Criminals often regard older persons as easy targets for many kinds of crimes. Every elderly person should be aware of these crimes and how to prevent them.
If you plan on going on a holiday, don't leave you safety sense at home.
The Safety Council says that a few simple precautions will help ensure a safe, healthy and enjoyable stay.
Safety on the Trip Down
If you drive, travel during the daylight hours and avoid rush hour traffic. Older drivers have more collisions per kilometre driven, so make sure you are ready for the driving task. Also, medications can affect you driving skills. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication if you will be driving.
Never, never drink and drive! Impaired driving is a major cause of fatalities and injuries on North American highways. The consequences can follow you, your loved ones and your victims for life.
Safety in the Car
Carjacking is now a real fear in some large American cities. The Miami tourist guide advises visitors not to stop if their car is struck from behind. Do not get out to inspect the damage. Drive to the nearest Police station if possible.
The FBI recommends these precautions:
- Use freeways, rather than streets that might pass through high crime areas.
- Know where you are going before you leave.
- Leave space between your car and other cars at traffic signals and stop signs.
- Keep doors locked and windows up.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- If you are renting a car, make sure it does not sport a rental sticker; rental firms in many American cities no longer have their identification on their cars.
Safety in the Sun
The cumulative effects of excessive sun exposure, especially sunburn in young children, can produce skin cancer in later years. Skin cancer is almost totally preventable.
Golf, boating, swimming and long walks on the beach can be healthy, fun and safe if you follow the four basics:
- Minimize sun exposure.
- Seek and create shade.
- Cover up.
- Use sunscreen.
Sun Guide Minimize Sun Exposure
Schedule outdoor physical activities when UV rays are at their weakest - before 11:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. Always keep children under the age of one out of the sun. Water and sand can reflect and increase the sun's burning rays - but skin doesn't have to be hot to burn, so don't be fooled by cloudy or overcast weather.
Seek and Create Shadow
seek natural shade from trees and buildings. Use shade umbrellas, or create other forms of shade if natural shade is not possible. Keep lawn furniture and children's equipment in shaded areas.
Cover Up
Eighty per cent of skin cancers occur above the neck. Cover your head, neck and ears with a broad brimmed hat when outdoors. Protect arms and legs with tightly woven, loose fitting, cotton clothing. Wear UVA/UVB protective sunglasses.
Use Sunscreen
Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against both UVA and UVB rays) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Apply it generously before all outdoor physical activities such as swimming, golfing, or even walking, at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply often, as perspiration will reduce the effectiveness.
How can I be safe in my apartment?
Security of the apartment building you live in is only as effective as you make it.
- When the buzzer sounds, check the identity of the person seeking entrance.
- Do not identify yourself on the callboard as a female living alone. Use your first initials to identify.
- When moving into a new apartment, have the lock cylinder changed.
- Your apartment door should be equipped with dead bolt locks.
- Secure sliding doors on the balcony with "jimmy bars" or wedge a length of wood in the bottom track.
- Be alert to vehicles or persons following you into the underground garage.
Mount Vernon, GA, is among the safest places in the world to live, work and play. To maintain this standard, an effort must be made by homeowners to protect their property and discourage potential criminals.
The following outlines some of the techniques successfully used by homeowners to reduce opportunities for criminals. By incorporating these ideas into your home security plan, you and your neighbours are less likely to become targets of criminals who prey on residential areas.
Take the few extra few moments to see that your home is crime proofed. A secure home could help prevent you or your family from becoming a victim of crime.
Improving Home Security
- Start and maintain an accurate household inventory. Use, rent or borrow a video camera to video tape the interior of your residence.
- When moving into a newly purchased home, be sure to have locks re keyed or replaced.
- Take care of your keys and keep duplicates to a minimum.
- Do not rely on a security alarm system to protect you. They should be used in addition to, not in place of, other security measures.
- Install dead bolt locks on all exterior doors and other entrances into the house from the garage or basement.
- Exterior doors should be solid-core in order to provide strength for the locking system. Seal gaps between the door and the frame to prevent a jimmy bar from being used.
- Install wide-angle viewers for exterior doors.
- While proper locks on sliding glass doors are recommended, inserting a fitted piece of wood or metal in the door's lower track improves security.
- Secure basement and ground level windows.
- Secure all possible points of entry such as milk chutes and window-mounted air conditioners.
- Be sure to keep your garage or shed locked. Many times a garage has provided criminals with tools to break and enter.
- Use curtains on basement and garage windows to prevent others from "shopping" for goods.
- Timers on radios and lights will help give the impression that someone is home.
- House numbers should be in a well lit area easily visible to neighbours and emergency response units.
- Do not reveal information to unknown people on the telephone or at the door. Be wary of "wrong address" visitors and "wrong number callers".
- Check references of people you employ to work in and around your home.
- List only surname and initials in the telephone book.
- Have adequate insurance coverage on your home and contents.
Vacation Security
- Inform trusted neighbors of your vacation plans and where you can be reached. Leave a key with them so they can check your house.
- Inform neighbors if you intend to have relatives or friends stay or visit during your absence.
- Avoid leaving an unattended motor vehicle in the driveway of your home, instead have a neighbor park a car in your driveway.
- Have a neighbor,in exchange for your help later, collect junk mail and other doorstep "litter".
- Have the post office halt delivery of your mail.
- Have your newspaper delivery suspended.
- Ensure all doors and windows are locked.
- Secure or remove valuables and firearms from your home.
- Arrange to have someone mow your lawn or shovel your snow.
- Never pull your drapes shut - it looks unnatural during the daytime and suggests your absence.
- Turn on a radio in the house and ensure the volume is loud enough to be heard just outside your door, but isn't so loud it bothers your neighbours.
