Ultimate Guide to All Things Safety

Last Updated on January 19th, 2021

Emergencies happen. It could be a robbery, a house fire, a flood, a car crash, or a cyber stalking. No one likes to think about disasters and accidents, or worse, have to assess the likelihood of one actually happening. But being prepared and knowing best safety practices in various scenarios can – and often does – save lives.

The whole point of a safety plan and emergency preparation is to:

Know what the danger is
Get as much done as possible before something happens
Avoid life-threatening situations
Know best practices
Avoid the most common mistakes that people make

This guide summarizes effective, actionable steps citizens can take to properly prepare for an emergency, as well as what to do if an emergency arises, and most important, how to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. It’s important for families and communities to work together so that they can be aware. Preparation saves lives.

Personal Safety

Violent crime increased in many U.S. cities in the past few years. According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an increase in robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide in the U.S. might be shaping into a trend.

At the same time, Pew Research Center notes that many crimes are never reported. According to a recent survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, only about 47% of violent crimes and only 35% of property crimes are reported to police. So, at least 30-40% of violent crimes in the U.S. never make it to the official statistics.

Under the circumstances, it comes as no surprise that Americans feel increasingly concerned about their personal safety – 57% of registered voters said crime had gotten worse since 2008.

In the context of personal safety, knowledge is power. Knowing how to reduce the risk of violence – and how to face it – can have an empowering effect. On the contrary, not knowing what to do in a dangerous situation when there is no time to think, can cause panic and paralyzing fear.

So, personal safety is about avoiding danger in the first place. Reduce your chances of becoming a victim by knowing how criminals single out victims, where they ambush easy prey, and what behavior can avert an incoming threat.

If danger strikes, however, there is only a fraction of a second to make the right decision. So, knowing how to act when confronting violence reduces your chances of freezing in panic.

The following personal safety tips will help you minimize the threat of violence, and be prepared to act in any situation.

Avoid becoming a victim

A recent study revealed that criminals are often able to spot an easy target within seconds, just by observing body language and facial expressions. The chances of someone becoming a victim of a violent crime doesn’t depend on how strong or weak some is, or whether they are male or female. It’s about confidence and composure.

When followed by a criminal, Hollywood movies have a tendency to portray victims in a very stereotypical sort of way: they look sheepish, walk fast, and duck their heads. That is exactly the kind of behavior that signals – easy target.

Former CIA agent Jason Hanson says the best way to prevent being attacked when followed (in a parking lot, mall, on the street, when jogging) is to:

Turn around and make eye contact.
Let the person know they’re on your radar.
Say loudly, “Can I help you?”, “Is there you want?” or simply yell “What?!”

Don’t be afraid to appear odd by calling someone out for following you. An innocent person will probably think that’s odd behavior on your part, but a person with bad intentions will display guilty behavior, such as turn around and walk or run the opposite direction. This way, the offender realizes they picked the a target who is going to put up a fight, and that it’s much safer to simply find another victim.

How to not walk like a victim

Turn off zombie mode. Put away smartphones when out and about.
Only text and check on social networks when in a safe place.

Most crimes are opportunistic – when criminals spot easy targets. Easy targets are distracted and don’t maintain situational awareness. The greatest distraction is cell phones.

Situational awareness and self-defense tips

At home, as well as when out and about, the best way to deal with a dangerous situation is to maintain situational awareness and avoid danger… not confront it.

Safety in the home

Install security systems and cameras. Homes without a security system are 300% more likely to get robbed.
Enable home mode alarm. It doesn’t go off when people move around the house, but it does go off when somebody opens one of the doors.
Keep some basic self-defense tools around. It can be a kitchen knife, a tactical pen, a pepper spray, or a gun, but it should be something familiar and easy-to-handle.

Safety when out and about

Look around and be vigilant. Make eye contact with those around you to make it clear that you are aware of their presence
Park in well-lit areas, close to an entrance. When getting back to the car, look around the car – including underneath it and inside it, especially the back seat. If anything is off, listen to your gut feeling and don’t approach the car.
Keep in mind that any object can be used as a weapon. A metal nail file, a plastic credit card, a key, even fingernails and teeth can be helpful in a life or death situation.

Safety when children are involved

Know where your self-defense weapons are and how to protect your children.
Establish a safe room. It should be a room with the weakest – or the youngest – member of the family. That way, if an intruder ever breaks in, children stay in their room and parents rush to make sure they’re safe.
Practice handling all your kids at once. Drop whatever you were carrying or doing – grab and pull your kids as quickly as possible, even if it’s uncomfortable or painful. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Scream and yell at the top of your lungs.
Teach your kids a code word that triggers “alarm mode.” It’s difficult to predict how a dangerous situation would develop and the best way for them to react – hide, run for help, or yell. Just make sure they know the options.
Make sure older children know how to protect younger siblings if/when you are on the frontline and trying to stop an attacker or intruder.

What to do when confrontation is unavoidable

Punch the intruder in the throat, gouge out their eyes and kick them in the groin – do all three things because one might not work.
Turn to Mother Nature for help. Throw sand or dust in the attacker’s eyes. Rocks and fallen branches can be used to knock them over their head. Smaller sticks can be used for gouging softer tissue like the eyes and throat.
Spray deodorant – or any flammable substance – into the attacker’s eyes, and couple it with a lighter for a better effect.
Other often overlooked weapon options include a tea pot with boiling water, a hair comb with sharp bristles, and pencils that are sharp enough to cause significant damage to the eyes or nose. A Coke can inside a sock works well too.

Carjacking prevention

Increased accessibility of tracking sensors, kill-switches, and other car theft prevention devices have led to an increase in carjacking incidents, when criminals steal a car in the owner’s presence. And because of its violent nature, carjacking often leads to kidnapping and hostage scenarios that are far more dangerous than the car theft itself.

Simply knowing where carjackers like to ambush unsuspecting victims can be enough to steer clear of danger, so take a mental note of the following scenarios.

Common carjacking places and scenarios

At stoplights and gas stations – and often within sight of other drivers and gas station employees – assailants approach a vehicle and either force the driver out of the car or coerce the driver into giving them the key.
At a minor accident scene, carjackers steal vehicles while both drivers wait for the police.
In a mall parking lot, assailants steal cars while vehicle owners are placing their purchases in the trunk.
In front of people’s own homes, carjackers demand the keys to parked cars at gunpoint.
At ATMs, residential driveways, highway exit and entry ramps, as well as any place where drivers slow down or stop – assailants force the driver out of the car or coerce the driver into giving them the key at gunpoint.

How to prevent carjackings

Park in secure, well-lit locations
Avoid parking near large vans or trucks, wood areas, dumpsters and anything that limits visibility.
Don’t leave valuables on car seats in plain view. Put them in the trunk, or out of sight.
Maintain line-of-sight between your car and entrance or exit.
When approaching your car, be vigilant.
Trust your instincts. When in doubt, do not approach your car. Get help or wait in a secure place.
Before unlocking the door and getting inside, look closely around and inside the car, especially at the back seat.
Try to get inside your car as quickly as possible and lock the doors. Don’t wait for the auto-locks to engage.
Drive with the doors locked and windows closed.
Try to minimize time at intersections and parking lots whenever possible. Slow down well in advance of stoplights to keep moving slowly, as opposed to spending so much time idle.
Choose the center lane when possible (away from foot traffic).
Avoid unfamiliar or high-risk areas, especially at off-peak hours.
Minimize activities that take you outside your vehicle in unfamiliar places and in darkness (stopping for gas, for example)
Never exit your vehicle unless instructed by a law enforcement officer.
If a traffic accident occurs, exchange insurance and license information with another driver by pressing them against a closed window.
Never leave children or the elderly unattended inside a vehicle parked in front of a shopping mall or gas station.
Be wary of people handing out fliers, or asking for directions. Instead of getting out of the car to help a stranger whose car is broken down, call the police instead.
Work with your local automobile club, Neighborhood Watch groups, and other community organizations to spread the word about carjacking prevention.

How to handle a carjacking situation

Criminals aren’t used to somebody speaking up and being assertive since they are looking for easy targets. So, don’t do what the criminal commands. Don’t open the door for them to get inside your car. Remember – your car is your most valuable weapon right now.
Use the space around your car to maneuver out of harm’s way. This may mean your vehicle gets a few scratches and maybe even take more substantial damage, but your life is more important.
In a situation when there are multiple assailants and no room for maneuvering out of harm’s way, just get out and let them have it.
When children are involved, don’t succumb to threats and let the assailant in the car until you get your children out. Remain calm and speak up in a confident tone – “I’m taking my kids out first.”
Sometimes, adrenaline rush helps make the right decision:

Useful personal safety resources

Family Safety

Local, state, and federal authorities have emergency plans to protect the public as a whole. But each family is responsible for their own safety during an emergency.

