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Your
Personal Safety
(from safety expert Tom
MacKinnon)
|
Personal Risk Management
Personal Safety
Identify -
Assess - Act |
Personal Safety For Adults
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Keep
home doors locked at all times, even in the daytime.
Install a deadbolt and use it. Use both deadbolt and the
old handle lock. There is a psychological factor in the
old handle lock- when locked it won't turn. Better yet,
install a storm door and lock it as well.
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Have a
home security system installed. Its one of the best
deterrents against a potential break in.
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Know who
is at the door before opening it.
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Keep
windows shut/locked at home especially on the ground floor.
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Keep
blinds and drapes closed at night.
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Keep car
doors locked at all times whether you are in it or not.
Your car windows should also be up. Use air conditioning.
Scan your surroundings before you leave to go to your car and
while you are walking to your car. Before you go outside
to your car, have your car key out and ready to use. Don't
be fumbling for car keys while walking to your car. Look
inside your car before you get in and the first thing you
should do when you get in the car is to lock all your car doors.
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When out
in public (anytime you are outside of your house), be aware and
alert to what's going on around you. Always be on the
lookout for suspicious activity.
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Bring
cell phone everywhere for emergencies. Yacking endlessly on the cell
phone in public inhibits your personal safety.
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Leave
your purse at home if possible.
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If
someone is watching you, make eye contact to show you notice
them, but then walk away. Trust your own instincts.
Don't trust others, remember, trust is earned.
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Don't
worry about looking foolish if you run or do anything to protect
yourself. There's nothing silly about personal safety!
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Criminals are good profilers. They instinctively know how
to pick out the weakest. So therefore, don't draw
unnecessary attention to yourself and walk with humble
confidence being aware of the people and things around you.
As aforementioned, don't be afraid to make eye contact with
someone who is sizing you up. Not a quick nervous glance
nor a long stare. Just long enough to let them know you
notice them.
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Remember
your personal boundaries. A good rule of thumb is keeping
people one arm's distance away. Obviously, this distance
may get shorter with loved ones, but here, we're talking about
strangers. If they are within an arms length, you should
be getting away or already engaged (fighting).
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Fight
only when its necessary. In the animal kingdom, most
animals will avoid fighting. You are better off running
away or better yet - avoid and/or prevent dangerous situations.
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Don't
walk towards calamity. Use common sense and be aware of
pending dangers.
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Park in
well lit areas close to the door of the building you are walking
in. This includes your home/apartment as well.
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Walk in
public areas. If alone, stay away from wooded areas, back
alleys, deserted streets etc.
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Your
answering machine greeting should be a male's voice (find male
relative or friend to record it) and never say "I'm not home" or
"We're not home right now." Instead, "I'm on the other
line" or "I'm busy right now" etc.
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Cut
shrubbery and trees around your house that would hide would-be
criminals.
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Keep
your property well lit at night especially around doors and your
car.
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In a
bar, never leave your drink unattended. Go to the public
washroom with a friend.
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As
drinking increases, your personal safety decreases.
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Any
illegal drug use will decrease personal safety.
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Never
let your guard down with a stranger - not even a good looking
one.
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If you
use a drive-thru bank teller, pull up so as to position your car
as close as possible to the teller machine. This will
prevent someone from approaching you on the driver's side while
your window is down.
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If you
are going out of town, tell your neighbor where you are going
and ask them to keep an eye on your house and collect your mail.
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If laws
in your area allow, ask neighbors if they would go in on a
surveillance system (cameras) to monitor your street.
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Take a
self defence course.
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If
someone tries to abduct you, scream and run until you are safe.
If they grab you, bite, scratch, punch, scream until loose -
then run. Never
allow them to take you to another location. The second location is always more violent than the first.
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Most
crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don't give criminals the
opportunity. Use common sense.
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Think
like a criminal (don't go on a crime spree of course; its just
for anticipating what a criminal might do to you).
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Your
possessions can be replaced - you can't. When being
robbed, hand over money and jewellery to criminals. Do not
go to another location with a criminal.
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When in
public, don't dress flamboyantly or like a 3 dollar hooker.
Don't draw attention to yourself.
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When
driving, leave your ego home. Don't return anger for
anger. If someone is enraged, don't make eye contact.
Drive cautiously and stay on a public road. Keep doors
locked and windows closed. Call 911.
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Don't
allow your personal information including: name, picture or
address on the internet.
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Get to
know your Constitutional or Charter
Rights.
back
Personal Safety For
Children
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Your
parents should know where you are at all times.
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Be aware
of your surroundings which includes people and things.
