15 personal security tips to follow in all situations
We don’t live in the safest of worlds and it is always better to prevent than to cure, isn’t it?
We have plenty of resources to learn how to keep our homes safe and how to make all our travels secure. But how about daily, run-of-the-mill safety?
We usually don’t think that something bad would happen to us every day we go to work for instance – as it would drive us mad – but some precautions don’t hurt. Let’s see 15 simple personal security tips to keep in mind every day.
- Always be engaged in situational awareness – meaning to keep attention at everything around you, from cars, to buildings, to people.
- Don’t walk with both earbuds in your ears listening to music in the street – you should be attentive to cars and people and vigilant to anything approaching you.
- Walk with your head straight and look at people in the street and your surroundings – you will be less likely taken by surprise.
- Keep your head up at all times and don’t text while walking. Also, limit your phone conversations while you are walking so you’d be less distracted.
- Avoid suspicious or dangerous areas at night or at least have company while crossing such areas.
- Walk with your keys in your hand whenever you cross a suspicious area / neighborhood during the night or day; the keys can be used, ultimately, as a self-defense mechanism.
- Keep your car doors locked in case you have a purse, briefcase or valuables placed on the passenger’s seat; in fact, it is better to drive with your doors locked even if you don’t have anything of value in the car.
- Always keep your family and friends informed whenever you travel; write them text messages, send photos or call them so they know you are alright at all times.
- Be aware of pickpockets in crowded buses or subways; keep the bag as close to you as possible, fully closed and secured.
- Be aware of all the exit routes in your office, the cinema, the mall and all other places you frequent; you may think that nothing can happen to you, but it’s better to be alert and have in mind more than one way out in case of a fire or other danger.
- Don’t walk in the elevator with another person if you don’t feel comfortable with that person, you can wait for the next elevator or take the stairs.
- Turn and go in an opposite direction or enter a store / retreat to a public place if a stranger in a car approaches you and offers to give you a ride somewhere.
- Close and secure your front door and windows at night even if you live in a safe neighborhood or a high floor flat – burglars are more creative than you imagine.
- This goes without saying, but it’s better to repeat it: be very careful at the ATM, don’t approach the machine if you see people just hovering around the ATM and never count your money in public.
- Keep a Red Panic Button app at hand. In case you get lost or you find yourself in a dangerous situation, a simple push of the Panic Button will send a discrete distress call to a pre-set list of emergency contacts together with your GPS location so your friends and family can find you fast and easy.
These are just the tip of the iceberg, so if you have and use other personal safety tips, feel free to complete this list!
