I all seriousness I don't recommend a knife for self defense in general. Before everyone gets up in arms I will explain.
The key to staying safe/safer is distance. If they aren't going to carry a gun the next best is pepper spray. You at least have 10-12 feet to spray and then move plus you can use it point blank. Then if they keep coming a knife might be handy since they(the bad guys)are no longer 100% combat effective. I carry one (a knife) at work as a last ditch. But it will be a unique situation if it comes to that.
The next issue is outdoors pepper spray can't always be used. You don't want to pepper spray yourself or someone with you by accident.
Being aware of your surroundings and situation goes along way in preventing any situation before it ever happens.
You are most assuredly right on what you said MB. Situational awareness and distance. I also said to use the SING principle in what ever order they can, to kick, scratch, claw, bite knee ANYTHING that will allow them to get away(remember Miss. Congeniality), if at all possible and then run screaming at the tops of their voices.
Like I said, I hope this all goes away as I am afraid that if they do get a knife someone will get hurt, either themselves or an innocent person who they mistook for one of the bad guys.
And being mostly high school girls, it might fade into the background rather quickly.
