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The Top Overall Safety Tips to Ensure your Protection

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:32:28 +0000

There are many things you can do to ensure your personal protection as well as that of your family such as installing a security alarm, carrying a personal safety device, never leaving home without a cell phone, etc. When it comes down to the bottom line, the most important things you can do to ensure your safety are based on your own abilities to observe what is going on around you and exhibit body language that makes you less vulnerable as a target.

Observation is your best tool for combating danger. The best bodyguards in the entire world are at the top of their careers not because of brawn and strength or even because of special martial arts skills. They have reached the pinnacle of their careers, guarding some of the most famous people in the world, because of their powers of observation. One thing that you must realize when protecting yourself from danger is that you must fight fire with fire. Predators have excellent observation skills. This is what allows them to scan a roomful of people and be able to instantly identify the one person who will make an easy target or victim. To maintain your own personal safety, you must be able to develop and utilize your own observation skills to avoid risk. Always make sure you know what is going on around you. Never enter an area blindly. Constantly be on the lookout and keep your eyes moving; left to right, up and down, right to left and down and up. If something seems out of place, make a note of it. Hyper-vigilance can save your life.

Your body language is also crucial to self-protection. When body language is combined with keen observation skills, you become far less attractive as a target. Not only must you know how to demonstrate confident body language, such as walking with a confident and purposeful stride, but it is also important for you to be able to recognize the body language of a potential attacker. Look for movements that are inconsistent or suspicious. If someone seems too close to you, they probably are for a reason. Rely on your instincts and put some space between you and that person.

There is no substitute for your own responsibility when it comes to keeping you as well as your family safe. Taking charge of your safety can help you to avoid becoming the next victim on the local news. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

Tom Patire, America’s Leading Personal Safety Expert®, is one of the most-recognized authorities on child and personal safety in the world today. His child-safety program is taught in over 600 schools. He is the author of the top selling family safety book Tom Patire’s Personal Protection Handbook. For more information or to get a copy of his top selling book and DVD visit www.tompatireproducts.com or visit www.TomPatire.com.

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Teaching your Child to be Safe at Home Alone

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:31:36 +0000

In most states today, there are no laws which address when a child is deemed to be old enough in order to be left home by themselves. As a result, the decision to allow a child to remain at home alone is one which is often left up to parents to be made on an individual basis. While it is generally accepted that a child under the age of 8 should never be left home alone, factors that can affect this decision include the child’s comfort level and maturity.

When you find yourself in a situation where your child is going to be at home alone, even if it is just for a short while until you return home from work, it is important for your child to know how to properly protect himself or herself. You as the parent are the best one to determine whether your child is ready to take on this responsibility and prepare them to ensure they remain safe.

Begin by making sure you have posted a list of emergency numbers where your child can easily access them. This list should include family members as well as trusted friends and neighbors along with emergency personnel.

It is also crucial to make sure that your child knows their phone number and address. This information should be posted along with the important phone numbers. It can be easy for anyone, especially a child, to panic when in an emergency. Writing down this information will allow your child to easily access if there is an emergency and they must call 911.

Remind your child of the importance of making sure that all doors and windows are shut and locked. Be sure they know not to let anyone in the house, no matter what a stranger might tell them. Remind your child to use an answering machine or caller ID to screen calls. If your child answers the phone they should never tell others they are home alone. Instead, they should say their parents are busy and they will call the person back later.

In addition, be sure that your child has a way of contacting you when you are not home such as at a work number or a cell phone. Make sure you check messages often and if your child calls, be sure to return the call as quickly as possible. Furthermore, call to check on your child when you are not home. If you know that you are going to be running late, let your child know.

“Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Take the Time to Slow Down for Personal Safety

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:30:16 +0000

It seems that today everyone leads a hectic, fast-paced life. We are all in a hurry, on the go, in a rush to get somewhere. Even so, it is crucial that you make time for personal safety. Being too wrapped up in getting to the next destination can make you vulnerable and makes you the ideal target for someone seeking to harm you.

