Awareness is the Key to Staying Safe

It's that time of year when we occupy ourselves with running out to prepare fo the holiday of the month. 

Halloween candy and costumes are followed with thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner, which opens the door to the shopping madness leading to Christmas. No doubt we are all planning for some or all of these events now. 

As part of your planning, have you considered your own safety and that of your family? Someone else is preparing for the season. That's the person thinking about the unsecured vehicles brimming with recent purchases and all the distracted people with hands full walking across a darkened parking lot without looking around or thinking about anything except getting home.

It's no surprise that the holidays are a busy time for thieves and predators who take advantage of the chaos inside and outside the malls and stores. Everyone is distracted by why they are there, but nobody is paying attention to what is going on around them. Being aware of your surroundings and using some common sense can mean the difference between an uneventful outing and one marked by filling out police reports or worse.

We are creatures of habit and we have built a routine into everything we do and how we do it. I'm sure many of you reading this don't think too much about entering and exiting your vehicle. You should. Get in the habit of giving a quick scan around while at your car door. Before you turn your back, take a look and see if there is anyone nearby. Is someone in the vehicle next to yours? Is anyone standing around the vehicles near yours? How about when you are at an ATM? Or are you (and this one is a personal peeve), walking around with your arms juggling bags while you hold your cell phone between shoulder and cheek? 

These are just a couple of samples of the things you might do that, without realizing it, can make you a target of opportunity for a predator. Here are just a couple of things to consider before entering the fray of the shopping season, but they should be principles you adhere to regularly. Predators don't have work schedules. They are opportunists who look for the right victim.

Before going out, know what you're are going for, where you are going to get it and, if possible, let someone know where you are going to be.

Keep your cell phone in your pocket while driving and walking. If you need to chat, text or whatever then take a break at the snack bar and do it. Whatever the case is, it can usually wait until you get home.

Try to park as near to the entrance as possible. This one can take some good planning but it is worth it. If at night, park under good lighting and avoid being the lone vehicle at the outer edge of the parking lot.

Listen to your gut. If you feel something is wrong or you are uncomfortable then pay attention! That's nature telling you to stop and think. Don't walk past the people standing around in a group with seemingly no purpose. If someone is sitting in the car parked next to yours and you are uneasy, walk around to the passenger side and get in if necessary. Ask a security guard or employee to escort you to your car. This is a good argument for going out in a group if at all possible!

While walking to your car, keep your keys in your hand. A couple of keys sticking out between your knuckles can serve as quite a deterrent if you are forced to defend yourself. A whistle is a handy thing to have as well. Loud and continuous noise can be a great help...but don't count on it exclusively. How many times have you heard a car alarm and just went about your business?

Ladies, wear some practical shoes. This speaks for itself. 

While it may seem much of this may apply only to women, I won't make that claim. Plenty of guys have been victims of predators and awareness applies to both genders.

Of course, there is lots more that can be added to this but this is meant to serve as a tickler to get you thinking. Self-defense begins long before a punch is thrown. Avoidance is the first step in not getting hurt!