Your Personal Safety

(from safety expert Tom MacKinnon)

Personal Safety For Adults

• 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.

• Have a home security system installed.  Its one of the best deterrents against a potential break in.

• Know who is at the door before opening it.

• Keep windows shut/locked at home especially on the ground floor.

• Keep blinds and drapes closed at night.

• 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.

• 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.

• Bring cell phone everywhere for emergencies.  Yacking endlessly on the cell phone in public inhibits your personal safety.

• Leave your purse at home if possible. 

• 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.

• Don't worry about looking foolish if you run or do anything to protect yourself.  There's nothing silly about personal safety!

• 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. 

• 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).

• 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.

• Don't walk towards calamity.  Use common sense and be aware of pending dangers.

• Park in well lit areas close to the door of the building you are walking in.  This includes your home/apartment as well.

• Walk in public areas.  If alone, stay away from wooded areas, back alleys, deserted streets etc.

• 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.

• Cut shrubbery and trees around your house that would hide would-be criminals.

• Keep your property well lit at night especially around doors and your car.

• In a bar, never leave your drink unattended.  Go to the public washroom with a friend. 

• As drinking increases, your personal safety decreases. 

• Any illegal drug use will decrease personal safety.

• Never let your guard down with a stranger - not even a good looking one. 

• 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.

• 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.

• If laws in your area allow, ask neighbors if they would go in on a surveillance system (cameras) to monitor your street.

• Take a self defence course.

• 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. 

• Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.  Don't give criminals the opportunity.  Use common sense.

• Think like a criminal (don't go on a crime spree of course; its just for anticipating what a criminal might do to you).

• 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.

• When in public, don't dress flamboyantly or like a 3 dollar hooker.  Don't draw attention to yourself.

• 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.

• Don't allow your personal information including: name, picture or address on the internet.

• Get to know your Constitutional or Charter Rights.

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Personal Safety For Children

• Your parents should know where you are at all times.

• Be aware of your surroundings which includes people and things.

• Learn to say NO to friends who ask you to do things that are bad. 

• 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!

• Trust your inner feelings and instincts.

• Know your address and phone number.

• Have a cell phone to use in case of emergencies.

• Don't wear clothes with your name/picture on them.

• Stick close to mommy and daddy while in stores or anywhere in public.

• Become familiar with your neighborhood and where to go for help if you need it.

• 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.

• Stay away from train tracks, power lines and never climb over fences to get in an area that has transformers or other electrical equipment.

• Walk in a group.

• 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.

• Take self defence classes.

• Keep doors and windows locked and never answer the door if alone.  Always know who is on the other side before opening it.

• If you answer the phone, never tell anyone you are alone.

• You don't have to trust everybody.  People have to earn your trust.

• You don't have to hug or kiss anybody you don't want to.

• All Adults make mistakes and some adults and older children are bad and you should avoid them.

• You deserve to be treated with respect at all times.

• You do not have to go anywhere with anybody who is not your parent (that includes the police)

• You have rights.

• If someone is making you uncomfortable - get up and leave.

• No one is allowed to touch you without your permission.  No one is allowed to touch you in your private areas - never ever.

• If you get lost in a store, go to the sales counter and ask the salesperson for help.

• If someone flashes a badge at you and tells you to come with them - run.  Then tell your parents.

• Don't give permission for anyone to strip search you.

• Never keep a secret that an adult or older child wants you to keep.  Always tell your parents.

• Just because a stranger is nice to you, doesn't mean you have to do what they say.

• Don't talk to strangers.

• Never go anywhere with a stranger.

• Don't give anyone any personal information about you on the internet.

• Your parents should be monitoring your internet use.  Remember, your parents are supposed to be protecting you.

• Adults should not be asking children for help. 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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. 

• 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.

• 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.

• You should not be alone with strangers or other adults including doctors.

• 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.

• Your parents or police will believe you if you tell them someone has touched you or tried to touch you in your private area.

• 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 applicable or appropriate.

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