Should an emergency happen at home, work, school, or on the go – know what to do, where to go, and whom to call. All families’ need to:

Develop a family safety plan
Have a safety kit at home and in each automobile
Have a sound communication strategy
Know where to get emergency information in real-time (radio, mobile apps, community pages on social media)

Create a family safety plan

Irrespective of the type of emergency, all family members – including children and the elderly – must know the safety basics, including:

Where to meet in the event an emergency arises when dad is at work, mom is at the doctor with grandma, and the kids are at school. The same is true for in-house emergencies like fires and burglaries.
Try to establish two meeting areas inside the home, and two outside of the home for major events like earthquakes and floods. Public libraries and nearby schools are always great options.
Equally important is knowing where public shelters will be located, should an evacuation be necessary due to a hurricane or forest fire.
Where emergency exits and fire escapes are at home, school, and the office.
Where the safest area is in different scenarios. For tornadoes, it’s the lowest floor in an interior room with no windows. For fires, it’s the room closest to the ground with no windows. During earthquakes, it’s under a strong table.
Plan safe evacuation routes, and make sure all family members are familiar with them.
Practice safety drills to make sure children feel confident and know what to do.
Print or draw easy-to-understand maps, diagrams, and checklists for every family member.
For young children, as well as the elderly and disabled, make sure a note with all contact details is in their pocket or wallet at all times.
Identify a family contact or close friend who can help. For natural disasters, pick someone outside your area who probably won’t be affected. For scenarios like an assault, home fire, or burglary, pick someone who is located nearby.
Keep an up-to-date list of health conditions, allergies, and medications for each family member, and carry it in a wallet or purse at all times.

Make sure to discuss:

What disasters can potentially occur in your area, and how to respond to each one.
How and when to call 911.
How to respond to power outages.
What skills your neighbors have that may be valuable in the event of a disaster (for example, a doctor next door, an electrician down the street and/or a plumber the next block over).

Have a sound communication strategy in place:

All family mobile phones should have emergency contacts programmed into the contact list, including family members, close friends and out-of-area contacts
Remember – and remind family members – that text messages often get through in situations when a phone call can’t

All children should know:

Their full name, home address and phone number.
How to dial 911.
How to reach family emergency contacts.
Family meet-up locations.
The odor of gas, the sound of fire alarms and smoke detectors.

Special considerations for the elderly:

Have a trusted neighbor or friend to check in on your elderly family member if an emergency occurs while no one else is home.
Install backup power support for medical equipment.
Update the supply kit with extra medications regularly.

Pack a family safety kit

Every family needs a safety kit stored somewhere accessible. It’s difficult to predict under what circumstances it will be useful, but using standard safety kit calculators, families can come up with a reasonable list of items to include in their safety kit.

What to include in your family safety kit

Backpack
Plastic whistle with lanyard
12-hour green light stick
Duct tape
14-in-1 pocket tool and 3-way can opener
Battery powered AM/FM radio
Flashlight and batteries
Solar blankets
2400 calorie food ration per person – non-perishable, not requiring preparation (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Water x 1 gallon per person, per day
Emergency ponchos
Respiratory masks
Work gloves with leather palm
Waterproof matches
Rope
Extra batteries
A portable cell phone charger
Copies of personal documents (passports, insurance policies, medical information, proof of address)
Family and emergency contact information
Cash
Maps
First aid kit and basic medication (disinfectant, pain killer, sterile pads, and bandages)
Rain gear
Towels
Sturdy shoes, extra clothing
Scissors
Sleeping bags

The safety kit can be expanded to include an inflatable boat and life jackets if in a flood-prone area. Depending on family needs, extra supplies for babies, seniors, pets, and family members with special needs may also need to be included:

Syringes and insulin
Baby food, diapers, bottles
Pet food, collar with the pet’s owner name and phone number, leash, carrier
Extra set of house and car keys

Useful family safety resources

Home Safety

A report from the Injury Prevention Research Center found that more than 18,000 deaths and 21 million injuries are attributed to in-home accidents each year, with falls, burns, and firearms-related accidents being the leading causes of death and injury.

At the same time, house burglaries affect 2.5 million homes each year, which equates to one house every 13 seconds in the United States alone.

Statistics prove home safety should not be treated lightly. The good news is the majority of house burglaries and in-home injuries are preventable when due precautions are exercised. Follow these simple, yet actionable, tips to make your home a safer place, both from the inside and the outside.

Home safety checklists

Home is traditionally one of the biggest and most important family investments, so it only makes sense to make it as safe as possible for everyone. Fortunately, home safety is not as much about investment as it is about common sense and planning. Consider following these simple precautions to reduce the chances of accidents in and around the house.

Falls

Stairs and steps should be well-lit.
Install handrails and banisters since they provide an extra element of support when going up and down stairs, especially for children and the elderly.
All railings should span the entire length of the staircase and be easy-to-grab.
Stairs should have safety gates installed if small children are around.
Install night-lights to improve visibility in the dark.
Keep a flashlight close to your bed.
Floors and stairs should be clear of clutter.
Keep electrical and telephone cords out of narrow walkways.
Improve bathtub and shower safety with non-slip mats and grab bars, and bathroom floors with non-skid bottom bath mats.
Replace glass shower doors with a safer, non-shatter material.
Consider placing non-skid pads under all rugs to decrease the chances of slipping.
To prevent young children from falling out the windows, install window guards with emergency release mechanisms.

Fires and burns

Install smoke detectors on every floor, especially near sleeping areas. Check batteries every 6 months and replace as needed.
Don’t overload electrical outlets.
Keep electric appliances, matches, lighters, candles, out of the reach of children and pets.

Poisoning

Keep household chemicals where children and pets can’t reach them.
Keep a first-aid kit somewhere that’s easily accessible.
Learn CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver.

Firearms

Keep firearms locked and unloaded.
Always keep ammunition in a separate place.
Firearms must be stored somewhere inaccessible for children and persons with mental disabilities.
Teach your kids gun safety – to NOT touch guns without parental supervision, never go snooping for firearms at home nor when visiting friends.
Consider investing in a safe biometric gun vault that comes with a fingerprint scanner. That way, firearms are quickly accessible if an intruder should ever break in, but at the same time, stored securely away from the reach of children.

Home invasion prevention tips

A security alarm and a large dog are two basic things that reduce a household’s attractiveness to burglars. Having a realistic action plan – and sticking to it if an intruder ever breaks in – is the difference between getting out of harm’s way, or not.

In addition, some small, yet meaningful, precautions can reduce the chances of a home invasion by a mile:

Install a monitored security system. Homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized.
Homes should look occupied, even when there’s no one inside. So, consider programming lamps and the TV to turn on at times when homes are normally active. Also think about leaving your car in the driveway.
Keep doors and windows locked, and ensure that the area around your house is well-lit.
Trim bushes around your house so that thieves can’t use them for cover.
Have a trusted friend or a neighbor check in on your house when traveling.
Make sure the alarm keypad is not visible through the front door. Sometimes the decorative glass of the front door makes it easy to tell if the alarm is activated or not, which can be a recipe for disaster.
After a stranger visits your house – for example, a plumber, electrician, or construction worker – check all windows and doors to make sure they are still locked.
Vet anyone who knocks on the door before opening. When in doubt, don’t open.
Don’t announce your travel plans on social media, and keep your photos off the Internet while traveling.

Have an action plan

Given the number of home robberies that take place every year, families need to be prepared. Here’s a quick run-down of tips that’ll keep you and your loved ones safe:

Choose a safe room, and make sure your children know where to run in the event your home is broken into.
Know how to communicate from the safe room – have a backup phone with 911 and emergency contacts saved in the contacts list.
Make sure the backup phone is charged at all times and doesn’t have a complex lock code so that if your children need to make the emergency call, they can easily unlock it.
Agree on a code word for house intrusion.
Keep a stun gun, bat, or any other object that serves as a self-defense weapon in every room. That way, if a standoff occurs, a basic self-defense weapon is nearby.
Make sure a few self-defense tools are in the safe room as well .
Know all possible escape routes (through windows, on the roof, down a fire escape ladder, or through the back door).

What moms need to know

Moms, especially single, need to have an action plan since burglars often target households without a male presence.
Practice an intruder action plan with your kids. Teach them where to run if running is possible, and how to get help. Also teach them how and where to hide inside the house, and stress the importance of staying quiet, no matter what.
Practice handling all of your kids at once. Work out a way to get all of your kids out of harm’s way quickly. There is no easy solution here, and most likely grabbing the youngest children with one hand and pulling the eldest with another is the fastest way to get to the safe room.
Decide on the best way to face an intruder. Self-defense classes and tactics books are a good place to start

While home burglaries have declined in recent years, it’s still important to be vigilant. Common sense and home safety best practices can – and will – make your home as unattractive to thieves as possible.

When facing an intruder

Only fight when running and hiding is not an option.
If you have children, get them to the safe room as quickly as possible. Then call the police and leave the phone on. Don’t yell that you’ve called the police and give away your location.
When hiding, don’t try to locate the intruder. Wait till they leave.

If a face-to-face encounter is unavoidable

Don’t freeze or panic.
Consider faking an asthma or heart attack. Avoid eye contact, which may be viewed as submission, and do NOT confront.
Despite what many self-defense schools teach, locks and grappling work in movies and sports, but not in real life. Instead, aim for the eyes, nose, groin, throat, or testicles, and scream as loud as possible. Run and hide if feasible.
Don’t be civilized, use your nails and teeth – bite and scratch but aim for the sensitive body parts.
Consider purchasing self-defense products like a stun gun, self-defense stick, pepper spray, military flashlight and a defense kit.
If no weapon is around, use keys, pencils, plastic credit cards, or spray deodorants and a lighter.
Find something to hold on to for balance and don’t let go.
Position yourself between your children and the intruder. Keep your kids near walls where danger won’t strike from behind.

