PERSONAL SAFETY
TIPS
to support an active lifestyle
Protecting your Property
Photocopy
all your credit cards, health benefit cards and ID cards. Store the copies of your purse/wallet contents in a
safe, accessible location, such as an envelope in your office desk drawer or in
a safe-deposit box. Many banks will give favored customers a box for free,
but regardless, they are not expensive. This way if you were to lose the
originals you would be able to quickly cancel or replace these items. There are
service that will allow you call one number to report a stolen or lost card and
all of your card will be immediately cancelled saving you the hassle of
contacting each one individually. That bring us to this. You shouldn't have
multiple cards anyhow. It is best to have 2 of the most accepted cards and no
more. Not only will this help to remove the temptation to wrack up debt, but
they are easier to keep track of. Yes some thieves( such as housekeepers) will
take just one card out of you wallet hoping you won't notice and you probably
won't if you have several.
Buy an address book
and place all the addresses and number you have collected all in one place and
alphabetical order using the last names. You may want to do a double listing by
using the first names alphabetically as well. This is not just to make it easier
for you to contact someone in a hurry but also in case you are incapacitated and
an acquaintance or relative has to contact those that need to know of your
condition. Doing this will insure that you don't lose numbers that are valuable
to you. You may also want to create an address book on you computer b using the
one provided with your computer or if you are handy with spread sheets you can
make on that can automatically alphabetize it or sort it in any manner you
choose. This way you can make a copy of it ( and you should) and store it in a
safe place but remember to update your copy as well. If you are computer savvy
and have setup the accessibility feature and it's securities then you can access
this file from any computer anywhere in the world.
Make copies of house and car keys and store them in an accessible location
should the originals be lost. Keep extra house key in your car and visa versa.
Do not write on it what the go to at least not in detail. You may wish to give a trusted
relative, neighbor or friend your spare set. If you
don't trust anyone and have free access to your office, then your desk drawer
may be an ideal place to store copies of your keys. Again a safe-deposit box is
a good remote location for this sort of thing it will just take you a while to
get there and get them. Magnetic key cases
that you can hide on your car are a
good idea but be aware that thieves may look in all the common spots. When
retrieving your keys make a visual sweep to see if you are being watched and
then retrieve them in a way that could be interpreted as performing some other
action such as picking up something that you dropped and rolled under the
vehicle. Be creative but whatever you do don't give the impression of being
helpless or in trouble because predators pick of the weakest first. If you fell
uncomfortable go back inside and call for help or at least have a security personnel
or an acquaintance accompany you back to your vehicle where you can get your spare key
while feeling more
secure about it.
BE STREET SMART
BODY LANGUAGE: Your body language must say that you are assertive,
aggressive, in charge and in control, even if you don't feel that way. Potential
muggers will be dissuaded by someone who looks like they may put up a fight.
Don't look lost and confused. If you are lost then take moment to gather you
wits be entering a store or if nothing else lean up against a wall (to protect
your back and never new a corner) and make it look like you are relaxing.
EYE CONTACT: Don't be afraid to make eye contact and hold it
for a moment and when you do look away don't look down. Make it a point
to let any potential attacker see you holding your head up and let them know you
are aware of your surrounding. Be sure to look again at and across the person
you are concerned about. That is, you make brief eye contact again and them just
dismiss them and look at something else in that general direction. This will
convey that you have assessed them and have determined that you are comfortable
with your abilities. Looking in their general direction will allow you to follow
their progress through your peripheral vision and they will be aware of this and
know that they have lost any chance of surprise.
PERSONAL SPACE: You MUST defend it. The second someone threatens
your personal space you MUST let them know you will not stand for it.. Attackers look for victims who don't challenge them.
If you tell someone that they are making you uncomfortable, chances are that
they will stop their threatening behavior. If not, the situation may escalate. Also, don't fall into the
"It's not happening to me" mindset. If you feel uncomfortable, then
something IS happening and you must react to the situation. This doesn't
mean you have to be aggressive but you can politely but forcefully say something
similar to:" Would you mind, kindly stepping back." This says a lot about
you. It shows that you are not afraid to confront them, and that you are
possibly more refined than they are.
Crowded Locations: Such as on a Subway or on a crowded 3rd world
country bus, try to engage someone else in conversation to give the appearance
of belonging. There is strength in numbers and you will be less likely to be harassed
if you appear to have friend, even if newly made. Besides whoever you are
talking to may be savvy and able to spot and diffuse a impending situation. Trust your instincts. If you feel that walking down a particular street will
put you in some sort of danger, then DON'T WALK DOWN THAT STREET. Don't second
guess yourself, either. It is always better to be safe than sorry
Take evasive action: if required. Do whatever it is you need
to do to defuse the situation. If this means forking over your jewelry or cash,
then do it. Your life is not worth a few pieces of gold or money. If it means
finding an alternate route home, then do that. Do whatever it takes
you to get home as peacefully as possible.
New or Unfamiliar Areas
Develop a buddy system. If you're going to a play with someone, then go
together. Don't meet them at the site unless you are familiar with the area.
Likewise, try to travel with a friend when you're going someplace new.
Dress for the neighborhood. If possible, get a feel for what
the area is like.
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(landmarks, etc.) Don't travel without knowing where
you are going. Never let anyone "take" you to your destination.
If possible, avoid
making calls alone from pay phones in the evenings. Be aware while in a phone
booth. You may wish to face the door or opening of the booth and survey who is
around you. Always carry enough change for several phone calls and
"emergency" fare for buses or subways. If you are lost or evading
someone, you may need to make quick calls or to board a bus quickly.
Know police, fire, hospital, etc. location in area. Call in advance and find
out the location of emergency areas in case you find yourself in need.
AUTOMOBILE SAFETY
When driving in an unfamiliar location or countries use additional care and
watch for directive signs. If you find yourself feeling lost or confused, pull
over and sort it out and not while driving.
Items to carry:
A spare tire should go without saying but it is surprising how many people
never check the air pressure in their spare. We recommend a full size tire which
can be purchase from a salvage yard. Do not depend on those ridiculous
space-saver tires, which is an oxymoron as there is enough space allocated in
most vehicles for a full size tire they are just cheaper for the manufacturers.
Have your car road-ready. Service it frequently and carry any tools you might
need while on the road. Invest in jumper cables. People frequently find others
are willing to jumpstart their batteries but don't have the means with which to
do so.
If you are purchasing an alarm system, get a system that comes complete with
flashing lights and activated horn.
Invest in a cellular
phone if you travel alone or great distances frequently.
Confrontation
If you see your car being broken into don't interfere. Call 911. (There is
always a back-up thief during a car theft.) Don't confront the thieves: Give it
up!
Parking
Park in a secured lot. Never park your car in a closed or unattended lot. If
you need to park on the street, then try to park on a busy street and/or under
lamplight. Remove and/or store items in trunk BEFORE parking your car. Leave
nothing visible.
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