A Common Sense Approach to Personal Safety

PERSONAL SAFETY IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS

Personal safety has received much attention in recent years.  In many situations, the criminal takes advantage of the perfect opportunity to commit the crime, which involves the element of surprise.  It is easy to be distracted when we are busy in our everyday lives. There are five safety principles to remember.  These safety principles, when practiced can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a crime victim. 

• Always be aware of your surroundings

•     Portray a positive and confident image

•     Make mental notes of things going on around you

•     Act as though you have a purpose, no matter where you are

•     Personal safety is 80% common sense, and 20% intuition

 Now let’s go over how we can incorporate these principles in our everyday lives

•     Try to park in well-lighted areas close to the entrance you are to go through. If you have to park in a parking garage, park close to the entrance and try not to park near any obstructions such as concrete pillars, trash dumpsters, or stairwells where people can hide behind. If you have no other choice but to park in this type of area, and you leave work late, leave with another co-worker or have security walk with you to your car.  Buy a flashlight to carry with you after dark.

• As you are walking towards your car, have your keys ready to go in your hands.  Don’t wait to get to your car before trying to get them out of your purse, briefcase, or bag.

• Walk with a purpose.  Keep your head up, shoulders back, and chest out.  Look confident and be assertive.  By keeping your head up, you can see what is going on around you as well.

• Upon approaching your vehicle, take a quick look underneath, and scan the backseat.  Try to keep the clutter down in your car, so you can see inside of your car.  Set your dome light to come on when you open your car door.

• As you get into your vehicle, lock the doors immediately.  This will prevent anyone from coming up to your vehicle and opening the door to victimize you.

• If at anytime, as you approach your vehicle, you observe anyone or anything that does not appear normal, immediately go back inside the building and notify either security or 9-1-1.

• ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!!

• Be cautious of any stranger who approaches you as you walk to your vehicle.  If your gut instincts tell you that the situation is bad, trust those instincts, go back inside and call 9-1-1.

TRAVELING/CAR JACKING SAFETY ISSUES

•       Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up, especially if you are in an unsafe area.  Otherwise, you may consider opening your window just a crack as you travel.   This is not only refreshing, but it allows you to hear what is going on outside your car.  Have you ever notice a law enforcement officer doing this?

• Be aware of your surroundings as you travel.  Be especially observant as you pull into parking lots, ATMs, parking garages, businesses, intersections, self-serve gas stations, and car washes.

• When you are coming to a stop, leave plenty of room with the vehicle in the front of you.  You should be able to see both rear tires.  If you don’t you are too close.  This will allow enough room for you to maneuver your vehicle if you need to get away from a dangerous situation.  Also, try not to pull even with the traffic next to you.  Try to stagger your vehicle in traffic.  This will give you the advantage of sight.

• Avoid driving alone on long trips, at night, or if you have to go through an unsafe neighborhood.

• Don’t stop to assist a stranger who is hitchhiking, or whose vehicle appears to have broken down.  Help instead by notifying local law enforcement.

Getting out:

• Remember to park in well-lighted areas with no visual obstructions.  Try to park where a sidewalk or walkway is close by. 

• Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked. Put them in the trunk or out of sight.

What to do if you become a victim of a car jacking:

•      If the carjacker threatens you with a gun or other weapon, give up your vehicle.  Don’t argue.  Your life cannot be replaced, but a vehicle can.

• Make every attempt to get away quickly.

• Contact the police immediately.

• If you become a victim of a rear-end bump collision, go to the nearest safe place.  Trust your intuition. And don’t stop immediately at the scene of the collision if you are suspicious.

• If you are being stopped by what appears to be a law enforcement officer, but you are not sure, acknowledge their presence and motion for them to follow you.  You should pull over at the nearest safe, well-lighted area.  Remember to go slowly.  If you speed away, your actions will be misunderstood if it is a real law enforcement officer. Once stopped crack your window. If the officer is not in uniform politely ask to see their identification or call for a uniformed officer.

WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING

• Know something about your vehicle, how to change tires, add coolant, etc.

• Always maintain a safe following distance with the vehicle ahead of you.  Besides being lawful, it also allows plenty of space to safely maneuver your vehicle away from a dangerous situation if the need arises.

•     If you get stranded along the roadway, open the hood and trunk of your vehicle just far enough to indicate that you need assistance.  If you open the hood too far, a vehicle could stop directly behind or in front of you without your detection, and allow those individuals to come up to your vehicle without your knowing it.

• Try to always carry a cell phone when you travel.   If you don’t have a cell phone, or in addition to using a cell phone, display the “Send help,” sign in the front and rear windows of your vehicle.  Do not open your doors to people who stop, unless you know them well.  Roll down the window just far enough to ask them to contact help.  Always position yourself in the center area of the seat so that you are the greatest distance from either window. 