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Learn to
say NO to friends who ask you to do things that are bad.
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Tell
adults about bullies. You have the right to be safe and
that means safe from bullies. Your school first and
foremost has to ensure your safety while you are at school,
going to school or walking home from school. If they can't
do that - don't go to school!
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Trust
your inner feelings and instincts.
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Know
your address and phone number.
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Have a
cell phone to use in case of emergencies.
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Don't
wear clothes with your name/picture on them.
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Stick
close to mommy and daddy while in stores or anywhere in public.
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Become
familiar with your neighborhood and where to go for help if you
need it.
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When
walking home from school, always walk on the sidewalk.
Never use shortcuts such as: wooded areas, behind buildings,
alleys or deserted streets. Obey traffic signs.
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Stay
away from train tracks, power lines and never climb over fences
to get in an area that has transformers or other electrical
equipment.
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Walk in
a group.
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You and
your family should have a code word. No one but your
family should know it. If you have to use it, then you and
your family should make up another one and memorize it.
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Take
self defence classes.
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Keep
doors and windows locked and never answer the door if alone.
Always know who is on the other side before opening it.
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If you
answer the phone, never tell anyone you are alone.
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You
don't have to trust everybody. People have to earn your
trust.
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You
don't have to hug or kiss anybody you don't want to.
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All
Adults make mistakes and some adults and older children
are bad and you should avoid them.
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You
deserve to be treated with respect at all times.
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You do
not have to go anywhere with anybody who is not your parent
(that includes the police)
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You have
rights.
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If
someone is making you uncomfortable - get up and leave.
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No one
is allowed to touch you without your permission. No one is
allowed to touch you in your private areas - never ever.
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If you
get lost in a store, go to the sales counter and ask the
salesperson for help.
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If
someone flashes a badge at you and tells you to come with them -
run. Then tell your parents.
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Don't
give permission for anyone to strip search you.
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Never
keep a secret that an adult or older child wants you to keep.
Always tell your parents.
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Just
because a stranger is nice to you, doesn't mean you have to do
what they say.
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Don't
talk to strangers.
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Never go
anywhere with a stranger.
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Don't
give anyone any personal information about you on the internet.
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Your
parents should be monitoring your internet use. Remember,
your parents are supposed to be protecting you.
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Adults
should not be asking children for help.
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If an
adult tells you to come with them - don't go. If they say
it is an emergency and your parents need you, ask them if they
know the code word. If they don't - walk away.
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Know
that some adults will try to abduct children. They will
even try to trick them. You can't tell by looking at them
if they are bad. They may be young, old, male, female,
good looking, ugly, fat, skinny, well dressed or look like bums.
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Some
tricks these adults may use are: asking you to help find a
missing or lost pet or child, offer you candy or money, yell or
scream at you to come with them, tell you that your parents
asked them to get you, tell you your in trouble and you have to
come with them, offer you a drive home, say they have something
to show you, say they are a friend of your parents, tell you
they are a parent of someone who goes to your school, asks you
to help them, threatens you by saying they will hurt you or a
loved one. Remember, these people are strangers and DO NOT
go with them. Tell your parents.
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If
someone pulls up in a car or truck and asks you to come closer -
walk away in the opposite direction. If they follow, run
until you are safe and then tell your parents.
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If they
try to grab you, run away. Scream, bite, scratch, punch.
If you have a bicycle, put it in front of you and the person and
don't let go of it. This will act like a barrier between
you and them. They will not be able to get you and the
bike in the car or truck. These bad people do not want to
draw any attention to themselves - so scream loud. If you
go with them, you may never see your parents again.
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If you
are going to babysit for your neighbors, ask your parents to
talk with them first. Make sure both adult neighbors will
be together when they leave/arrive home. You should not be
left alone with one adult.
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You
should not be alone with strangers or other adults including
doctors.
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You do
not have to sit on your uncle's or grandfather's lap. If
you do and they start to touch you in a way that makes you feel
uncomfortable - get up and leave. Tell your parents.
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Your
parents or police will believe you if you tell them someone has
touched you or tried to touch you in your private area.
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If you
are being abused by anyone, including family members, contact a
helpline, children's services or the police.
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disclaimer
The information contained herein should
not be a substitute for legal advice and is only the opinion of mdbys.com and
it's writers. The information contained herein is for general use only.
Every person's situation is unique. Please consult a lawyer or law enforcement
officer before undertaking any of the ideas submitted on this page. Please be
aware that differing Countries, States, Provinces, Municipalities and Localities
have their own laws and bylaws and the information contained herein may not be
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