Useful home safety resources

Fire Safety

Fires claim around 3,000 lives in the U.S. annually and cause another 17,000 injuries.

Children under 5 and seniors over the age 54 are at the highest risk for fire-related injuries and deaths, as well as pets since their safety is often an afterthought.

Residential fires cause 75% of all fire-related deaths. Nonresidential and outside fires, like wildfires, account for the remaining 25%.

What’s more, over 100,000 wildfires destroy around five million acres of land in the U.S. annually. Sadly, humans start 90% of them.

With statistics like these, it’s easy to see why fire safety is so important, especially since according to FEMA, most fire-related deaths are preventable. This fire safety guide can help families prevent fires, stay organized and act fast if the unthinkable should occur.

Homeowners can decrease the risk of fires significantly if they follow the following basic fire prevention recommendations based on common sense. But just fire-proofing one’s home is not enough – back up your fire safety strategy by educating your children and being vigilant at all times.

Top causes of residential fires:

Cooking – 50.8%
Heating – 10.8%
Electrical malfunction – 6.4%
Careless or unintentional – 6.4%

The good news is that there are a few simple safeguards you can take that will significantly reduce the chances of a fire occurring in your home.

Home fire safety tips

Install fire extinguishers in several key areas of the house.
Know how to turn off gas quickly.
If a gas leak is suspected, open the windows, turn off the gas supply and call the gas company. Avoid using switches as a single spark can ignite the gas.
Never leave pans on the stove unattended.
Install smoke detectors on each floor, and check the batteries every 6 months.
Test smoke alarms regularly, and clean them by vacuuming the grilles.
Consider adding an electrical outlet where there are currently extension cords.
Consider using an RCD (residual current device) for electrical safety, and never overload electrical sockets.
Repair or replace loose and/or frayed wiring.
Check electric blankets regularly.
Regularly inspect water heaters and outside vents in home heating systems.
Don’t smoke in bed.
Never leave candles burning overnight or attempt to dry clothing over an open fire.
Position candles and space heaters away from curtains and furniture.
If children are present, surround space heaters with a nursery guard with side clips that can be attached to wall brackets.
Keep matches, lighters and flammable liquids well out of reach of children.

Fires and children

Over 100,000 residential fires are accidentally set by children under 5 years old. So:

Teach your kids fire safety rules.
Visit a local firehouse and have firefighters explain the basics of fire safety.
Consider investing in fire safety games like KidsZone Games, Be Fire Safe! and Sparky’s Arcade, since they can help explain important safety concepts.

Also, children should know not to hide when the smoke alarm goes off, and to feel the door to know if it’s hot or not before opening it

Fires and pets

Homeowners usually don’t see their pets as a contributing factor to house fires, but pets accidentally cause over 1,000 house fires a year. So, make sure to:

Put out open fires.
Use flameless candles.
Cover stove knobs.
Store flammable items out of reach of pets, and never leave them unattended.
Crate young pets when not at home.
Secure wires and outlets.

How to plan an escape

Fires can start suddenly and spread quickly. A small flame can turn into a devastating fire in under 30 seconds, so preparation is key.

Develop an evacuation plan and practice it regularly so everyone in your home knows what to do if there is a fire. Also establish one main meeting place, as well as a backup area.
The best rule of thumb is to get out, stay out and call 911.
It only takes minutes for a house to be completely engulfed in flames, but the thick black smoke kills even faster since it’s toxic. So, get low and try to exit the house by staying below the smoke.
Also consider wrapping a moist towel around your head and face.

Build a family emergency kit

Being prepared to survive for several days during an evacuation requires sufficient food (non-perishable), water (one gallon per person per day) and medication for at least 72 hours.

What to include in your family emergency kit

Extra batteries
Maps
A battery-powered radio
Cell phones, charged, with important contacts programmed, and a backup battery
Flashlights
A whistle
Manual can opener
Dust masks to filter contaminated air
Duct tape and plastic sheeting for windows and doors for when sheltering in place
Moist wipes and plastic bags for personal sanitation
Cash
Sleeping bags
Important documents (ID, bank account records, insurance policies, etc.)
Warm clothes, sturdy shoes
Waterproof matches

Additional supplies may include:

Prescription medications and syringes
Non-prescription drugs such as pain killers
Baby formula, bottles, diapers, cream, wipes
Contact lens solution or glasses
Pet food, water, containers and leashes
Plastic utensils, paper cups, plates, paper towels
Books, puzzles, cards and other activities for children

Establish a communication plan

Print out a paper copy of all family members contact details, emergency contacts and other important contacts, such as medical facilities, schools, and service providers.
Don’t forget to include emergency contacts outside your area.
Make sure all family members carry a copy.
Post a copy in a central location in your home such as a refrigerator or a bulletin board.
Include a reminder in your emergency sheet that text messages get through when phone calls fail, since SMS requires far less bandwidth. Also, SMS messages can be saved and often send automatically once bandwidth is available.

Develop an evacuation plan

When drafting an escape plan, consider the following:

Agree on two established escape routes.
Have two meeting areas outside the house in case an emergency occurs during work/school hours.
Identify possible shelter locations in the event of a wildfire in your area.
Have a plan for young children, people with disabilities, and high-risk older adults who can’t get outside by themselves.
For masks and respirators, consult CDC to know which ones are suitable for different age groups, as well as based on health conditions.
Include pets in your emergency plans, and consider developing a standalone safety kit just for pets. Never leave them behind. If it’s not safe to stay for humans, it’s not safe for animals either.
Make sure your pets wear a collar with an identification tag.
Give a set of house keys to a trusted neighbor or friend who is willing to rescue your pets in case a wildfire strikes and you’re not at home.

Evacuation tips

If authorities say to evacuate, do so immediately. If time allows, complete these simple steps to help firefighters save your house:

Leave the lights turned on to increase visibility in heavy smoke.
Close all windows, doors, fireplace screens, and vents.
Remove flammable curtains.
Move flammable furniture away from windows and doors.
Connect garden hoses.
Fill large containers, garbage cans, and tubs with water.

When leaving your home:

Roll up car windows and close air vents.
Drive slowly with headlights on since visibility will probably be reduced.
Avoid driving through heavy smoke, if possible.
Watch for pedestrians and fleeing animals.

If trapped at home:

Call 911, and provide your location.
Turn on the lights to increase your home’s visibility in heavy smoke.
Keep doors, windows, and vents closed or sealed with plastic sheets and duct tape.
Move flammable furniture and curtains away from windows and doors.
Fill whatever you can with water.
Stay away from outside windows and walls.
Breathe through a moist cloth, and cover your head and body with moist towels made of natural materials.

Wildfire safety

It’s critically important to know wildfire safety best practices, since wildfires are devastating, fast-moving and lethal.

Wildfires claims lives and burn millions of acres of land each year, and destroy hundreds of homes in the process. For example, a 2014 wildfire in Colorado destroyed 600 homes and 244,000 acres of land. 2017 is riddled with natural disasters. While Southern states battle storm surge and hurricanes, Western states face extreme heat and dry conditions causing widespread forest fires.

Understanding the contributing factors, safety precautions, and response tactics is important to keep families, pets, and communities safe, even if your area is not wildfire-prone. Sometimes, all it takes to face a wildfire is being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Wildfire facts

90% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans. Campfires, cigarettes, arson, and the burning of debris during extremely dry weather can easily trigger a small fire that explodes in size in a matter of hours. Careless and/or uninformed actions like equipment fires from lawn-mowers, fireworks and improperly discarding of ashes can also result in massive forest fires.
Weather factors like drought conditions and lightning cause only 10% of wildfires.
A wildfire moves at 14 miles per hour, and consumes everything in its path, including plants, wildlife, homes, and human lives.
Megafires – those that consume 100,000+ acres of land – are increasingly common. Currently, there are 10 megafires a year in the U.S. Prior to 1995, there was an average of one.

This US Wildfire Activity Map by Esri Disaster Response Program provides live updates on locations currently or recently affected by forest fires. It also provides direct access to other sources related to wildfires – YouTube videos, live streaming videos, and social media. If your area is prone to wildfires, be sure to bookmark this map.

Preparing your home for a wildfire

The following recommendations offer guidance on general wildfire safety rules, including helpful tips on how to prepare your home and property if your area is prone to wildfires.

Keep a fire-free area around your home. In urban areas, the “home ignition zone” is 100 feet around the house whereas in rural areas prone to wildfires that zone extends to 200 feet beyond the home structure. According to Firewise, the primary goal here is fuel reduction, so limit the amount of flammable materials and vegetation around the house. For the remaining vegetation, increase the moisture content – water regularly and generously, especially under extreme heat conditions.
Control vegetation along fences – trim it, and don’t let it grow dry.
Clear dry leaves and other debris from porches, patios, and decks, as well as from under your porch and within 10 feet of your home.
Keep woodpiles, sheds, and fuel tanks away from any residential structures.
Know how to shut off utilities include gas, water, and electricity.
Know how to use an ABC-type fire extinguisher.
If your area is prone to forest fires, know your risks and prepare accordingly. Consider insurance that covers damages caused by wildfires.