Before leaving your home each morning, make sure you have taken the steps that will help to keep you safe throughout the day. Be certain that you have set all of the safety alarms for your home, locked the doors and checked to be sure that any other possible entrances to your home have been secured. In addition, make sure that your cell phone is fully charged so that it will be available to you in the event of an emergency.

If you drive, check your gasoline gauge to make sure that you are not near the empty point. Do not put off topping off the tank until later as this can leave you in a vulnerable position. You should make sure that you always have at least a quarter tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times; half a tank is even better.

Never place yourself in a situation that could easily make you a victim of crime, even if doing so would shave a few minutes off your journey and help you move through your day faster. Avoid taking short-cuts through areas that are known to be rife with crime and steer clear of abandoned buildings and areas that are not heavily populated. Such areas make you easy prey for criminals.

While going about your daily business, remember to pay attention to what is going on around you. The sad truth is that today many people are stalked or targeted and they never even know it because they simply were not observing what was going on around them. Pay attention to your instincts; they will not steer you wrong. If you sense that someone is watching you, paying undue attention to you or that something simply is not right; you are probably correct. It is much better to take extra precautions than be sorry later or worse, never have a second chance. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Street Safety Tips for Kids

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:29:27 +0000

Dangers for children can lurk everywhere, including on the street. When your child is going somewhere such as school or the home of a friend, it is important for them to know how to protect themselves from any dangers they might encounter.

Whenever possible, children should never walk alone. They should always walk with a group of friends and stay close to one another. There should always be a destination and your child should know not to wander or simply stroll around. Shortcuts should be avoided, along with any buildings that are empty or abandoned.

Before your child leaves, make sure you know exactly where they are going and which route they are going to take to arrive there. In the event that something should happen, this will allow you to know exactly where to look for your child. Encourage your child to stick with that same route and not deviate from it.

In the event that your child feels threatened or even if they just feel that something is not right, they should trust their instincts. Encourage your child to run to a busy store or business if they find themselves in this type of situation. It is also a good idea to yell “Dad” or “Mom” as loudly as possible while running to a busier area.

When your child is walking somewhere, whether it is to school or a friend’s house, it is crucial for them to be distraction free so they are able to focus on where they are going and be cognizant of what is going on around them. Therefore, it is a good idea for kids to avoid wearing headphones, texting or talking on a cell or playing a hand held game.

If possible, do have your child carry a cell phone with them for emergencies but remind them that it is only for emergencies and discourage them from chatting on the phone while they should be paying attention to traffic and what is going on in their immediate area. If you are not able to provide your child with an emergency cell phone, give some spare change so they can use a pay phone if they need to do so. Finally, ask your child to call you when they have arrived safely and also to give you another call just before they leave to come home.

“Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Simple and Easy ways to Assure Personal Safety

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:28:25 +0000

The statistics and trends are certainly alarming and can make anyone frightened to leave their home. Yet, at the same time we all must go about our daily business, go to work and school, run errands and simply tend to the matter of living. There are some relatively simple and easy things you can do to assure your personal safety and make sure you do not become a victim.

First, remember that traveling in groups is not just advisable for kids and teens, but for adults as well. Always travel with a friend when possible. Make a point to be aware of what is going on around you and watch the people near you. Above all, trust your own instincts. If someone attacks you, scream and shout as loudly as possible.

Always try to park in an area that is within view of another building. Never park in an area that is not lit and is far from another building. Approach your vehicle with caution and be aware of your surroundings when approaching your vehicle. Look under as well as in and around your vehicle before you get inside. If everything appears safe, quickly unlock your vehicle, get inside and then lock the doors immediately before starting the engine. Make sure your children know to enter the car as well as exit it quickly to avoid becoming the victim of a carjacking.

Always make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Constantly keep your eyes moving from the left to the right so that you can see everything in sight. Make a point not to stare, but instead to glance around you. This will provide you with a much better view than if you are fixating on one particular object. Also, change your viewing angle as well. For example, look high to low and then low to high. If you are going out into the dark, close one eye first. This will make it easier for your eyes to adjust and prevent you from being caught unaware in the darkness.

