagram.
But if the person passes all initial sniff tests, arrange your date carefully. “First, meet in a public place, like a coffee shop or a park where a lot of people are. Don’t just go to someone’s house without ever meeting them or that sort of thing,” says Hannah.
And don’t be afraid to lean on your community. Let your close friends know where you’re going, who you’re going to meet, and check in with them afterwards. They can even help drop you off at your date if you need support through the pre-date jitters–or just want to take an extra safety measure.
“Even though it might seem chivalrous if someone offers to pick you up on a first date, they don’t need to know where you live before you actually meet them. So getting there your own way, whether it’s your own car, an Uber, or a friend, is best,” says Hannah.
Hannah also acknowledges that women face unique challenges while navigating the dating scene. Young women and girls grow up socialized to be accommodating, making it difficult for some to be assertive in their adult dating lives.
Anything that helps women feel more confident setting boundaries is essential.
“Growing up, it’s ingrained in women to have a hard time saying no or knowing how to exit a situation. So having an out or an excuse that can be your go-to exit is important. I like to plan dates before other plans, like dinner or something with my friends,” shares Hannah.
“It doesn’t have to be real. It just helps you have a more confident way to leave if you feel unsafe or are having a bad time.”
Carrying Personal Safety Devices
If you haven’t previously considered carrying a personal safety device, the thought of doing so can feel overwhelming. And bringing one to an event as sensitive as a date can arouse anxiety: suddenly, you’re more aware of the fact that you may actually have to use it.
That’s why Hannah suggests taking it slow, rather than jumping right into equipping yourself with all the bells and whistles available.
“There is a stigma around pepper spray. People are kind of scared of carrying it,” she explains. “For starters, you have to be comfortable using it. So don’t bring it out on a first date if you’ve never carried it before. Try hooking it on your keychain or in your purse and carry it with you to get used to feeling it a little bit.”
Through the SABRE Personal Safety Academy, you can receive access to free safety videos and training materials that will help build your confidence even further. But take your time, and don’t underestimate the power you still have without assistance.
Noise alone is “your best friend,” according to Hannah; your first line of defense is always your voice.
Once you feel ready to explore your options, SABRE offers a full line of products that can be used in different settings. The company aims to ensure that you’re protected, no matter where life takes you.
“A lot of our personal safety tools come with different attachment options so you can easily attach them to a bag or a keychain. If you want something more discreet, we even have a lipstick pepper spray that doesn’t look so much like a pepper spray, which can be good for dating, too,” says Hannah.
The lipstick spray in question is compact and includes 12 bursts for maximum protection against multiple threats, with a stream delivery that reduces wind blowback and keeps you out of the tool’s way.
How SABRE Uses Technology to Help All Daters
The protection that SABRE products provide doesn’t end once you’ve deployed your device and unleashed a stream of pepper spray or played a loud noise. Some of the company’s products are integrated with smart technology so you’re connected to your community.
You won’t be alone. If you need help, people close to you will know.
“We actually have a smart pepper spray with Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone through the SABRE Personal Safety app,” explains Hannah.
“You connect the pepper spray to your phone, and then add trusted contacts through the app–anyone you might share your location with. If you ever have to deploy the spray, they’ll get a text message notifying them that this person used it. The app will also send them your live location so they can follow along until you mark yourself safe to stop the location sharing feature.”
The ability to use the in-app “panic button” and receive real-time GPS tracking are a few of the free features included in the SABRE Personal Safety app–plus, your selected contacts don’t have to have the app downloaded on their own devices to receive help alerts.
You also have the option of upgrading to SABRE Premium to send alert notifications to 911 dispatchers when the in-app alert is sent or when your SMART Pepper Spray is deployed.
However, you never need to wait for the situation to escalate to get others involved.
“You can even use the app’s alert button if you feel unsafe but don’t yet need to deploy your pepper spray,” says Hannah. “People will get the same text message notification with your live GPS location, so they can track you to safety, essentially.”
Arm Yourself with SABRE Today
Dating doesn’t come without risk, and the statistics can be alarming. App use has been linked to a rise in sexual assaults, according to a Brigham Young University study which revealed that nearly 280 of 2,000 sexual assaults occurred during the first encounter after meeting online.
And in a survey conducted by Columbia Journalism Investigations, 31% of female respondents reported being sexually assaulted by a person they had matched with on a dating site.
With SABRE, you’re free to choose whichever personal safety device suits your lifestyle and needs. Whether it’s a discreet pepper spray or an LED reflective hand strap specifically for runners, you can enjoy more peace of mind knowing that you’ve taken the steps to keep yourself safe.
If you’re ready to show up safe to your dates, get your SABRE device and download the SABRE Personal Safety app today.
