Your Personal Safety is Your Responsibility

The most important step you can take toward your personal safety in all situations is to be prepared.

Take a reality based self defense class. Know your abilities and limitations, how to deal with violent conflicts and how to protect yourself in a variety of situations. Having knowledge is always better than not having it.

The following safety tips are just a beginning in helping you be more prepared for what might happen in our ever increasing violent world.

Personal Safety Tips When You Are Away from Home

1. Carry a personal alarm at all times. A personal alarm is a device that makes a loud noise when activated to draw attention to yourself if you become the victim of a crime.

2. Carry a cell phone at all times. Have 911 programmed into your speed dial.

3. Never travel into an area that you are unfamiliar with.

4. Always try to let a family member or close friend know where you are going and when you expect to return.

5. At night, stay to main streets and park in public lots where the lighting is good and there are plenty of people around. Try to park as close as possible to avoid a long walk alone when you leave.

6. When at a party or out for the night, avoid accepting rides with anyone you do not know well. Bus fare or the expense of a cab is a small price to pay for personal safety. Never get into a vehicle with a stranger.

7. When at a party or out late at night, if you are a woman and your car is more than a few steps away, ask a close male friend (someone you know and trust) to walk you to your car. Building security is often happy to escort you to your car as well.

8. If you find yourself being confronted by an unknown person or being attacked make lots of noise, activate your personal alarm, yell and scream, throw rocks at windows, anything that will draw the attention of people nearby. Attempt to make it to an area where people will help you. Dial 911 if possible. Look for avenues of escape, a way you can get to safety quickly and avoid the aggressor.

9. If you are being followed, go to a public place such as a shopping mall, hospital or police station. Never go home, you do not want the person to know where you live. Phone the police immediately (dial 911) if you believe you are being stalked. If the subject is driving a car, try to get the license plate number. This is the only way the police can identify a car.

10. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don't be distracted when talking on your cell phone. Stay alert for what is happening around you at all times.

11. Keep your car locked at all times.

12. Never leave valuables or money in view through your car window. Place valuables in your locked trunk.

13. A purse is an easy thing to steal. Carry it in front of your body. Hold onto your purse with one hand even if it has a shoulder strap. Never leave it sitting on a table unattended.

14. Be aware of the problem areas in your community and avoid placing yourself in any situation where your personal safety may be compromised.

Personal Safety Tips for Travel

1. Notify a family member or close friend of your travel arrangements. This includes date and time of travel, flight number or train number, destination and expected time of arrival. If traveling by automobile leave route, vehicle license plate number, destination, and expected stop over and any other information that may be important.

2. Arrange to phone someone when you get to your destination to advise them that everything is all right.

3. If traveling by air, utilize a reputable travel agent.

4. When you arrive at the airport, check in as soon as possible and go to the secured areas of the airport. These are safer than the areas open to public access.

5. Do not reveal personal information to strangers that you meet at the airport or on the flight.

6. Travel with a carry-on bag with personal effects. You never know when you might arrive at your destination to find that your luggage is elsewhere.

7. When placing a nametag on your luggage do not put your home address, only a telephone number.

8. If traveling to a foreign destination make sure you are aware of the laws. Many countries have different restrictions as to what can be brought in and what can be taken out.

9. When staying in hotels, use a portable locking device to secure the entrance.

10. Travel with a portable alarm. There are several products available that utilize motion detectors. These can be set up to monitor the entrance to the room or a balcony.

11. Stay in reputable hotel or motel chains that are located in busy areas. Avoid staying in isolated or out-of-the-way places.

12. Never leave your hotel room door open or unlocked - even if you are simply going back and forth to your car to retrieve luggage or other belongings. It is too easy for someone to slip inside your room unnoticed.

13. Know the phone number and location of the closest police station. In an emergency, the staff could be of great assistance.

14. If there is a knock at your door, but you have not ordered room service or another hotel service, do not answer the door. Immediately call hotel room service or whatever department they say they are with. If they are not hotel staff, have them removed from the premises by hotel security or the police if necessary.

15. Enjoy your trip, but think safety and use common sense.

These safety tips apply on cruise ships as well as at hotels.

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