- Never leave on a hall light to suggest your presence. Instead turn on an upstairs bathroom or bedroom light. A "burglar "casing" a neighborhood will assume when he knocks on your door that perhaps you failed to answer the door because you were upstairs and didn't hear the knock. In any case, he may think someone is there and will leave your home alone.
- Consider putting lights on a timer so they go on and off at various times of the day and night.
- Consider using a motion detecting device that activates lights outside your home. One potential drawback is that they can be activated by harmless animals and needless concern may be aroused.
Interior Security
- A criminal will spend very little time attempting to break into a home that has strong, durable locks.
- Leave doors locked whenever possible.
- Lock windows when going out.
- Store credit cards, identification and other valuables in a safe place.
- Use a safety deposit box for seldom used valuables, e.g. jewellery.
- Avoid leaving house and car keys available to a thief or intruder.
- Do not leave purses or valuables in view of persons at your door.
- Insist on seeing identification from sales and service people.
Exterior Security
- Keep tools, ladders and garbage pails locked away.
- Keep bicycles, barbecues and lawn equipment securely stored.
- Have adequate exterior lighting.
- Trim trees and shrubs that could easily hide a thief.
- Don't leave notes on the door.
- Don't have door hinges on the outside, exposed to the criminal.
- Don't leave spare keys hidden outside.
- Remember to report crimes or suspicious activities in your neighborhood to the Police. We need your help so we, in turn, can help you in crime proofing yourself and your community.
How can I protect myself when I'm Jogging?
- Carry identification or fasten your name, telephone number and blood type on the outside of your running shoe.
- Carry a quarter or sufficient change for a telephone call.
- If possible, run with a partner.
- Run in areas that are familiar to you. Be aware of businesses and stores that are open and know the locations of telephones. Alter your route from time to time.
- Write down information about your family and trusted friends who are aware of your favourite route.
- Whenever possible, avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets and overgrown trails. Stay away from unlit areas at night. Run clear of parked cars and bushes.
How can I protect myself at the office?
- Do not leave your purse on a desk or a wallet in a jacket that has been left hanging on a chair or coat rack. Lock them in a desk drawer.
- Never leave office keys in a spot where they may be taken and copied.
- Be aware of your surroundings - not just in your workspace - but your co-workers' space as well.
- Report drug use to police or call Crime Stoppers.
- Check the identification number of any stranger who asks for confidential information or any delivery person you do not recognize. Never leave strangers in an area where you or co-workers have left valuables out in plain view.
- Monitor repair or service people.
- If you notice anyone suspicious, notify security personnel or police.
What are some precautions I should take to protect my safety and valuables in Hotels or Motels?
- Don't answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who it is. Always use the "peephole to identify any callers. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from the staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose. Never accept unauthorized delivery of packages.
- When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.
- Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
- Ensure that all windows and sliding doors are locked.
- Always close your drapes at night.
- Don't needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.
- Don't draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery.
- When alone, do not enter elevators with strangers if you do not feel comfortable. Wait for another elevator.
- Never announce your hotel room number and never invite strangers to your room.
- Do not leave cash or valuables in your room. Safety deposit boxes are provided at the front desk. Your room may be equipped with an in-room safe. Call the front desk for instructions.
- Don't leave valuables in your vehicle.
What precautions should I take to protect my motor vehicle from theft?
Following these suggestions won't eliminate motor vehicle thefts or thefts from your car entirely. But it will go a long way in helping to discourage thieves. An awareness of these crime prevention pointers, along with your own common sense, can help make crime proofing a way of life.
Reducing the Risk
- Do not leave personal identification or credit cards in your vehicle.
- Inscribe your vehicle registration number on the stereo system, CB, tools etc and record their serial numbers.
- Remove parcels from view.
- Never leave your keys in an unattended vehicle, even when running a quick errand.
- Always lock the doors and roll up the windows tightly.
- If possible, never leave your keys in the car when it is a parking lot. Choose a lot where the attendants keep the keys.
- Don't hide the spare keys; they can be found.
- Never put your name or address on your house or car keys. This will lead the thief to your home and encourage easy access. Your vehicle registration number is sufficient. Keep vehicle and house keys on separate key rings.
- Turn your wheels to the curb and apply the parking brake. This makes it harder for vehicle to be towed.
- Park your vehicle facing the street. Anyone tampering with it is more likely to be seen.
- If you have a garage, use it. Lock both the vehicle and the garage.
- Consider installing anti-theft devices.
- Have your vehicle registration number etched onto all windows of your vehicle.
- Install a locking-type gas cap.
- Use wheel discs that have a locking device.
- If you leave you coat anywhere, take your keys with you.
Protect Yourself
- When selling your vehicle, never let a stranger test drive it alone.
- When purchasing a vehicle, check all papers against the vehicle's registration number.
- Make a photocopy of your vehicle registration and keep it with your valuable papers.
- Drop your business card down window channels into the door interior.
- Before driving your vehicle, check to make sure no one has stolen or switched your plates.
- Be suspicious of a new paint job on a late model, and persons offering to sell cars or parts at bargain prices.
- Report suspicious persons, abandoned vehicles, or any attempts of force of entry to the Police.
- Have your keys in hand while approaching your vehicle and check the interior for uninvited passengers.
- If you are driving in a crowded area, keep the doors locked and windows rolled up.
- As much as possible, stay on well-lit and travelled areas.
- If you suspect you are being followed, make a visible show of writing down the licence plate number, and stop at an open business or police station. Do not drive home if there is no one there.
- If a motorist stops to render assistance, it is safer to remain in your vehicle and ask the motorist to get help.
- If possible have someone accompany you in underground parking lots.
If your car is stolen:
- Notify the police immediately.
- It helps the police if you give a good description of your car, including the licence number.
Last Updated: Tuesday, 05-09-00
