How to Use a Tactical Flashlight for Self Defense

Small high-performance flashlights have become a must-have accessory in recent years. The reason is they are conveniently small, quite affordable, and come in handy for several purposes. Most EDC (Every Day Carry) flashlights are adjustable from as low as 50 lumens, to up to 1600 lumens, with a battery life that can run into several months. The adjustable beam feature gives you the flexibility to either utilize the accessory normally or as a self-defense weapon against a would-be attacker.

Read about the various types of EDC flashlights

In the event that you would need to defend yourself, your EDC light accessory can be used as a weapon for self-defense. Here are a few practical ways to use it for self defense:

1. Directing the light beam directly towards the face of an attacker

With the capacity to output a light beam of a thousand lumens at a few rapid clicks, shining your EDC light directly towards the eyes of an attacker will significantly distort their vision, and depending on how much contact is made, will cause temporary blindness. This is a great self-defense mechanism that gives you enough time to either fight back or run away from a would-be attaker.

2. Hitting the attacker with the flashlight

Although it is small, your average EDC light is made of pretty rugged material like metal. Hitting an attacker with a small flashlight in vulnerable spots like the eyes, throat, or groin area can be quite effective. Most EDC lights have protruding metal hedges or bezels which are sometimes sharp. This can also be used to inflict minor injuries to vulnerable spots on the attacker, enough to buy you time to get away and get help or call 911.

3. Throwing the flash light at the attacker

Similar to the previous self-defense tactic, you can also throw the item at your attacker. Although it is often times recommended that the light beam be pointed directly at the attacker’s eyes, if you do not have enough time to try options 1 and 2 above, this is always a last resort option if you’re confident of your throwing accuracy. The impact of an average EDC light weighing between 2.5 to 5 ounces thrown directly towards an attacker’s face can inflict minor injuries, especially to the face, enough to buy you time to escape.

Applying some of the tips provided above are additional ways to get the best out of your EDC accessory to defend yourself if the need arises.