Useful fire safety resources

Children’s Safety

The time when parents felt it was safe from their kids to play on the streets is long gone. Misguided escape attempts pop up on the news all the time as frightening accounts of kidnapped children. Horror stories of child molesters living next door and pedophiles teaching at local schools send shock waves across communities. Unsupervised use of the Internet opens up a backdoor for creeps to prey on child victims on social networks. When it comes to parenting in the 21-st century, child safety is always top of mind.

In a world where schools teach young children how to hide from mass shooters, movies instill fears of “stranger danger,” and neighborhood watches are on the constant lookout for child predators, it’s easy for parents to project all their fears onto the outside world.

Domestic accidents like choking, falling, poisoning and drowning cause more than 12,000 child deaths and another 21 million medical visits each year, however. So, when addressing the highly nuanced topic of child safety, don’t forget safety around the house too.

Thankfully, in most cases, awareness alone is enough to prevent a tragedy. Unfortunately with children, awareness doesn’t always come easy.

Talking about safety might not be enough

One of the most important conversations parents can have with their children relates to safety. Unfortunately, talking alone isn’t always enough, and not everyone is into structured learning and safety drills. Still, preparing kids for a variety of life-threatening situations often means the difference between them getting to safety or not.

One of the greatest challenges parents face is making sure children get the message. A quick reality check proves that conversations about safety just don’t work for many kids:

Unfortunately, there is no single strategy that will successfully deliver the message to every child. Visual learners need emotionally engaging videos. Logical learners grasp ideas when they understand the logic and/or physics behind events and people’s motivation. The bottom line is that parents must have realistic expectations of their children, and not expect a single conversation to address a complex issue like safety.

Ways to teach safety to children

Children learn best when playing, and teaching kids safety is particularly efficient with a playful approach. Remember not to scare children too much nor scold them for not following the rules.

Play What If… games. These types of games will teach your children about the dangers they face at home, and what to do to stay safe. Act out situations that include someone getting hurt, playing with fire and electric appliances, bathing, and answering the door. You can also practice fire evacuation and intruder drills, without scaring them in the process.
Go danger hunting. At home, go on a hunt with your kids to identify hazardous situations and objects like wires and electrical sockets, stairs, and windows. Challenge your children to go through the house and point out potential threats, while practicing safe habits at the same time, like covering electric outlets, hiding cords, and clearing stairs of toys.
Visit a local firehouse. Have firefighters give your children demonstrations about home and fire safety, and explain how to recognize dangerous substances, as well as what to do in a fire.
Play fire safety games like KidsZone Games, Be Fire Safe! And Sparky’s Arcade.
Practice the Freeze! game. Play a game in which your child is lost in supermarket, and make sure she follows the Freeze rules. A lost child should stop, stay put and not go anywhere with anyone. Parents get to trace back and find her instead of everyone wandering opposite directions. Should someone offer help, the child can ask the stranger to wait with her.
Play the Stranger Danger game. Former CIA agent Jason Hanson recommends playing out kidnapping scenarios at home, where you teach your kids to scream, kick, bite and yell, which makes it more difficult for someone to abduct them.
Practice the Safety Code Word. In an emergency situation, when parents send a friend or a neighbor to pick up their kids from school or practice, kids need to remember to:
- Keep their distance and ask for the safety code word.
- Run away and tell a teacher or other trusted adult if the person does not know the code word.

Force them to learn the “White List.” Agree on a short list of five or six trusted people. If anyone outside the list asks your children to do something, the answer should be “I have to ask my Mom/Dad first.” Period.
Put them through tests. Some teenagers act like they listen to their parents, but when it comes to dealing with a serious situation, they do the exact opposite of what their parents told them to do. Unfortunately, social experiments prove that teens ignore safety, especially when breaking the rules to try and improve their status among peers. Some parents go as far as to ally with trusted friends to run a test on their teens and see what their actions would be in a real life situation. Many parents will find these social experiments insightful, if not troubling:

Child safety around the house

The home is where children grow and learn, as well as find love and comfort. Home injuries are a leading cause of accidental death in children, however.

In fact, a recent report published by the Home Safety Council found that in-home accidents account for almost 21 million pediatric visits per year and 12,000+ deaths. Sadly, most are avoidable through prevention and education.

Remember – adult supervision is key to child safety at home. So, it makes sense to scan your home with a magnifying glass, and safeguard it against such common hazards as slips and falls, poisoning, suffocation, drowning and firearms-related accidents.

Slip- and fall-proofing the house

If there are young children in the house, install baby gates across all entries to stairs and balconies.
Consider placing non-skid rugs in slip-prone areas.
Remove unnecessary clutter from hallways and balconies.
Lock windows and keep hallways well-lit at all times.
Put bright stickers on glass doors at child’s eye level.
Apply shatter-resistant film to glass windows and doors or install safety glass.

Preventing burns and scalds

Make sure your hot water heater is set to below 122°F (50°C).
Keep matches, lighters, cigarettes, incense, and candles out of reach of children. This will also prevent accidental fires.
When cooking, don’t leave young children unsupervised in the kitchen.

Preventing accidental poisoning

Store common medications, liquid glue, and other household chemicals like dish washing liquid and detergents out of the reach of children.
Use childproof locks on cabinets.
Lock medicine cabinets at all times, if possible.

Preventing suffocation

Some bedding items, blinds, cords, and packaging can cause deaths in babies and young children, so be sure to check for these items around your home and remove them if you can.
Make sure that plastic bags are ALWAYS out of reach for small children.

Preventing drowning

Make sure children can’t access pools, ponds, and rivers without adult supervision.
Pools should always be fenced in, and fences should have self-locking gates.
Never leave young children unsupervised in the bathroom, and don’t give older siblings the responsibility of watching over younger brothers and sisters when bathing.

Gun safety

Store firearms in a safe place, away from the reach of children.
Keep ammunition stored in a separate location.
Use a gun-locking device, which renders the firearm inoperable when it’s not in use. Also remember that a gunlock should never be substituted for secure storage.
Children may be tempted to go snooping for guns in the house, and possibly even invite other kids to go snooping with them. Teach your kids to stop → leave it and → tell an adult if they find a gun in the house.

Child safety outside the house

Children rely on adults in many things, and even though their innocent, trusting nature is sweet, parents need to teach children to be safe. Unfortunately, some people would harm children if given a chance. When teaching kids about stranger danger, however, it is important to strike that tricky balance and help children understand safety without making them overly scared of everyone they meet.

Teach children about strangers

Children must understand that sometimes strangers may know their names, their parents’ names, where their parents work, and/or where they live. It’s important to teach them to never trust strangers, especially if they claim to be a friend of the family. In fact, the more lucrative a stranger’s offer (find a Pokemon, get a ride home, pick up a surprise present), the louder the alarms should ring that something is wrong. Equally important is making them understand that many predators look totally normal, decent, and trustworthy, and that strangers should never be asking them for help or to go anywhere.

A lost child will have to ask strangers for help, so you’ll need to teach your children the concept of relatively safe strangers. If a police officer or firefighter is not around, a safe stranger may be a parent with children, a cashier or a security guard, a teacher, or a librarian (depending on the environment). Show your children places they can go for help, like local stores, restaurants, or family friends in the neighborhood.

Other things to teach your children should include:

A code word for danger that only family knows.
Never giving out important information to strangers on the telephone or to people beyond a trusted circle of friends.
Memorizing their full name, address and at least one parent’s phone number.

Recognizing danger

Parents can protect their children by teaching them how to recognize potentially dangerous situations, as well as people. Help children identify suspicious behavior, like when an adult asks them to do something without their parents’ permission or tells them to keep a secret. Children must know that it’s okay to say NO to an adult in a suspicious situation and to yell if necessary, even if they are indoors. A child who says NO when an adult tries to cross the line is not an attractive target for kidnappers. They are looking for someone they can control and manipulate.

Common kidnapping scenarios

A good-looking stranger asks for help to find his lost dog.
A barely familiar neighbor invites your child into his house to have a snack or pick up a surprise gift.
A stranger claiming to be a family friend offers your child a ride home and/or follows your child by foot or in a car.
A car pulls over, and a stranger asks for directions.
A familiar person or a family friend does – or says – something that makes your child feel uncomfortable.

In addition, teach them to recognize grooming. Many child molesters first “groom” a child to test their boundaries to see what a child might do, as well as how much they can get away with. For example, “Your Mom told me not to give you candy, but that’s a boring rule. Let’s keep it a secret!” is a way of testing your children. If boundaries are not strong, the molester will continue to push until your children feel cornered and there is no other option but to obey.

Reducing the chances of kidnapping

Kidnapping happens very quickly. And what happens as the events are taking place can – and often does – determine whether a child sleeps at home that night.

Teach your children to:

Make noise, scream, and yell when attacked.
Fight back, bite, and scratch as hard as possible. In February 2017, a 16-year old girl was able to escape a kidnapping attempt by screaming, scratching and biting the attacker.
Aim for the attacker’s eyes and/or throat since eye trauma is very disorienting.
Throw sand or dust in their eyes.
Run in the opposite direction of a car that is following them. If the car turns around, switch directions and run for safety.
Trust their instincts! If they ever feel scared or uncomfortable, they should run for safety as fast as possible and tell a trusted adult.

