Minime: I absolutely agree that these alarms are no substitute for being careful, but attacks can (and have) happened in broad daylight in relatively well frequented areas. These sort of attacks work because you're not expecting them. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

As to training, again, this is more important than any alarm. My union runs these courses as well as handing out the alarms.

Again, being armed not an option where I live (the UK).

As a side note, the alrms are designed to run even if dropped and once activated are fiddly to shut off( as I found out when I accidently set it off <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> )