Safety While Hiking: Enjoying Your Time Outdoors

The Hiker Responsibility Code is a set of principles that all hikers can look to before they hit the trail. Similar to the Skier’s Responsibility Code endorsed by the National Ski Areas Association, the Hiker Responsibility Code was created to help hikers become more self aware about their responsibility for their own safety every time they are on a hike. It also acknowledges the inherent danger of hiking in the backcountry, and encourages hikers to be better prepared every time they are on the trail. The Hiker Responsibility Code was developed and is endorsed by the White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Hiker Responsibility Code

You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared…

1. …with knowledge and gear. Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather and your equipment before you start
2. …to leave your plans. Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you will return and your emergency plans.
3. …to stay together. When you start as a group, hike as a group, end as a group. Pace your hike to the slowest              person.
4. …to turn back. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect   your hike. Know your limitations and when to postpone your hike. The mountains will be there another day.
5. …for emergencies. Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather or a wrong turn could become life threatening. Don’t assume you will be rescued; know how to rescue yourself.
6. …to share the hiker code with others.

Travel responsibly on designated roads, trails and areas.

• Stay on the trail even if it is rough or muddy.
• Walk single file to avoid widening the trail.
• Spread out in open country where there are no trails rather than following each others’ footsteps—this avoids creating a new trail and disperses your impact on the land.
• Comply with all signs and respect barriers. Buddy up with two or three hikers to reduce vulnerability in case of an accident.

Respect the rights of others

• Respect the rights of others, including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed.
• Be considerate of others on the road or trail.
• Leave any gates as you found them.
• Proceed with caution around horses and pack animals. Sudden, unfamiliar activity may spook animals, putting you in danger.
• When you encounter horses on the trail, move to the downhill side of the trail. Stop and ask the rider the best way to proceed.
• Keep your companion animals under control to protect yourself, other people and wildlife.
• If crossing private property ALWAYS ask permission from the landowner.
• Keep noise to a minimum.

Educate yourself and take care

Educate yourself prior to a trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning for your trip, taking recreation skills classes and knowing how to operate your equipment safely.

• Obtain a map of your destination and determine which areas are open to you.
• Make a realistic plan and stick to it. Always tell someone your travel plans.
• Contact the land manager for area restrictions, closures and permit requirements.
• Check the weather forecast for your destination and plan accordingly for supplies, clothing and equipment. Don’t neglect appropriate footwear in all weather.
• Carry a compass or a GPS unit and know how to use it.
• Carry water and emergency supplies even on short hikes.
• Dress in layers and always carry a jacket to be prepared for quickly-changing weather conditions.
• Never allow the weight of your pack to exceed one third of your body weight.
• Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands, streams, seasonal nesting or breeding areas.
• Do not disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites.
• Keep your distance from wildlife.
• Remember that motorized and mechanical vehicles are not allowed in designated Wilderness Areas.

Do your part

Do your part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and restoring degraded areas.

The longest journey begins with a single step. Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

Good Safety Habits & Tips to Keep Your Home Safe

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning.  To build maximum protection for your home, you need to consider two levels of threat. The kind you, your family or guests can create accidentally and the kind that burglars or vandals can create deliberately.  To address the first kind of threat, make a commitment to safety by reviewing the suggestions below and selecting a few to launch your personal home safety campaign

Protecting Your Home from Internal Threats

FIRE SAFETY

19 GOOD SAFETY HABITS

Protecting Your Home from External Threats

A state-of-the-art security system is always the best protection for your home, and the extensive range of available systems, at varied prices, makes looking into this solution well worth your time and effort.  But it also makes sense, whether you’re home or away on vacation, to take a few simple safety precautions on your own:

When you’re away from home for extended periods, be sure to take the following steps:

Your home is the place where you need to feel safe—a little forethought and planning can help keep you and your family secure in your home…whatever its size and location!

