Personal safety

For many people, embarking on a career in health care involves moving to a new location be it a new town, city or home, or it may simply involve travelling to new areas at different times of day or night. Though often neglected in the exciting milieu, consideration of personal safety should be paramount if we are to be of any help to others. The following section offers some simple precautions that one can take to maximize personal safety and which can be shared with others.

Thinking about such possible dangers can sometimes provoke fear and anxiety even in the most confident individuals. It is therefore important to remind the reader at this juncture to keep things in perspective.

1 Get to know the area
• Walk with a friend and become familiar with the local area, including the whereabouts of telephones in case of an emergency.
• Know secluded areas to avoid, and walk in well-lit areas.
• Talk with a friend about strategies you might use in various situations. Are there any escape routes you could use if forced into a corner?
• A map of the area you plan on visiting can be helpful in planning for an emergency.

2 Planning and preparation
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. If possible give a contact number.
• If you wear a personal stereo, remember you can’t hear traffic, or somebody approaching behind you. You can therefore easily be surprised.
• If you want to wear jewellery, conceal it until you reach your destination.
• If you often walk home in the dark, get a personal attack alarm. Carry it in your hand so you can use it immediately to scare off an attacker. Make sure it is designed to continue sounding if it’s dropped or falls to the ground, and, most importantly, that you know how to use it.
• Before you leave home, remove things from your bag or holdall that you won’t need that day. The less you carry, the less you have to lose and the less hesitant you will be if you have to give up your bag or wallet.
• Always keep at least one arm free. Do not load yourself with packages.
• Backpacks with back pockets are easy targets for thieves, especially in crowded subways or buses. Take the pack off when stationary or in a group of people.
• Choose a bag with a flap and secure fastener. Carry your bag toward the front of your body with the clasp facing inwards, not bouncing against your back.
• Carry your house keys in your pocket and don’t carry house keys and means of your identity together. Put your chequebook, credit cards and correspondence into a separate pocket.
• Make sure your mobile is fully charged if you have one.

3 Posture and attitude
• Attackers will target vulnerable people. Act confident even if you are scared.
• Walk assertively, head up and shoulders back. Stay aware, scan your path and stay in the middle of the path away from shrubs and bushes, etc.
• Set your face; make it appear serious and strong.
• Make eye contact and do not look down. Looking down shows you are intimidated.
• Develop your own strong, confident look and practise this in the mirror.
• Make brief eye contact as you walk. Make sure they know that you know they are there.

4 When you are out and about
• If you regularly go jogging or cycling try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads with pavements. On commons and parklands, keep to main paths and open spaces where you can see and be seen by other people – avoid wooded areas.
• Do not take short cuts through dark alleys, parks or across waste ground.
• Walk facing the traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
• Do not hitchhike or take lifts from strangers.
• If someone grabs your bag, let it go. Remember your safety is more important than your property.
• If you think someone is following you, check by crossing the street, more than once if necessary, to see if he or she follows you. If you are still worried, get to the nearest place where there are other people, a pub or anywhere with a lot of lights on, and call the police.
• If a car stops and you are threatened, scream and shout, and set off your personal attack alarm if you have one. Get away as quickly as you can. This will gain you vital seconds and make it more difficult for the car driver to follow. If you can, make a mental note of the number and description of the car. Write down details as soon as possible afterwards.

5 Going to your car
• Approach the car with your keys in your hand.
• Scan the area around the car as you get closer and glance under the car to see that no one is hiding.
• Be aware of people approaching you, and asking for directions.
• In general be aware of anyone getting too close to you as you get into your car. Keep at least two-arms’ length distance away from them.
• Check the interior of the car before opening the door. Make this a habit.
• Always load your packages in the car before you put children inside. If your car gets carjacked, at least your family will be safe.
• While driving, particularly in slow traffic or when stopped at traffic lights or junctions, keep your doors locked and the windows at least partway up.

6 When driving
• Before a long trip, make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
• Plan how to get to your destination before leaving, and stay on main roads if you can.
• Make sure you have enough money and petrol. Carry a spare petrol can.
• Keep change and a phone card in case you need to make a phone call.
• Carry a torch.
• Before you leave, tell anyone you are planning to meet what time you think you will get there and the route you are taking.
• If someone tries to flag you down, drive on until you come to a service station, or somewhere busy, and call the police. Do not pick up hitchhikers.
• Keep doors locked when driving and keep any bag or valuables out of sight. If you have the window open, only wind it down a little. Do not wind it down far enough to allow someone to reach in while you are stopped in traffic.
• If you think you are being followed, try to alert others by flashing your lights and sounding your horn. Make as much noise as possible. If you can, keep driving until you come to a busy place, or head for your nearest police, fire or ambulance station.
• After dark, park in a well-lit, busy place. Look around before you get out. If you are parking in daylight, but coming back for your car at night, think about how things will look in the dark.
• Have your key ready when you go back to your car. Check there is no one in the car.
• If the car develops problems, find a telephone. On motorways follow the marker arrows to the closest phone. They are never placed any more than a mile apart, on opposite sides of the motorway. Never cross the carriageway to use a phone.
• While on the hard shoulder or telephoning, keep a sharp lookout and do not accept lifts from strangers. Wait for the police or breakdown service. Do not wait in the car, as there is a high risk of an accident. Wait on the embankment nearby with the front passenger door open.
• If someone approaches you or you feel threatened, return to your car, lock yourself in and speak to him or her through a small gap in the window.
• If you frequently have to travel after dark, consider carrying a mobile phone.

