FRAMINGHAM -- Heather Chase and Lindsay Gaetz live downtown with three other young women, all Framingham State College students.

Just yesterday, because of the attacks on women in Westborough, Framingham and Hopkinton, they had their landlord put locks on the screens.

Last night, they attended a free self-defense class held at the Nick Cerio's Kenpo Karate Studio on Rte. 135.

"We live downtown in a house full of all girls," said Gaetz. "We wanted to make ourselves feel safer, to know what to do if we're ever in this situation."

Chase said, "We wanted to feel more secure."

Gaetz and Chase were two of nearly 70 women who attended the class.

Hanshi Craig Seavey, a ninth-degree black belt and head instructor at the studio, said he held the class because of the recent attacks -- two rapes in Westborough, and attempted rapes in Hopkinton and Framingham.

"I'm in a position to offer something like this, so I did," said Seavey. "It's a subject close to the heart. Hopefully, they'll walk out of here with some strategies that can help them."

Davina Landesman of Framingham has attended several self-defense classes, and said she finds them helpful.

"I find you get a little more confidence in yourself," she said. "I haven't had to use it, thank God. When the opportunity comes along, at least you have something in the back of your mind you may be able to use."

Framingham Police Lt. Lou Griffith said it was fantastic for Seavey to offer the class.

"It shows he cares for other people's well-being," he said.

Seavey told the attendees he wanted to educate them on how to avoid assaults, and quick strategies of what to do if attacked.

He stressed he was not teaching them how to beat up an attacker.

"We're not here to create black belts," said Seavey. "We're here to give you enough to get away. There are three parts -- 'surprise, stun and flee.'"

If confronted on the street, women should try to keep space between them and a potential attacker, Seavey said. If the man does not allow them to keep space, Seavey told the women to strike soft areas such as the eyes, ears, nose and throat.

Seavey said women should make a lot of noise, and if they have long fingernails, use them as weapons.

"Nails are extremely effective weapons," he said.

Women have other weapons available to them, and they don't even know it, Seavey said. All they have to do is look to their purses. There are nail files, brushes, combs and keys.

The most effective item may be hair spray or perfume, he said.

"Hair spray to the face will be as effective as Mace or pepper spray," said Seavey. "You can use perfume, and if you really want to be nasty, you can use wasp and bug spray. You can get that at any hardware store."

All of the serial rapist attacks have occurred in bedrooms, and he said women should keep something near their bed -- again he said the best is hair spray.

If someone tries to grab a woman, they should pull the sheet as tight as possible. Seavey said when the potential rapist attempts to pull the sheet off of the woman, she should release it suddenly, knocking him off balance, giving her "micro-seconds" to get away.

Seavey said fighting off the attacker is not without risks.

"Can you get hurt?" he said. "Yes, you can get hurt, but you can survive."

Seavey said he would offer other free classes if there is enough interest. For more information, call Seavey at 508-879-6494.