Safety Tips from Schmeg.com

   

• Always check inside your car before entering. 

• Keep your car doors locked and the windows up, even when you're driving. 

• NEVER pick up hitchhikers (or those you don't know well)!!!  NEVER!!! 

• If you're traveling alone at night make sure you have enough fuel to reach your destination.

• Park in a well-lit area.

• If you're being followed, drive to a place where you can call for help, or go directly to a police or fire station.

• When dropping off a passenger wait until they have safely entered their residence before driving away.  If you're a passenger being dropped off, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside before leaving.

• If you're involved in a minor accident at night or in an isolated area (especially if you're alone) do not exit the vehicle, even to inspect the damage or exchange information with the other driver.  Instead, signal the other driver with your lights and go to the nearest well-lit populated area or to the nearest police station. 

• If your car breaks down, remain in the car with the doors locked and the windows up until help arrives.  If someone stops to help, don't leave the vehicle; instead, ask them to call the police for you.

• Don't use the automatic teller machines at night if you are alone and the machine is in a deserted area.  This holds true whether it's a drive-thru teller or one that requires you to leave the safety of your vehicle to use the machine. 

• When you're leaving the mall, your house, the local store, etc., have your car keys in your hand ready to use.  It's a good idea to have your keys on a keychain alarm or a pepper spray keychain so you have some defense in the event of an attack.  A keychain alarm is a good way to scare a would-be attacker and can be helpful when used in conjunction with pepper spray. 

• Always have your house key in-hand ready for use before leaving the safety of your car.

• Keep your residence doors locked whether you're home or not.

• Require identification before allowing service providers who are unfamiliar to you to enter your home.

• If someone you don't know wants to use your phone, do not let them in.  Instead, offer to make the call for them. 

• NEVER indicate that you are home alone.

• Hang up immediately on crank calls.

• Draw your shades/curtains at night.

• Use your initials instead of your first and middle names on your mailbox, in the phone directory, and on your mail if you use a return address.

• If you see anything suspicious upon arriving at home (or work), such as a broken door/window, or signs of forced entry, DO NOT ENTER.  Call the police immediately from the nearest phone.

• BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!

• Don't go out alone at night, especially if you're a woman.  There's safety in numbers.

• Avoid walking alone; avoid alleys, dark doorways, bushes, etc.

• Walk with purpose and confidence and at a steady pace.

• Walk facing the traffic. 

• If a vehicle stops near you, even if it's someone asking for directions, do not get close to the vehicle. 

• If you think you are being followed, walk in the opposite direction, preferable toward other people and/or a phone you can use to call for help.

• If someone tries to force you into their vehicle, do everything in your power to resist.  Call attention to yourself and your plight----yell, fall to the ground and kick your assailant wherever you can (hopefully where it will hurt the most----aim for the tender parts and give it all your strength; you may be fighting for your life), call for help, yell 'FIRE', break a window, use pepper spray and/or a keychain alarm, in short, do anything you can think of to cause the assailant to give up.

• Do not allow yourself to be taken to another destination. Do whatever you have to do, but do your best to stop any attempts to take you somewhere else.

• NEVER HITCHHIKE!!!   NEVER!!!

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