Safety Tips for Travelers

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you should be careful to ensure a good trip by being protective of yourself and your belongings. Here are some helpful safety tips:

• Verify the identity of the person at the door in a hotel or motel before allowing the individual into your room. If the person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
• Use the main entrance of the hotel when returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening.
• Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
• Keep track of your guest room keys at all times. Do not display them in public or leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool or other places where they can be easily stolen.
• Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying cash or jewelry.
• Do not invite strangers to your room.
• Place all valuables in a room safe or in the facility’s safe deposit box.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
• Check any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors to see that they are locked.
• Report any suspicious activity that you observe to the management.
• Discreetly carry a map and be familiar with the area you are visiting. Plan trips in advance.
• Do not leave purses or pocketbooks on the back of a chair when dining out; keep them in your lap and in sight.
• Keep your wallet in the front pocket of pants or a jacket pocket, not in the rear pocket.
• Secure all electronic devices (such as laptops, telephones, PDAs) under lock when not in use.
• Be careful in and around elevators. Do not get in an elevator if you feel uncomfortable about anyone who is in or near the car. Once inside, try to stay close to the controls and the emergency alarm.
• Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.
• Park in a well-lighted area near an exit. Learn the layout of any parking garage so that you know the quickest routes out.
• Have your keys ready and in hand before entering the garage or parking area. Taking time to search for keys, especially at night, can make you a vulnerable target.
• Always be judicious in your use of alcohol; keep your senses sharp in any new or unfamiliar environment.
• Set your home alarm system and double check all doors and windows before leaving for a trip.

Traveling out of the United States

The U.S. State Department site has a fact sheet for every country detailing current health risks, security concerns and areas to avoid. Also, see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country for details on conditions, rules and regulations by country.

Traveling can be pleasant and productive as long as you use good sense and remember to stay vigilant about your safety wherever you may go.

Home-Repair Safety Tips: How to Do It Yourself Without Doing Yourself Harm

Performing repair tasks around your home should be satisfying and safe.  You certainly won’t feel satisfied if you have to visit the emergency room because of a cut or fall!  It’s important to choose safe tools and use them correctly, and how to properly employ equipment, such as ladders, to avoid injuries.

Safe Tools

The first rule of tool safety is to buy good quality. You don’t have to buy the best, but lowest cost can often mean lowest value.  The best value is typically higher-quality tools and equipment purchased at a discount.  It’s also important to use your tools correctly.  It may be tempting to use a screwdriver as a chisel, but doing so can damage the tool and, more important, damage you.

Also, never remove the safety guards installed on power equipment, and always wear safety goggles when working with power equipment.  Safety glasses should also be worn when sanding, filing or doing any other job that produces flying particles.  Make sure your safety glasses wrap around the sides to keep deflected particles from reaching your eyes from any angle.

Don’t take a chance of hitting a thumb or finger when hammering a small brad, tack or nail.  Slip the fastener between the teeth of a pocket comb; the comb holds the nail while you hold the comb.  A bobby pin or a paper clip can be used the same way as a comb

Even when you’ve purchased high-quality tools and learned how to use them properly, you still have to remember another vital step: maintenance.  The most dangerous tool is one that isn’t well maintained.  A dull saw is less safe than a sharp one.  A hammer with a loose handle can do more damage than one in good repair.  A power tool with a frayed cord can electrocute you.  So, be diligent about tightening loose parts, fixing damaged cords and sharpening dull blades.

Quick Fix Tool Care

Quality tools aren’t cheap.  But with care, they can last many years and be a better long-term investment than cheap tools.  Here are some useful tips on tool care.

• Protect your tools from moisture.  Keep a thin coating of oil on metal parts, wrap them in plastic wrap or keep carpenters’ chalk or mothballs (both of which absorb moisture) in your toolbox.
• A handy protective cover for the teeth of a handsaw between projects can be fashioned from a piece of garden hose slit open.  Circular saw blades store conveniently in heavy shipping envelopes.
• Fasten the chuck key near the plug end of the cord to remind yourself to unplug an electric drill when changing accessories.  Tack rags will last longer if they’re stored in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.  Airtight storage also prevents spontaneous combustion, which can be very dangerous.  (This safety tip applies equally well to other rags, coveralls, work gloves and any other clothes that might absorb flammable oils and solvents.)

