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| Personal Safety |
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF. Like it or not, the majority of confrontations you may face, you are going to be by
yourself for some time. Until help arrives, or you draw attention to your predicament, you will be dealing with the
criminal or attacker one-on-one.
This is why you should HAVE A PLAN. Obviously you cannot plan for every type of incident, but if you have a basic
plan of what to do for a major confrontation, you will know what to do for most incidents.
There are four major points you should consider for your plan:
- BE A TOUGH TARGET
- DENY PRIVACY
- ATTRACT ATTENTION
- TAKE ACTION
To add to your plan, you should know:
- How the criminal works, and
- How people become targets of crime.
CRIMES OCCUR WHERE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST
Most crimes against a person don’t just happen. The victim is selected. And it is mainly because the victim is not
aware of their surroundings. He victim is not looking for potential hazards.
This is not to say the person has to be paranoid The person just needs to be aware that any one can become a victim
of crime, anytime anywhere, especially if they are not paying attention.
Here are a few locations where being aware and taking the time to become a "Hard Target" can help prevent you from
becoming a victim.
AT HOME
As there are no "Burglar Proof" methods, there are ways to make your home more "Burglar Resistant." You can make your
home a "Hard Target" by considering the following safety tips.
Safety Tips:
- Insure your house / apartment number is visible from the street
- Trim all bushes and tree limbs around windows - 2x6 rule - bushes trimmed down to 2 foot tall and trees pruned
up 6 feet
- Check to see that all outside lights, even streetlights, are working
- Keep drapes closed at night
- Keep doors, windows and garage doors closed & locked at all times
- Install a 190 degree door viewer (peephole)
- ID strangers at your door... if in doubt, call the company they represent
- Have your local law enforcement agency perform a FREE Home Security Survey- dead bolts, locks, strike plates,
etc
- Inventory all your expensive items under the Operation ID Program- engrave your Drivers License number on
large items- photograph smaller items.
- If going away for a few days or even longer, set up a Free House Watch by your local law enforcement agency.
TELEPHONE CALLS
- Install an answer machine and caller ID to monitor all calls.
- For women living alone, have a male friend put a message on your answering machine for you.
- Never reveal to a stranger you are home alone or feeling ill.
- Do not give any information to wrong number callers. Ask, "What number are you calling?"
- Check references of any person calling to seek information about you for a survey, credit card or subscription
drive.
- Call the person’s agency and verify the identity and intent of the call.
- If you receive threatening or harassing phone calls, place the receiver down immediately. Do not say anything.
The caller wants an emotional response- do not give them one.
- If the calls continue, notify law enforcement and the telephone company. If you keep a record of the date,
time and content of each call, you will aid the authorities in identifying the caller.
AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES - ATM’S
- Stop where busy; daylight and active area
- Be aware of area when entering and leaving
- Doesn’t have to be your bank
- Stay at machine to complete transaction- be observed by the camera
- Don’t walk away with head down counting money
IN YOUR VEHICLE
- Keep doors locked, windows rolled up while driving, except for the driver’s window. Roll it down a bit to hear sirens, etc.
- Secure valuables when leaving. Put them in the trunk or cover them up
- Leave yourself an out in traffic. Don’t get trapped behind another vehicle with no where to go in an emergency
- Avoid being a victim of a Carjacking
- Bump & Stop- someone bumps you from behind and you feel you must stop and examine the damage. Once you get out, someone steals your vehicle.
- Fake Police? - someone posing as a law enforcement office is trying to stop you and take your vehicle. If someone behinds you appears to be an office, stop at the first active and well-lighted location. Do not attempt to speed away.
- Help reduce vehicle burglaries by recording the serial numbers of stereos, CD players, etc. If items are stolen, it makes it easier for law enforcement to recover the items.
SHOPPING
- Hold on to purse;
- Put in cart... cover with groceries
- If in doubt when leaving, ask for escort
- Have keys ready
- Look in vehicle before entering
WALKING / JOGGING
Every day, more and more people walk to work, school or the store. Many times, they are oblivious to what is happening
around them. They are not too concerned about their personal safety and may fail to recognize a potentially dangerous
situation until it is too late.
People are also becoming more concerned about their personal health and have taken up walking or jogging as an
exercise to stay fit. Many communities have established walking or jogging routes through neighborhoods or specially
designated abandon railroad beds as trails for people to use. Some of these locations are remote and isolated, a
perfect hiding place for criminals to conceal themselves and await a victim.
Safety Tips:
- Be confident in your stride; walk with your head upright and remain alert.
- 90% of our communication with others- non-verbal; send a message "I’m NOT an Easy Target!"
- Exercise during daylight hours if possible.
- Walk or jog in familiar territory. Know the safe areas; where you can go if you need help.
- Walk or jog with a friend. There is safety in numbers.
- Carry a cellular phone in case of an emergency. Use it if you feel you are in danger.
- Avoid wearing headphones; you reduce your ability to detect danger and respond quickly.
- If confronted by a flasher, remain calm and try not to show an emotional response. Showing no emotional
response takes some control away from the flasher who gets a thrill out of shocking you. Turn and run the opposite
direction to a safe location.
- Remember the description of the flasher and report it immediately.
YOUR WORK PLACE
Where you work should be just as safe as where you live. There are prevention methods for work just as there are for
your home. Learn some ways to help reduce crimes, such as theft and vandalism in your workplace.
Violence in the workplace is also a concern to both employees and customers.
You and your co-workers can learn how to reduce or prevent violence in the workplace by considering some of the
following:
COMMON TRAITS OF POTENTIALLY VIOLENT EMPLOYEES
- Threats of harm (direct or indirect)
- Carrying a concealed weapon or showing weapons to others
- Paranoid behavior (the whole world is against them)
- Blaming other for problems; refusing to take responsibility
- Poor interaction with others; isolation / depression
- Rapid unexplained decline in performance
- Unable to take criticism of job performance; holds grudge, especially against a supervisor; verbalizes the
hope of something happening to another employee
- Obsessive involvement with the job; often with uneven job performance and no apparent outside interest
- Romantic obsessions with a co-worker (this interest may often be so intense that the co-worker will feel
threatened and may report this as sexual harassment)
- Shows desperation over family, financial or personal problems
- History of violence (whether or not work related)
- Fascination with workplace violence and approval of the use of violence under similar circumstances
- Disregard for the safety of co-workers
- Excessive attendance / tardiness problems or forgetfulness particularly when associated with one of these
traits
VISITING HEALTHCARE NURSES
Going to a stranger’s home or a strange location?
- Be aware of your surroundings; If going to a known danger area, meet in a safe place; If not possible, go
with someone
- Show confident in your appearance and stride
- Be aware of exits / phones
- Park vehicle so it can’t be blocked in
- Women- avoid carrying a purse- leave it in the trunk or home
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
DENY PRIVACY
- Try never to be alone in an isolated area
- Elevators- Don’t like what you see- don’t get on If you are in danger... push ALL buttons
- Avoid Stairwells- soundproofed
IF ATTACKED
- Initial Contact- Suspect has the least amount of control on you
- Fight or Flee- Your limitations
- Attack will be sudden, from side or back
- Mace / Chemical Sprays- Good if ready to use it...Have Body Alarm / Siren
REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
- 911 if necessary - if from a cellular phone- GIVE LOCATION FIRST
- Call your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number
- Give a description of person / vehicle and the direction of travel
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