Online safety & ways parents can protect their kids

Online safety should be a high priority since social networks are home to both bullying and stalking. Child molesters use social networks to find easy targets. Since most children don’t understand why they need to exercise caution online, it’s up to parents to be responsible for their safety.

Things to watch out for

When scanning your teen’s friend list on social networks, make a mental note of common symbols pedophiles use to signal their sexual preferences:

A triangle inside a triangle – boys
A triangle inside a triangle as if drawn by a child – very young boys
A heart in a heart – young girls
A butterfly – any gender

The symbol below is the Childlove Online Media Activism logo used by pedophilic lobbies to promote their “cause,” namely that sexual relationships between adults and minors should be decriminalized.

Sexting is common among teenagers, and is not necessarily a sign that something potentially dangerous is going on, unless there is an adult on the other end. Check out this useful roundup of sexting code words and know with whom your teen communicates.
Cyberbullying is more difficult for parents to identify as around half of cyberbullied kids never tell their parents. Nonetheless, the telling signs are almost always there:
- Your child begins to avoid using their mobile device or computer, or quite the contrary, begins spending too much time gaming.
- Your child suddenly deletes their profiles on social networks, or blocks some phone numbers or emails from their contact list.
- Your child appears upset, angry, or withdrawn after receiving messages or emails.
- Your child becomes more secretive about their online activities, and reluctant to discuss them.
- Your child starts falling behind at school, becomes reluctant to go to school, and withdraws from social and family activities they used to enjoy.
- You child may start to have trouble sleeping, as well as display no interest in eating.

There are a variety of mobile apps that allow parents to monitor their children’s online activities in stealth mode. Most kids these days know how to hide their chats and browsing history from their parents. So, parents need to be up-to-date with technology.

Know your children’s location at all times. Smart watches and location sharing apps allow parents to set up location sharing with their kids. Your safest bet is to go with the native Apple, Google or Samsung location sharing features rather than a third-party app like Facebook or Snapchat that might reveal too much to the public.
Consider installing parental control apps on home computers, laptops and tablets. These apps allow parents to blacklist certain apps, IPs, and connections, as well as set time limits for different activities like gaming and chatting.
Never tell a cyberbullied child to “just ignore it.” Talk about it, try to establish their trust and do not over-react making matters even worse. If possible, gather proof by making screenshots of chats and emails, and a) report it to digital providers and social networks’ support, b) to school authorities if classmates are involved, c) to law enforcement.
Online safety is nothing to be treated lightly as threats delivered electronically can have physical consequences. When facing a situation that requires technical knowledge you simply don’t have, get outside help to deal with it. CyberSmile Foundation and StopBullying.gov are two good places to start when looking for outside help.

Useful child safety resources

Senior Safety

Wisdom, experience and an abundance of free time are the gifts of reaching retirement age. Unfortunately, aging is also accompanied by health issues that transforming trivial tasks into aggravating challenges.

The loss of mobility and flexibility people experience as they age can result in difficulty taking showers and baths, walking up and down stairs, and using kitchen cutlery safely. The difficulties of aging are compounded by the dementia experienced by 8.8% of older Americans, which may cause elderly friends and family members to become confused and agitated or wander off, getting lost.

The elderly are a fast-growing demographic: according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to grow to 55 million by 2020. Barring extreme difficulties, older people prefer to live in their homes for as long as possible, as opposed to settling into assisted living facilities.

On the other hand, CDC recently reported that 1-in-3 older adults fall each year, which amounts to a staggering 2.5 million seniors being admitted to the ER and over 25,500 dying as a result of a fall. More than 250,000 hip fractures are reported, with 95% resulting from falls.

Considering the troubling statistics, seniors should be wary of common safety hazards, in and around the house. Additionally, whether elderly family members live in private homes or in assisted living facilities, employ the services of a caretaker or are self-reliant, loved ones should check their living spaces for potential hazards.

Falls – both fatal and non-fatal – are by far the leading cause of injuries in the elderly. When falls occur, 30% of seniors suffer moderate to severe injuries such as sprains, hip fractures, lacerations, and head trauma.

Basic tips for senior safety throughout the home

Purchase a medical alert system. They provide two-way communication with certified operators in the event of a health crisis.
Install a burglar alarm.
Add peepholes to outside doors.
Keep a smoke detector and fire extinguisher on every floor. Make sure the smoke detector’s sound is loud enough to be heard.
Make sure hallways, stairs, and rooms are well-lit.
Use non-glare 100+ watt incandescent bulbs.
Make sure there’s a telephone in each room, and that they are placed low enough that they can be reached from the floor (in case of a fall).
Program phones with emergency and family numbers and post a list of these contacts by each phone.
Replace round doorknobs with lever-style handles.
Add eye-level decals or reflector tape on glass doors.

Safety tips for the bathroom

Add rails and grab bars in the bathroom and shower.
Install grab bars on the sides of the toilet.
Add a shower seat, if necessary.
Skid-proof the tub.
Place non-slip bath mats in the bathroom.
Ensure door locks are unlockable from both sides.
Replace glass shower doors with shower curtains or unbreakable plastic doors.

Safety tips for the kitchen

Use microwaves when possible, since they are safer than stoves and don’t overheat.
If cooking on the stovetop is a must, make sure that pots are always positioned with handles pointing outward and that sleeves are pushed up.
Make sure there’s adequate lighting.
Mark ON and OFF positions on electric appliances with bright colors.
Consider using a kettle that shuts off automatically.
Store heavy objects at waist level.
Use unbreakable dishes.

Safety tips for the bedroom

Keep a flashlight, lamp, and telephone on the nightstand.
Keep pathways clear around the bed.
Use nightlights to illuminate the hallway from the bedroom to the bathroom.
Remove casters from furniture.
Consider replacing electric blankets and heating pads with much-safer hot water bottles.
Remove cords from high traffic areas like around the bed and underneath rugs and furniture.

Reducing the risks of falls

Simple home modifications can significantly reduce the risk of falls in older adults. Here are some of the most important steps to take:

Remove clutter and trip hazards from hallways and balconies.
Replace high, trip-prone door thresholds.
Add non-slip surfaces to steps.
Securing loose rugs and install non-slip rugs for slippery floors.
Avoid waxing floors.
Add grab bars and railings in slip-prone areas, like bathrooms, stairs and porches.
Improve lighting throughout the home.

Medication safety

Use a compartmentalized pill boxes or an automatic medication dispenser to eliminate many potential medication mistakes.
Keep medicines clearly labeled and complete with doctor’s instructions.
Dispose of any medications that have expired through a local medicine take-back program.

Technology and senior safety

Technology is making homes safer than ever, particularly for seniors who aren’t quite ready to give up their independence in favor of assisted living.

Door guards and GPS smart watches are great for seniors who are prone to wandering.
An anti-scalding device helps prevent burns for people who have reduced tactile sensitivity.
Wall-mounted speakers can help seniors communicate with other people in the house if there’s an accident or potentially dangerous situation.
A monitoring system inside the house can help families check on their elderly loved ones to ensure they are safe, as well as call for help during emergencies.
Trained service dogs and therapy assistance dogs are excellent companions for seniors living alone, since they provide support, comfort, and unconditional love.

Phone scams

Telemarketing scams often target the elderly because they get confused and often share personal, health, Social Security and financial information easily.

IRS impersonation scams and sweepstakes scams are the most frequent scams that the elderly fall victim to.

Most people have caller ID so the best course of action is simply to not answer phone calls from numbers that are not recognized. If calls from unrecognized numbers are answered, it’s important to make sure that elderly loved ones know that it’s OK to hang up if a stranger is asking for personal information.

Elder abuse

If you have loved ones who have home health aides or live in assisted living facilities, consider installing a few stealth web cameras to protect them from abuse. Unfortunately, physical abuse is common since caretakers and sometimes even disaffected relatives take advantage of the declining physical and mental capacity of elderly friends and family members.

Common signs of physical abuse include:

A decline in communication, as well as personal hygiene.
Withdrawal from normal daily activities.
Bruises and scratches.
Weight loss, since abusive caretakers often practice food deprivation.

Anyone suspecting elder abuse – even without tangible proof – must notify law enforcement and/or local Adult Protective Services for further investigation.

Senior safety: Figures at a glance

8.8% of older U.S. adults suffer from dementia, down from 11.6% in 2000. (JAMA)

The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to grow to 55 million by 2020. (AARP)

1-in-3 older adults fall each year, amounting to 2.5 million seniors being admitted to the ER and over 25,500 deaths. (CDC)

Seniors suffered over 250,000 hip fractures as reported by ERs, with 95% resulting from falls.

30% of seniors suffer moderate-to-severe injuries as a result of falls.

The elderly are up to three times more likely to visit a physician’s office or ER, and seven times more likely to be hospitalized, as a result of an adverse drug event (ADE). (Health.gov)

IRS impersonation scams (#1), sweepstakes scams (#2), and robocalls (#3) are the top three types of phone scams reported by seniors. (United States Special Committee on Aging)

People aged 50 or older were responsible for 45% of identity theft complaints in 2015. (FTC)

Approximately 14.1% of adults age 60 and over experienced physical, psychological, sexual abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in the previous year (Government Accountability Office Study)

Useful senior safety resources

Travel Safety

Security has been the number one concern for vacationing U.S. families in the past few years. Many Americans choose to vacation closer to home due to fears of terrorism, crime, anti-American sentiment, political unrest, and personal safety concerns. Safety anxiety even outweighs fears of epidemic hazards, as many people would pay more for a vacation with “increased security.”