Safe Ladders

A sturdy stepladder will make lots of quick fixes easier.  If you don’t already own one, invest in a good ladder, and use it for all those out-of-reach projects.  Most home-use ladders are made of wood or aluminum.  Depending on quality, both types are reliable.  Aluminum, however, weighs only 20 to 50 percent as much as wood, which means it’s easier to take it in and out of storage or move it around.  Check labels for the ladder’s rated strength.  For an extra measure of safety, get one with rubber or plastic feet so your ladder won’t skid on hard floors.

Using Ladders Safely

There is no such thing as an absolutely safe ladder. Gravity Always Wins.  However, there are ways to greatly reduce your risk of accidents and injury with ladders.

• Always open a stepladder to its fullest position, lock the spreader braces on each side in place, and pull down the bucket shelf.
• Whether you are going up or coming down, always face the ladder head-on and use both hands to hold onto the side rails or rungs.
• Don’t climb higher than two rungs from the top; don’t sit or stand on the top or the bucket shelf.
• To keep yourself from overreaching and getting off balance, never let your navel go beyond either of the ladder’s side rails.
• Never climb a ladder with tools in your hand or in your pockets.

Electrical Safety

Electricity can help…or hurt. An appliance can make your coffee in the morning but a frayed cord can electrocute you.  Here are some rules for working safely with electricity.

• Never work on a live electrical circuit.  Unplug the circuit, trip the circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse before you begin working.
• Always use only equivalent replacement parts.  That is, replace a controller with one that has the same function and rating.  Don’t replace a 10-amp appliance cord with one that is rated for 5 amps.
• Carefully check all loose wires for damage or stress, and reconnect them using electrical tape, wire nuts or other enclosing fasteners.  Not only can a loose wire break an electrical circuit, but also it can injure you if you touch it while it is energized or hot.
• Most important, think before you act.  Electricity follows strict laws.  You must follow the same laws in order to repair electrical systems safely.

Safety Tip to Remember:
Quick doesn’t mean work as fast as you can move.  It means planning out the task in advance and doing it safely and well.  Using common sense and the right tools will help you tackle home improvement repairs or projects safely and with confidence.

Protection Against Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

If these experiences are happening to you, you might feel hopeless, ashamed, desperate, confused and alone.  You may not want to tell other people about your situation because you feel afraid, embarrassed or fear for the safety of your children, parents or other vulnerable members of your household.  You are NOT ALONE and you can find help.

Here are some signs of an abusive relationship that may result in domestic violence

• You are afraid of your partner’s temper
• You are overly concerned about what kind of mood your partner is in
• Your partner prevents you from seeing your friends or family, or alienates them so that they are uncomfortable being around him
• Your partner threatens to hurt or kill you, your children, your family, friends or pets
• Your partner yells at you, reprimands you or demeans you in public
• Your partner calls you names, insults you, threatens you with or actually commits sexual violence against you
• Your partner hits, slaps, pushes or shoves you, pulls your hair or inflicts physical injury on you in any way
• Your partner prevents you from getting or keeping a job
• Your partner keeps you from leaving the house or locks you out of the house.

There’s no reason to accept or tolerate this behavior from a spouse or domestic partner. If you need help, here’s what you can do:

• Leave your home or have someone stay with you.

• Go to a battered-women’s shelter.

• Get medical attention from your doctor or hospital emergency room.  Ask the staff to photograph your injuries and keep detailed records in case you decide to take legal action.

• Communicate with someone who can help—a trusted friend or family member, an advocate or domestic hotline counselor, your priest or minister, your doctor.

• Have a plan for where to go when you escape the home situation.  If you don’t have a car, think of a safe place nearby where someone can pick you up.  Also, know the routes to pubic transportation closest to your house.

• If you have an Order of Protection, keep it on you at all times and keep a copy of it somewhere safe.

• Establish a code word you can use with a friend to indicate your need for help when you are in trouble but unable to speak freely.  When your friend hears that word, it means “Call 911”.

• If you live alone and are in fear, consider installing an alarm system to not only protect your house when you are away, but to also have emergency features accessible from all rooms of the house.

Decide how you and your children would get out of your home if necessary

• Know a pathway you can use at night.  Think of public places you can access 24 hours a day.  Know the quickest route to the police station, hospital, fire station and well-lighted stores in your area.

