Safety and Security tips continued

Carry personal protection devices such as pepper spray. Personal protection at home must be secured but available and only that which you are kept fully trained in and comfortable with.

Be kept aware of “Best Practices” in security and disaster/emergency preparedness. “Best Practices” is a continually evolving process.

Be aware of your surroundings. Take a moment to look around. Are there any strangers or suspicious people around? What is out-of-place? What is different? What could be a threat to me? Make awareness a simple and easy task every time you exit or enter a door, enter another area and when you exit and enter your neighborhood and home. Also, what looks normal might be criminal activity, such as people taking items and appliances out of a home into a truck or van. If your instincts tell you something is not right or makes you uncomfortable, be ready to reverse direction back where you came from such as back into your home, a mall or office. Ask for assistance and/or report your suspicions. Keep the “She Bear” attitude of a female grizzly bear protecting her cubs, of which she is the fiercest animal in the forest. When walking, don’t look down, keep that “I am on a mission attitude” and be prepared to tell someone to “take” off and/or call for help. Keeping a positive offensive attitude will not mark you as a victim.