Safety is a complex issue for travelers since quite a few things can go wrong and spoil a fantastic vacation. But with the right planning and packing, international vacations and domestic road trips can make an enjoyable and memorable experience.

What’s worse than coming home after a fantastic vacation and finding your house burglarized, devastated by fire, or flooded by a burst pipe? It is impossible to predict and prepare for all sorts of disasters that can happen to your house while everyone is on a vacation. However, the following simple steps will greatly increase your chances of returning to a safe, clean, and orderly house.

Before you go

Basic house safety precautions should be top of mind, even if a trip is spontaneous.

Unplug

Unplug small appliances like coffee makers, toasters, and computers.
Shut off circuit breakers where they aren’t needed.
Turn off water valves to the washing machine, dishwasher, and sinks when going on an extended vacation.

Use common sense

From teen vandalism to professional burglary, home invasions are often destructive and expensive. The following tips can reduce the chances of a home robbery, as well as minimize the impact if one does occur while you’re away:

Many people like to announce their vacation plans on social networks, which is exactly the opposite of what they need to be doing. Thieves often monitor potential targets’ social profiles for exact travel dates.
If no car is visible, the message is clear: no one is home. Your house needs to look habitable, so leave a car in the driveway, and keep some blinds open or semi-open (instead of completely closed). If all family cars are gone, ask a neighbor to park in your driveway.
Put lights on a timer so that it looks like somebody is your home. Floor lamps plugged into inexpensive programmable timers are a fantastic option.
Install a home security system. Over 60% of convicted burglars pass on a house with a security system.
Invest in extra Wi-Fi cameras so that you can monitor your house and its exterior from a laptop or smartphone. Footage is available in real-time but can also be pulled from an archive. Some systems can also detect movement and send out a text alert.
Remove hidden spare keys, as experienced burglars will find them. Give them to a friend or a trusted neighbor instead.
Keep valuables in a home safe that bolts to the floor or in a bank safe deposit box.

Plan wisely

Try to avoid traveling at night.
Avoid seedy areas of destination cities, especially at night.
Ask your hotel manager for recommendations on what is considered safe and unsafe in the area.
When no other indicator is available, use this as a general rule of thumb: streets and restaurants with lots of children and women are generally safe for families.
Don’t use ATMs at night. Try to use ATMs during the day, when there are people around.

Crime-proofing while traveling

Pocket theft and purse-snatching is rampant in places with lots of tourists. All over the world, Americans are thieves’ favorite targets because they have all sort of good things in their bags and wallets. Be smart, don’t stick out, keep your guard on, and be wary of strangers, especially the ones offering drinks and unsolicited help.

Before leaving your hotel, double-check maps, itineraries, and schedules.
Don’t hitchhike. Always use official taxi services, sit in the back seat and close the windows, especially when going through crowded streets where there’s a lot of foot traffic.
Never walk blindly into a noisy crowd. Maintain situational awareness at all times. If anything is off, walk away.
At ATM’s, avoid anyone offering unsolicited “help.”
If you’re approached by someone wearing an unfamiliar uniform, always ask for their ID. Imposters are rampant.
Signs like “Watch out for pickpockets!” often prompt travelers to check to make sure they are still in possession of their valuables. This is how pocket thieves know where tourists keep their valuables.
Lower your tourist profile. Blend in and wear clothes like the locals. Don’t broadcast your wealth, jewelry, or political opinions.
Never leave your drinks unattended. Be wary of accepting beverages, gum, and snacks from strangers.
Be wary of new friends since human traffickers often “groom” their victims before attacking.
When using hotel nanny services, leave a hidden nanny cam in the room.
Don’t hesitate to make a scene when in danger. A healthy scream can ward off an attacker and summon help.
Consider wearing a whistle or a personal security alarm that emits a shrill sound.
Stay connected and warn your relatives back home about your itineraries and plans, but do not post this information publicly on social networks.

Traveling both domestically and internationally can be fun and exhilarating, but there are also inherent risks involved. Proper research and planning, coupled with common sense, will help ensure you stay safe as you embark on new adventures.

International travel tips

For international travel, the CDC recommends a proactive approach, irrespective of destination. Research laws and traditions. Exercise caution if there are alerts for terrorist attacks. Check weather forecasts. The U.S. Department of State is a great resource for learning about foreign countries.

Investigate thoroughly

A trip requires careful planning, and getting informed well in advance is key to a safe and enjoyable vacation. Get informed, research destination information, safety and security warnings and health precautions.

Check for travel warnings and on travel alert pages for detailed information about your final destination.
For international road travel safety information, bookmark the Association for Safe International Road Travel.
Know cultural norms and the local laws of the host country. Check the U.S. Department of State’s country-specific guides and the UK Government’s Foreign Travel Advice pages for additional insight.
Study all the clauses of your travel insurance so you have a clear idea of what it covers.
Research CDC vaccination recommendations for international travelers, and see a doctor, if necessary.
Consider any recent illnesses, surgeries, or injuries and account for potential complications.
Address special needs of your most vulnerable family members, including babies, children, the elderly, people with disabilities or weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.

Pack wisely

A sound approach to crisis planning is also necessary when preparing for a vacation. Remember – a crisis that happens abroad is not the same as a crisis back at home, and lost ID or a sudden fit of asthma can very well ruin an entire vacation.

Make copies of all travel documents and passports, and place them in each piece of luggage. Originals can – and often do – get lost or stolen. Also make sure you have photographs of each on your smartphone.
Pack a travel health kit that includes medications for allergies, diarrhea, head and chest congestion, food poisoning, motion sickness, fevers, pains, coughs, and insect bites.
Always pack items like insect repellent and sunscreen protection, antibacterial hand wipes or hand sanitizer, aloe gel for burns, oral rehydration packets, digital thermometer, bandages and antiseptic. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Practice hotel safety

When choosing your accommodations, opt for hotels that have unmarked swipe cards instead of numbered room keys. That way, if a swipe card gets lost or stolen, thieves won’t know which room to rob.
Lock your hotel door for the night, including the deadbolt. Use the chain, if available.
Don’t leave valuables in hotel rooms when going out. Use the safe in your room or at reception desk instead.
Take note of hotel’s emergency exits, and fire escapes.
Always carry your hotel’s address when going out and about.

Health safety

When vacationing abroad, exercise health precautions and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Exploring foreign cuisine and trying exotic meals is exciting, but spending the rest of vacation with a severe diarrhea is not. For certain international destinations, vaccinations may be essential. See the following subsection on necessary vaccinations for specific regions.

Don’t drink tap water, even if locals say it is 100% safe.
Always use insect repellent and sunscreen.
Talk to locals about specific health issues you should know about. For example, sand fleas in some tropical countries propagate dangerous diseases.
Limit alcohol intake.
If food smells rotten or looks odd, it’s probably best to avoid it.
Zika virus infection poses serious risks towards pregnant women and their unborn children. The virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that are most active during daylight hours. As no proper vaccination for the virus yet exists, pregnant women are STRONGLY advised not to travel to risk areas. You can view the CDC’s list of risk areas here.

Get the proper vaccinations

In addition to making sure you and your travel companions are up-to-date on all routine vaccinations (chicken pox, tetanus, HPV, hepatitis A & B, flu), certain destinations necessitate additional vaccination against locally prevalent ailments. Such vaccinations will dramatically reduce the risk of you or your companions catching a potentially serious disease sure to ruin any trip. Below is a list of the vaccinations recommended by the CDC before traveling to specific nations and regions. In some cases, proof of receiving vaccinations may be required to enter a country. Depending on the illness, you should receive the vaccine anywhere from three months to ten days before travel. Note: There’s no true vaccine against malaria, yet taking antimalarial medications reduces the risk of infection by about 90%.

North America: routine vaccinations

Central America: routine vaccinations, yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, diphtheria and tuberculosis

South America: routine vaccinations, yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, malaria, tuberculosis

Western Europe: routine vaccinations, rabies (if planning to travel or work within areas populated by bats)

Northern Africa: routine vaccinations, rabies (if you’d like to be extra cautious)

Sub Saharan and tropical Africa: Due to the frequency and unpredictability of disease outbreaks in these regions of Africa, it is very important to research the most up-to-date list of necessary vaccinations for your destination. Make sure you aren’t traveling into an Ebola outbreak. Beyond that, meningitis, malaria and the routine vaccinations are strongly advised.

Middle East: polio, typhoid, routine vaccinations

South and Southeast Asia: polio, typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, routine vaccinations

East Asia: tetanus, diphtheria, routine vaccinations

Australia: routine vaccinations

Pacific Islands: polio, yellow fever, routine vaccinations

Road trip safety

According to the Liberty Mutual Insurance New Beginnings report, half of Americans don’t check that basic emergency items are in the car before hitting the road. And yet, it is so easy to run a quick check of the car and make sure the first aid kit is complete and in place. After all, these basic precautions could save travelers a major headache if an emergency happens on the road.