7 Staying safe in taxis
• If you are going to be out late, try to arrange a lift home or book a taxi. Check that the taxi that arrives is the one you ordered. It is worthwhile asking for a description of the car, the colour, make, etc. and check this when it arrives.
• If you gave your name when you booked, check that the driver can tell you it before you get in.
• Always sit behind the driver. If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in a welllit area where there are plenty of people.
• If in doubt, do not get in the taxi.
• When you get home, ask the driver to wait until you are inside.
• There are a small number of disreputable mini-cab or private hire cars that tout for business; try to avoid them if at all possible.
• Always trust your instincts.

8 Staying safe on public transport
• Try to stay away from isolated bus stops, especially after dark.
• Do not sit alone. On buses, sit behind the driver or with friends. Do not fall asleep.
• As you arrive at your destination, scan the stop for anyone lurking. If you spot someone suspicious or feel apprehensive, stay on board or ask the driver to wait a few moments before pulling away.
• On an empty bus, sit near the driver or conductor.
• On a train, sit in a compartment where there are several other people – ideally one that will be near the exit of your destination. Check to see where the emergency lever or chain is situated.

9 Using cash machines (ATMs)
• Whenever possible, use well-lit, busy automated teller machines (ATMs) in well-populated locations during daylight hours. Avoid ATMs that are surrounded by shrubbery or trees, and do not use ATMs at the rear entrances of buildings or banks.
• Be aware of your surroundings and look around frequently.
• Use your body to block the screen when entering your code.
• Put your money away immediately.
• Do not count your money at the machine or sit in a parked car near an ATM.

10 Staying safe at home
• Make sure your house or flat is secure. Always secure outside doors. Fit barrel locks top and bottom. If you have to use a key, keep it nearby: you may need to get out quickly in the event of fire.
• If other people such as previous tenants could still have keys that fit, change the locks.
• Do not give keys to workmen or tradesmen, as they can easily make copies.
• If you wake to hear the sound of an intruder, only you can decide how best to handle the situation. You may want to lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, in the hope that they will leave, or you may feel more confident if you switch on the lights and make a lot of noise by moving about. Even if you are on your own, call out loudly to an imaginary companion; most burglars will flee empty-handed rather than risk a confrontation. Ring the police as soon as it is safe for you to do so. A telephone extension in your bedroom will make you feel more secure as it allows you to call the police immediately, without alerting the intruder.
• Draw your curtains after dark, and if you think there is a prowler outside dial 999.
• Use only your surname and initials in the telephone directory and on the doorplate. That way a stranger won’t know if a male or female lives there.
• If you see signs of a break-in at your home, like a smashed window or open door, do not go in. Go to a neighbour and call the police.
• When you answer the phone, simply say ‘hello’; do not give your number. If the caller claims to have a wrong number, ask him or her to repeat the number required. Never reveal information about yourself to a stranger or say that you are alone in the house.
• If you receive an abusive or threatening phone call, put the receiver down beside the phone, and walk away. Come back a few minutes later and
replace the receiver; do not listen to see if the caller is still there. Do not say anything: an emotional reaction is just what the caller wants. This allows the caller to say what he or she wants to say, without causing distress to you. If the calls continue, tell the police and the operator and keep a record of the date, time and content of each phone call. This may help the authorities trace the caller.

11 Ways in which men can help
• Men can help by taking the issue of women’s safety seriously and bearing the following points in mind:
• If you are walking in the same direction as a woman who is on her own, do not walk behind her as this may worry her. Cross the road and walk on the other side. This may reassure her that you are not following her.
• Do not sit too close to a woman on her own in a railway carriage or bus. If you are thinking of chatting to a woman waiting, for example, at a lonely bus stop, remember that she won’t know you mean no harm.
• Realize how threatening actions such as staring, whistling, passing comments and jostling can be, particularly if you are one of a group of men.
• Help female friends or family members by giving them a lift or walking them home when you can. If you do, make sure they are safely indoors before you leave.

12 Ways in which women can help
• Women can help by taking the issue of personal safety seriously and bearing the following points in mind:
• Always try to plan ahead.
• Always make someone aware of your movements.
• Don’t make yourself a target.
• Follow these tips and turn them into habitual behaviour.

Adopting and internalizing these simple precautions can minimize risk and maximize your personal safety.