Avoiding Risky Situations
You can prevent assault or reduce the likelihood of injury by following certain safety guidelines. The most basic guideline is to avoid risky situations
- Lock all doors and windows when you are home alone. Never allow a stranger inside. Never let a caller know you are alone
- Do NOT keep keys in an obvious place such as under a doormat
- Avoid deserted places, such as dark streets, parks, and garages. If you cannot avoid them, make sure you walk with a friend.
- Do not hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers
- If someone tries to rob you, give up your possessions. They are not as important as your life.
What to do when you are being stalked
A stalker is someone who makes repeated, unwanted contact with a person and may threaten to kill or injure the person.
If you are stalked, notify the police. Laws can help protect you from a stalker.
Collect evidence and try to get a restraining order if you can.
Trust your instincts, call law enforcement, and record everything
Common unintentional injuries at home
Ways to stay safe in natural disasters
Common unintentional injuries that occur in the home are due to falls, poisoning, suffocation, fires, electric shock, and firearms.
- Falls- make sure floors are not slippery, clear them of small objects and anchor all carpets and rugs firmly
- Poisoning- Its recommended that people install carbon monoxide detectors near furnaces and in every sleeping are of a home
- Firearms - If a child can reach your firearm its a hazard, never leave a firearm loaded
Fire and burns- to reduce fire risks install smoke detectors on each floor of your home. Flammable materials catch fire easily and burn quickly.
This is a graph of accidental deaths of children who were able to get a hold of a fire arm
* Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and many forest fires are examples of natural disasters
- If a disaster occurs in your area, follow the instructions given over the Emergency Alert System on your radio or TV
- Being prepared lessens the disasters effects on you and your family.
Are you prepared for a disaster?
- Does your family have a first aid kit?
- Do you have flashlights and fresh batteries?
- Do you have a 2 week supply of bottled water?
- Do you have a supply of canned foods?
Your family should have a plan and a emergency kit for these events
Protecting Yourself From Crime
An assault is an unlawful attempt or threat to someone.
One type of assault that is both physically and psychologically painful is rape. Most rapes are carried out by someone the victim knows
- Its hard to tell if a person might be a rapist, so its important to trust your judgement
- Always let a family member know where you're going and what time you are coming home
- if someone tries to rape you, do whatever you need to do to protect your life.
- Stay away from people who act strangely or make you uncomfortable, pay no attention to you when you say stop or no, push you to do things you don't want to do.
Always trust your judgement, If you feel that you are in danger, you probably are.
5 Factors that can help you prevent unintentional injuries
An unintentional injury is an unplanned injury.
- Awareness and knowledge - Recognizing risks to your safety and knowing what actions to take can reduce the risk of unintentional injury.
- Ability- Be realistic when you judge your abilities and those of others
- State of mind- Be aware of your own condition and that of others. A person who is tired, rushed, distressed, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is more likely to be injured or to cause injury to others
- Environmental Conditions- Consider the hazards in your environment that might cause an injury. For example, if the floor has just been mopped, do not run across it when the phone rings.