ROAD RAGE Who are aggressive drivers?

These high-risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at anytime.  For these drivers, frustration levels are high and level of concern for fellow motorists is low.  They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk and flash their headlights.  They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm causing them to: follow too close, change lanes frequently and/or abruptly without notice without signaling, pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway.  They will leer at and/or threaten verbally or through gestures the motorists who happen to be unfortunate enough to be in front of them.

How to be safe when you are confronted by an aggressive driver:

•     First and foremost make every attempt to get out of the way.

• Put your pride in the backseat.  Don’t challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold your own in your travel lane.

• Wear your own seatbelt.  It will hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an abrupt driving maneuver, and it will protect you in a crash.

• Avoid eye contact, ignore gestures and refuse to return them.

• Report aggressive drivers to the local law enforcement agency, 9-1-1, and provide a vehicle description,

license number, location, and if possible, a direction of travel.  Remember, it’s better to be a good witness than a victim.

SAFETY AT HOME

 •     Keep doors and windows closed and locked.

• Keep shrubs and trees trimmed so they don’t obscure entrances and windows.  These are prime hiding areas for criminals.

• Have the neighbors watch your house when you are away for extended periods of time.

• Don’t let strangers in to use the phone. Make the call for them while they wait outside.

• Don’t let unexpected service people or solicitors into your home. Get a phone number where you can call to verify their identity and tell them you are doing so.

•     If upon returning home you notice anything different about your residence such as: lights on that were previously off, windows or doors broken and opened, gates that were closed and/or locked now open, etc. do not enter the house, and call 9-1-1 immediately.  If upon entering your home you realize it has been broken into and damaged, leave immediately and call 9-1-1. 

• If you notice someone is following you as you are traveling, just coming home from shopping or whatever, do not go home.  Drive to the nearest open business where there will be other people present and call 9-1-1. 

SAFETY WHEN SHOPPING

• Remember to park in a well-lighted area close to an entrance.

• Be leery of people who seem to be loitering in or around a parking lot or business.  They could be watching for a victim.  If you are not comfortable with the situation, park elsewhere.

• While walking to and from the parking lots into stores, be aware of your surroundings and what is going on around you.  Make it a point to speak to people you see.  Criminals are less likely to victimize someone who is confident and observant.  They don’t want to be remembered.

• Carry only enough money to purchase what you need.  Try carrying your money in several different locations on your person.  When you make purchases and get back only small amounts of change, it appears that you have spent all of your money.

• Carry only those credit cards that you will need that day.  Photocopy your credit cards front and back, and keep them in a safe place at home.

• Never put the straps of purses around your neck to protect it from theft.  The sudden impact on your neck from a potential purse-snatcher could cause serious injury.

• Fanny packs, carried on your front waist, are great to carry valuables in while shopping.  They are closer to your body and they are hard to get off and they leave your hands free to shop. 

• When making lots of purchases, make several trips to your vehicle.  Put the packages in the trunk and move the car to another location.  By loading packages into your vehicle and returning into the store, without moving your car, you have just made yourself a possible target.

•      If shopping carts are available use them.  They not only can be used as a barrier between you and aggressor, but will also allow you to keep your hands free.

• When leaving the store to go back to your vehicle, if you notice suspicious activity or a suspicious person around the area of your vehicle, go back inside and notify security or call 9-1-1.  Security can escort you to your vehicle.  Try shopping with a friend or family member.  Remember there is safety in numbers.

• After opening the trunk of your vehicle to load packages, pocket the keys.  Stand to the side and load your packages.  This allows you to see what is going on around you.

SAFETY DURING EXERCISE

•      Do not wear earphones while running or walking.  They do not allow you to hear while you workout.

• Always run or walk against traffic.  If bicycling, obey all traffic laws as if you were in a vehicle.

•      Always know your route of exercise.  If you are going on a different or new course or trail, workout with a friend, and if possible drive the course first.

• If someone pulls along side of you in a vehicle, for example, to ask directions, keep moving.  If they intend kidnapping you or harming you in any way, it is much more difficult to grab someone who is continually walking, running, or bicycling.

• Always look for an avenue of escape, and take your dog if you have one, when out exercising.

• Always make contact and wave to passing motorists or pedestrians.  Remember criminals do not want to be remembered. 

• Be confident in how you carry yourself during exercise.

• Avoid exercising at night, unless you are with a friend.  Always wear bright and reflective clothing so, you will be seen by passing motorists.

“Working in Partnership to Protect and Serve the Community with Honor, Integrity, and Professionalism”