Emergency kit for road trips should include:

Review your first aid kit to make sure it’s complete.
Consider taking a small flashlight, alcohol swabs, Band-Aids and water bottles.
Pack a cell phone charger.
Make sure all cell phones are fully charged.
Also, include warm blankets and pillows.
Maps! GPS is not infallible, so make sure to have a detailed map or road atlas as a backup option.

Plan wisely

Map out your itinerary with gas stations and pit stops.
Check out weather forecasts for your itinerary.
Know the laws along your route concerning phone use while driving.
Get a good night’s sleep before leaving. Driving while drowsy is a major factor contributing to more than 100,000 accidents annually.

Get a car safety check

Check wiper blades. For long road trips, consider having an extra set in your car.
Check your GPS unit to make sure it’s in working order and has up-to-date maps.
Check headlights for dimness, washer fluid level, tire pressure and oil change.
Make sure to have a spare tire and tools to change it.
Consider including jumper cables and a multi-purpose tool that can be used on many parts of a car.
Also, check battery, belts and air conditioner.
If there are babies on board, check if the baby seats are properly installed.

Driving safely

To make sure you arrive at your final destination safely:

Use hands-free devices, and never text and drive.
Always buckle up.
Never drink while driving (drunk driving has its consequences!).
Use properly installed child safety seats.
Always remember that the middle backseat is the safest spot for children in the car.
Pull over and take breaks every couple of hours. Grab a snack, stretch your legs, get some fresh air – not feeling tired or sleepy doesn’t mean you’re not losing focus.
Share the driving responsibilities with someone else, if possible.
Lock your valuables in the trunk or glove compartment.
Don’t wait until the gas gauge gets to E to refuel. On an unfamiliar road, start looking for a place to fill up once the gas gauge hits a quartet of a tank.

Traveling by train

Traveling by train can be enjoyable and affordable, and a few extra precautions will minimize your risk of illness, theft or injury. Rule of thumb – plan ahead, research your itinerary and destination, be punctual, keep an eye on your valuables, and avoid solitary areas.

Plan your itinerary in advance and try to to avoid train changes late at night, especially if long layovers are involved.
Research train stations so that you’re aware of it’s a haven for pickpockets or provides covered shelter for the homeless after a certain time at night.
Put locks on your luggage.
For longer train rides, consider using straps or cords to secure your bags to the overhead racks. Bundled luggage is harder to steal.
Keep your tickets, documents, money, and credit cards in a money belt or pouch. Organize everything so that you’re not fumbling around for things when you need them.
For long layovers, find a place to sit that is well-lit but not solitary, and never leave your luggage unattended.
Board your train as early as possible, and check to make sure you’ve board the proper train car since not all cars may be going to your final destination.
While sleeping, keep your compartment locked.
Don’t trust strangers, and don’t leave valuables behind when going to the restroom.
Don’t drink tap water, and avoid accepting food and drinks from strangers.

Traveling on cruise ships

Cruising is considered one of the safest ways to travel, but common sense and basic safety precautions will make for a much more enjoyable vacation.

Attend a muster drill before going on a cruise. Knowing where your muster station is, how to put on a lifejacket, and what the alarm sounds mean is important. Most cruise ships will not leave port unless all passengers on the ship go through this exercise.
To avoid potential pirate attacks, skip cruises through the North Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Malacca Straits, and South China Sea.
Go easy on the alcohol. The leading cause of death amongst American tourists isn’t terrorism or violent crimes, but drowning and car accidents. Alcohol is a major contributing factor in both.
Be mindful of all drinks and don’t accept food or drinks from strangers.
If you become inebriated, don’t let a stranger walk you back to your room.
If you become inebriated, don’t let a stranger walk you back to your room.
If traveling solo, don’t advertise it by walking alone late at night around solitary areas.
Keep in mind that not all cabin doors close automatically. When leaving, give it tightly shut and then check to make sure it’s closed. When inside, push to make sure it clicks to close. If the door has a dead bolt, use it. It’s there for a reason.
Don’t leave your order outside the door since it typically lists the number of people in the cabin. Call for room service directly.
Don’t advertise your room number to strangers.
As tempting as it is to leave the balcony door open at night, lock it. Also, lock it when leaving your room, especially in ports.
Use your room safe for storing valuables.
Get to know your steward.
Don’t carry large amounts of cash while on board or during shore excursions.
Never accept invitations to the crew quarters.

Traveling by air

Many of the pitfalls that cause vacationers a headache while traveling by air are beyond their control (delayed flights, bad weather). But many precautions can improve travelers’ chances of having a safe and hassle-free flight no matter what. The rule of thumb – stop making all-too-common blunders like getting to the airport too late, or not checking what items are prohibited on planes.

Safety when booking

A safe flight begins as early as booking, so make sure to follow these recommendations and get more involved with your safety as an airline passenger.

Non-stop flights are safer since 79.9% of all airline accidents happen during a takeoff and landing phase.
When booking itineraries, don’t go for tight connections. Rule of thumb – the less time between connecting flights, the more risk is involved. So research before booking, especially when heading to unfamiliar and super-sized airports.
Some items, as well as medicines, may be prohibited on planes, so check the Transportation Security Administration guidelines ahead of time. If traveling internationally, check Customs and Import Restrictions for items that may not be allowed inside the borders of your final destination as well.
When choosing airlines, check their safety record. If the record is not good, choose another airline.
If possible, pre-book your seats and opt for those that are no more than five rows away from an emergency exit.
Also keep in mind that statistically, the rear part of the aircraft is safer and aisle seats allow passengers to get out quicker.

Safety at the airport

Not factoring in things like check-ins, customs, and security checks, or not arriving at the airport well ahead of time is a route to disaster. So, plan accordingly:

Check-in online – usually 24 hours ahead of departure, since many airlines have strict check-in cutoff times. Travellers failing to check in on time run the risk of losing their seat.
Account for heavy traffic when planning on when to leave for the airport.
Try to get to your hub ahead of time – two hours in advance of domestic flights, and three hours ahead of international flights.
Mind your gate – it’s not uncommon for a flight to wind up at a different gate at the last minute. So, keep an eye on departure boards.
Factor in security and customs checks for international flights, as these can take forever. Leave plenty of time to deal with customs and security delays, especially if connecting flight is involved.
This is probably self-evident, but don’t leave your luggage unattended, and don’t get drunk.

Safety on the plane

It’s astonishing how little details affect survivability. From keeping a clear head to wearing proper clothes, it’s the little things that count when it comes to flying safely.

Know the location and distance to the nearest emergency exit.
Read the safety card, and pay attention during the crew’s safety demonstration.
Check to make your life jacket is where it should be.
Don’t take off your shoes, especially before the plane leaves the ground. If you’ve taken them off mid-flight, make sure you put them back on before landing.
Dress as if you were planning for an emergency – avoid traveling in sandals or high-heeled shoes, shorts, and sleeveless shirts. Instead, wear hard soled shoes and practical clothes made of natural fabric since synthetic material will melt under high heat.
Don’t self-medicate with a preflight tranquilizer or alcohol – this will only muddle thinking but won’t help.
During a flight, minimize movement around the plane, and keep seat belt fastened.
If chartering an aircraft, flying in a light aircraft, or bush flying, fly in daylight and good weather. Also, remember that safety records are poorer in mountainous areas. Never urge the aircrew to fly against their sound judgment.
Keep an LED torch when traveling.

During an emergency or crash landing

Don’t freeze or panic, and do as instructed by flight attendants. Try to understand the logic behind every instruction.

Listen to the instructions of the cabin crew and follow them.
Leave all belongings behind. Carry-on bags slow people down and create hazards for others.
Don’t wait for others to move. Many people might get paralyzed by fear.
Smoke aboard a plane is one of the greatest dangers as it disables people quickly. So get low immediately, and grab the oxygen mask as soon as it drops. There is a reason why flight attendants instruct parents to put on their oxygen mask first, and then help their children – that’s because children will be left helpless (and most likely die) if parents get unconscious due to hypoxia.

Useful travel safety resources

CDC Destinations (health recommendations by country)
Safety Tips for Women Traveling Alone
Customs and Import Restrictions
Are You Safe From Pirate Attacks on Your Cruise?
Oxygen mask – Adult first and then children. Why?

Internet Safety

Many Americans feel they have lost control of their private information online and worry about corporations and government agencies being unable to protect all of the consumer data they collect, according to a recent report published by the Pew Research Center. And data breaches at places like Bank of America and Equifax are proving these fears to be completely justifiable. At some point or another, unfortunately your sensitive data may end up on the dark market.

64% of Americans have personally experienced a major data breach in their lives. Of those 64 percent:

41% had to deal with fraudulent charges on their credit cards.
35% had their sensitive information compromised by an institution or business.
15% had their Social Security number compromised.
14% had someone attempt to take out loans in their name.
16% had their email hacked.
13% had a social network profile hijacked.
6% had someone impersonate them to file fraudulent tax returns.

Compounding this problem is the fact that individuals do a great job of exposing their most sensitive data and helping hackers because they fail to follow basic safety precautions online.

Don’t be negligent when it comes to online security, and follow these tips to safeguard your privacy and protect your online presence.

Safe online behavior tips

Unfortunately, a lot of opportunistic and targeted attacks are facilitated by the victims themselves. People routinely click on links in emails from unverified senders, and get addicted to sharing every bit of their private lives on social networks. They don’t double-check websites’ addresses when entering their credentials, and neglect installing important security updates on their computers and smartphones. Start improving your online security posture by following these simple recommendations.