When walking, if you feel that you are being followed, trust your instinct. Immediately cross the street and change directions. Make your way to an area where there are a lot of people and that is well lit. Never immediately go home as this will allow the person who is following you to know where you live.

“Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Protecting yourself in a Dangerous World

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:27:39 +0000

The world in which we live is unsafe. There is no denying that. Just turn on the evening news or open up a newspaper and it is easy to see that crime surrounds us. If you allow it, statistics can easily overwhelm and frighten you. Rather than becoming frightened, it is imperative that you develop the right mindset to avoid a victim mentality and instead develop one that will keep you safe.

One thing that must be kept in mind when considering your own safety is that there is only one person who can truly keep you safe and that is you. Certainly, there are police and they do an admirable job of trying to stop crime before it happens and lock up the bad guys. As wonderful of a job as they do, they cannot be everywhere at all times and when it comes right down to it, you are responsible for keeping yourself safe.

Owning up to that responsibility and taking the steps necessary to protect yourself from possible danger is perhaps the most important thing you can do to avoid becoming a victim. Criminals and predators are very astute at gauging who will make the easiest and most compliant target. They are experts at studying human behavior and body language. They usually know without a doubt whether the person they intend to rob, rape or kill will put up much resistance. Criminals often say that they do nothing to select a victim, that the victim puts themselves out there as a target by not exercising some very basic safety precautions. These precautions include paying attention to your instincts, paying attention to what is going on around you and never placing yourself in a situation which will allow you to easily become a victim.

When it comes to keeping yourself safe, nothing can replace trusting your own instincts. We are all born with a built-in sense of danger that alerts us when something just is not right. It may feel like the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, the sensation that someone is watching you or just an overall sense that something is not as it should be. Whatever it is, heed it and never question it. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Preparing your Children for Safety from Strangers

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:26:55 +0000

As much as we try to protect our children, the world can be a frightening place. There is no denying the fact that there are people in the world to seek to prey on young children. This is an issue that all parents must address in order to keep their children safe. It also requires you to engage in communication that is open and ongoing with your children.

The idea of addressing this topic with children is one which often makes parents nervous and yet it must be done. Perhaps the single most crucial thing for parents to keep in mind is the importance of addressing the danger of strangers while at the same time instilling children with confidence instead of fear.

Children must be equipped with the knowledge and strategies they need in order to protect themselves if a dangerous situation should present itself. The first thing parents can do it to help their children understand strangers. It is simply not enough to tell a child not to talk to strangers because there may be instances when they need to do so, such as getting help from a police officer, for example.

It is imperative for children to know who they can turn to in the event of an emergency and what they should do it a stranger who is ‘bad’ tries to hurt them or physically take them.

The best thing a child can know to do in this situation is to try to get the attention of other grown-ups. That might include making enough noise to ensure they are heard by adults or running to the nearest house or business to get help. In addition, it is important for children to know that if they are approached by a stranger, either on foot or in a vehicle, they do not have to speak with them.

Children should also know if they are grabbed by a stranger, they should do everything possible to prevent being placed into a card. Encourage your child to drop to the ground, hit, kick, bite and above all, scream. The important thing is for a child in this situation to do whatever is necessary to get the attention of other people who may be nearby and who can assist them. Remind them to scream as loud as they can “This is not my mom!” or “This is not my dad!” rather than just yelling for help in order to get the most attention as quickly as possible during those crucial seconds.

“Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Maintaining Safety in Cars

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:25:19 +0000

Vehicles present a prime opportunity for criminals to wreak whatever they have in mind on an unsuspecting victim. You can avoid becoming that victim when you know how to protect yourself.

If you take taxis or cabs frequently, make sure you never take one unless it is licensed. Look for a number on the taxi, a light on top and a badge or ID prominently displayed. If you do not see those things, exercise caution and wait for the next cab. Your life is more important than saving a few minutes.

Never share a cab with anyone unless you know them. You may be able to save a few dollars but ultimately you might also be putting your life at risk. It’s far better to save your own life than a few dollars.

When driving, if you see what appears to be another driver with a disabled vehicle, do not stop to assist if there are not a lot of other people around. Instead, wave to them to let them know that you are acknowledging their plight and then call authorities to help them. Stopping to help them on your own can place you in a dangerous situation. Staging a car problem is one of the premier ways that criminals nab their victims.