Be careful with your clicks – Don’t invite trouble with careless clicking. Many of today’s digital threats come with fraudulent emails (phishing) and chat messages (social engineering). Phony free offers and online quizzes entice users to reveal personal information and click on dangerous links. Caveat Emptor: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Protect what you share – Don’t share personally identifiable information online. Real names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, mother’s maiden names, kids’ names – impersonators and fraudsters can use this data to steal your identity.
Pay attention to detail – Watch out for websites that have misspellings and bad grammar, as these are typically copycats of legitimate sites. When shopping online, or visiting online banking websites, make sure the site’s address starts with “https” and not “http.” When installing mobile banking apps, make sure that you download them from a legitimate source and check the developer’s details. Many mobile banking apps have fraud clones that collect user logins and passwords.
Protect your smartphone – Smartphones are extremely vulnerable to online threats, as malicious apps and games crop up on app stores daily. Be careful when installing apps and games, and granting them permissions. Encrypt your smartphone, and scan your privacy settings to disable everything that is over-sharing your personal information (location tracking, connection to public Wi-Fi).
Be prudent with updates – Software updates aren’t just for new functionality – they fix security vulnerabilities in your programs and devices too. So, install new updates when prompted, and make sure your security software scans all of your devices weekly.
Backup regularly – Regular backups save a lot of time when something major goes wrong, like a hardware failure or ransomware attack. Consider having an offline backup of your critical data too.
Stay in-the-know – Don’t wait for major news outlets to tell you about the latest online scams. Always exercise caution instead.

Use strong passwords

If there is one online safety precaution that millions of Internet users keep getting wrong year after year, it is the use of passwords. People reuse passwords, rotating them across profiles. They use their birth dates and local football team names as passwords, and even share their passwords with others.

After the LinkedIn breach, security scientists analyzed the dumped passwords to see how many were weak. The results were staggering – 63,588,381 weak passwords in a single data dump alone. So, start reviewing your online habits by bringing your passwords – all of them – into order.

Here’s an example of a strong password: N{>{0Psyd7wqz|3=YXPxyGK;IscQ.?{

And here are examples of weak passwords: qwerty, 12345678, password, Facebookpass, june151960.

When it comes to password safety:

Use password generators and password management software to store your passwords in a secure, encrypted database with a master password.
Never store your passwords in a Notebook file on your desktop.
Don’t use personal information in your passwords.
Don’t recycle the same password across different accounts. If one account gets compromised, this means the rest can easily be hacked.
Use long passwords (at least 12 characters).

Consider multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) grants user access only when the user presents several required means of authentication. Usually, MFA combines two or more independent credentials – what the user knows (such as PIN, password, or pass phrase), and something the user has (security token, verification code sent via SMS). Sometimes, a third layer of authentication is added – something the user is (biometric verification as in fingerprints, eye retina).

MFA creates a layered defense, which is significantly more difficult to crack. If one layer is compromised, the attacker still has one or two layers to breach before breaking into the target database or email account.

For average users, however, MFA is rather hassle-free, as it consists of a password and a verification code sent via SMS. MFA is a must-have feature that should be enabled for all accounts holding your sensitive information – email, cloud storage, health and fitness apps, accounting software, and social networks.

Invest in security software

Antivirus alone is not enough anymore, so you should seriously consider investing in a variety of other programs to boost your digital security.

Firewalls are electronic barriers that block unauthorized access to your devices.
Most people rely on antivirus ignoring a slew of anti-malware suites that scan computers for known malware, which often goes undetected by antivirus programs. Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy or SpywareBlaster come in free and paid offers, and significantly improve your resistance to malware.
Anti-keylogger apps scramble your typing and make it impossible for someone to take a screenshot of what you are typing or track it.
Encryption programs encrypt your local files and store them in a safe vault that opens only with a correct password (which you set).
Avoid over-sharing your real email address when signing up for services online. Instead, use masked emails whenever possible. For example, masking apps like Blur allow users to create masked – anonymous – emails that are completely functional. They look like [email protected] and therefore, reveal no personally identifiable information, but redirect all incoming emails to your real email address.
A Virtual Private Network, VPN, encrypts and tunnels your traffic through its remote servers so that neither your ISP (Internet Service Provider) nor hackers preying on easy targets at public Wi-Fi hotspots can intercept your data.

Know the most common threats

There is a common misconception that online security is rocket science, and many people tend to feel intimidated by the cyber jargon, thinking they can’t master the basics. So, many users just assume they’re too insignificant of a target for hackers to be interested in their data. Wrong. Identity theft in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with an estimated 15.4 million consumers hit by some kind of ID theft last year alone.

Ransomware attacks rise 250 percent in 2017, and U.S. is hit the hardest. At the same time, large majorities of internet users have heard about trolling (86%), hacking (95%), doxing (73%), and swatting (55%) – and 18% have experienced one of the online harassment forms personally.

So, knowing the threats and taking safety precautions to protect your sensitive data is paramount in digital age, especially since it really is not rocket science.

Identity theft

Monitor your bank statements for suspicious activity and don’t share personal information online. When there are signs of unauthorized charges on your account, even small $1 transactions, contact your bank immediately.

Phishing emails

Phishing emails look highly credible and are designed to gather your information. A phishing email urges victims to download malware or make a transaction.

Smart Tip: always double-check the sender’s email, and call them personally to confirm the transaction request. Never download files with .exe, .vbs, and .scr extensions.

Ransomware

Ransomware is malware that encrypts your hard drive. Hackers then demand ransom (usually in Bitcoin) in exchange for the password.

Smart Tip: regularly backup your data to the cloud and/or an external hard drive.

Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is currently a digital plague, with faceless pranksters destroying the lives and careers of entire families.

Stalkers often:

Dox – post victims’ personal information online for public access.
Swat – call 911 anonymously and reporting gunshots at the victim’s address.
Order flowers/pizzas/pool cleaning at the victim’s address, seven days a week and often at bizarre hours of the day and night
Hack victim’s office systems (to urge the employer to get rid of the problematic worker).
Camfect – hijack victim’s web cameras to snoop on them, take compromising pictures and then blackmail them.

Smart tip: don’t engage in online squabbles with so-called trolls (people who make deliberately provocative or offensive statements with the aim of upsetting someone, or provoking an emotional response from them). Learn to identify trolls and ignore their comments no matter what.

Avoid posting personal data on your social media accounts.
Run an Internet search of your name regularly to identify if someone is spreading false information about you. If so, contact the blog/website/forum administrator to request that the content be immediately removed.
Change all your passwords, especially when breaking up with an abusive partner.
Seek outside help if you are cyberstalked.
Put a non-transparent duct tape over your web camera to prevent camfecting (webcam hacking that allows the hacker to snoop on the victim).

Social networking safety tips for adults

Online harassment is a common feature of online life for adults and teenagers. 41% of American adults have experienced online harassment first-hand, and 66% have seen it happen to others. Nearly half of those who’ve experienced online harassment know their harasser.

Worse, sexual predators and traffickers prey on the young on social networks and community chats. Over-sharing their personal information online, kids give stalkers, molesters, and mean pranksters the keys to their online and offline lives.

Look at the settings for all of your profiles, and disable everything that is “public” in them. Limit your posts to a closed circle of relatives and friends.
Don’t share your location via social media networks.
Don’t advertise you’ll be out of town through social media – burglars and stalkers will take note.
Don’t post full names, birth dates, phone numbers, and addresses of your family members. This information alone is enough for full-scale identity theft.
Don’t let potential stalkers identify your daily routines and itineraries. Don’t share your work and home addresses publicly. Don’t broadcast frequently visited places through your social profiles.
If you have children, don’t overshare information about them, including their routines and locations. Child molesters use social networks to profile minors.

Protecting kids online

Kids are more tech-savvy than their parents these days, and in most families, they can hide what they’re doing online from their parents. Parental control software is a viable option, but only when children don’t know how to bypass or disable it, or access the Internet from a different device.

Online safety education should be an ongoing process for families. Setting boundaries and rules is not enough, since it often provokes anger and resentment. Instead of trying to explain the dangers, show examples, and don’t try to sugar the pill and conceal the harsh reality. The Internet is a wild place full of child molesters, human traffickers, rapists, extremists and troubled people who like to stalk and bully others. Your children need to know this.

Installing a stealth-monitoring app on your family computer, as well as your children’s smartphones.
Keeping children under the age of 13 from using social media networks and having personal emails addresses. Explain that they can only socialize online with the people they know in real life.
Setting up safety measures so that children can’t download and install software and media content without parental supervision.
Monitor your kids’ online activities for signs of cyberbullying.

How to combat cyberbullying

Of all online threats affecting adolescents and teens, cyberbullying is by far one of the most widespread. Over half of teens have been bullied online, and just about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying, according to statistics. One in three young people experience threats online and over 25% of teenagers have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones and the Internet.

To combat cyberbullying:

Block the bully’s phone number, email, and social networking accounts.
Make sure your child knows not respond to bullies, ever.
Screenshot threats for evidence and report them to the police.
Unplug from the Internet for a while. A complete disconnect from social networks might do wonders for your child’s emotional and mental health.