If you need to consult your map or directions, do not stop unless you are in a public area. Even then, make sure you keep your vehicle doors locked and windows raised.

Always maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other vehicles. This is not only helpful for avoiding accidents, but can also help to prevent you from becoming a victim of a carjacking or some other crime by allowing you to easily maneuver and take advantage of an avenue for escape if necessary.

When you are stopped in traffic, make good use of your rear and side mirrors to be aware of your surroundings and to note anything that seems out of the ordinary.

Above all, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition so that you do not suddenly find yourself in a precarious and possibly dangerous situation. Keep your tank filled, change your oil often and check your tire pressure and tread frequently.

By taking advantage of these guidelines, you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim while driving or riding in a vehicle. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Exercising Vigilance when Walking

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:24:28 +0000

The majority of the population never thinks about becoming a victim of crime because the live as well as work in areas that are safe. It is important to remember that even in areas that are known to be safe, bad things can still occur. This is a crucial guideline to remember when walking for health. Today many people engage in walking as a way to lose weight or relieve stress. There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to get in shape, but none of that will matter if you do not take precautions in order to ensure your safety while doing so.

Whenever possible, never walk alone; always walk with another person. This ensures that you will not only be more likely to stick with a set schedule, but you will also be much safer. If you do not have a walking partner, consider taking your dog with you. Even if your dog is the friendliest pooch in town, he will still alert you that someone else may be near and can help to draw attention from others in the area if you are in danger.

Always make sure you are aware of your surroundings. If you choose to bring an iPod or some other device, keep the volume low enough that you will still be able to hear what is going on in your surroundings. Avoid the temptation to become lost in thought; it can easily make you a victim. Remain alert and vigilant.

While walking, even if you are just walking from a building to your vehicle, maintain a strong gait. If you walk with purpose and as if you know where you are going, many would-be predators will be deterred.

Always bring a cell phone with you if you have one. If you are worried about losing it, attach a cell phone case to your waistband.

Only walk in the daytime or in areas that are well-lit and busy. Location is crucial when you are on foot. Never walk on streets that are dark and avoid areas that appear to be devoid of people.

Walking is a wonderful way to get in shape and get healthy. Exercising vigilance is an excellent way to ensure you are around for a long time to enjoy that health. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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Car Safety while Driving

Tom Patire — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:21:23 +0000

Most of us today drive or at least travel to and from destinations in a vehicle. They provide a convenient and fast way to get where we want to go. They also can prove to be a convenient tool for criminals to target their victims as well. Following some basic car safety tips will keep you safe.

First, always make sure your vehicle is secured. Even if you think you are in a safe neighborhood, take the precaution of locking your vehicle when you exit it and as soon as you return to it, before you even start the engine. Before entering your car, do a quick sweep of the area with your eyes to look for possible dangers. As you approach the vehicle look under it and never enter your vehicle without first checking inside to make sure there are no dangers present.

Never park your vehicle in a dangerous area. Park as near to your destination as possible and only park in well-lit areas. If you must exit a store or building after dark and the area is not populated, request a security guard to walk with you.

When driving, ensure that your vehicle is locked, especially when you are stopped in traffic. Do not lower your window or unlock your vehicle for anyone.

Pay careful attention to what is going on around you when driving. Do any particular vehicles seem to be driving too near you? Have you seen the same vehicle in your rear-view mirror multiple times even if you have changed directions? If so, make a mental note of the license plate and drive to the nearest police station, hospital or some other area where there are likely to be a lot of people, including emergency personnel. Whatever you do, do not return to your home. You certainly do not want to let a potential stalker know where you live.

If you are bumped in traffic, do not immediately stop your vehicle. Motion to the other driver to follow you to a busy intersection, service station, etc. Never stop your car in an area where there are no other people.

Paying attention to what is going on around you and exercising careful safety tips while driving can help to keep you safe and may even save your life one day. “Safety first, because when it comes to personal safety, you may not get a second chance.”

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