• If you leave by car, lock all doors immediately.

• Keep your essential belongings—ID, cash, credit cards, keys—in a safe and quickly accessible place at all times.

• Know the best route out of your home, room or apartment building.

If you are afraid your partner will harass you at work, make an escape route.  Also, give a photo of your abuser to a supervisor you trust and to building security if available and make sure the person will NOT be allowed inside.  Give a copy of your Order of Protection to personnel who will help ensure your safety at work.

Most important, know that this situation is not your fault.  Record incidents of abuse in detail, with photographs of injuries whenever possible, and be prepared to report the acts committed against you to authorities.  Do not let your fear of your partner keep you from halting this dangerous pattern of behavior.

You can only get help if you seek it.

Protect Children From Kidnapping And Stranger Danger

Each year, approximately 58,000 missing children are abducted by non-family members. Typically, strangers who kidnap children commit their crimes with intent to harm their young victims.  In nearly 80 percent of non-family child abductions cases, the victim is sexually assaulted or physically abused by the perpetrator.  Every day, these offenders lure unsuspecting children into vehicles and homes.  Because most of these kids are not prepared for the reality of “stranger danger”, they tend to trust unknown adults.

• Tell your children to always walk or play in groups.  Predators search for isolated targets such as children who are walking alone or playing alone.  If you see a friend or neighbor’s young child walking alone, make sure to include that particular neighbor in your stranger-danger strategy.  For instance, you could suggest a buddy or carpool plan to get neighboring children to and from school.

• You should always know where your kids are going, even if they leave the house with another trusted adult.  If your children spend time at their friends’ homes, you should discuss a mutual child-watch plan with other parents.  If your children are young, explain to these parents that you do not allow your children to play outside unsupervised.  Promise to keep a similar close watch on their children when they play at your house.

• If your children walk or ride their bikes to other nearby houses, designate safe places for your child to run if threatened by a stranger.

• Keep a list of phone numbers of other nearby parents and offer your numbers to these parents.  You can quickly check on the location of your children if needed.

• Teach your kids about strangers.  Tell them that a stranger is any adult they do not know. Introduce your children to other parents you trust.  Meet the children of these parents, so you will become a familiar face to the kids.  Ideally, these children will be able to pick out a few friendly adults in a crowd of strangers.

• In addition to other parents, your kids should know which strangers are safe.  Store clerks, police officers, teachers, people who are behind desks in office buildings, mail-carriers and mothers with children are generally safe strangers.  Explain to your children that they can trust these strangers if they ever need help and they cannot locate an adult they recognize.  Teach your children that stores, schools, libraries and restaurants are all safe public places where they can run if they are in jeopardy.

• Practice a secret code word with your children.  Choose a word that would not be easy for a stranger to guess.  Use this code word when another adult is required to transport your child.  Tell your kids they should never get into a car with someone who does not know the code word.  Share the code word with your children and other adults you trust.  Change the word as often as needed.

• Teach your kids about the common lures used by abductors.  Often, a kidnapper appeals to victims by asking the child to help find a lost animal.  Sometimes, the stranger will ask a child for directions.  Occasionally, abductors know the child’s name or the names of the child’s parents.  Perpetrators attempt to use this knowledge to gain the child’s trust.  You should tell your children that adults ask other adults for help when they are truly searching for lost pets, or when they need any other type of assistance.  Also, repeat to your children the importance of the family code word.  If a stranger knows the child’s name, but does not mention the code word, that stranger is probably a threat.

• Practice screaming with your children.  If a stranger attempts to talk to or grab your children, your children should know to shout, “No!” or “Fire!”  Try to recruit the help of other parents.  The group of your children can rehearse screaming at strangers by role-playing.

• Run, yell, and tell!  It makes sense to teach children as early as the age of four about what to do when being attacked by a stranger:  RUN, MAKE NOISE, TELL SOMEONE  Show your children some “safety havens” along routes usually taken so they know where to seek help—a police station, fire station, church, and retail shops.

Safe Winter Driving Tips

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.  Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and unforeseen dangers.  If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions  To help you make it safely through winter, here are some suggestions from the National Safety Council to make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared.

WINTERIZE YOUR CAR

NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

DRIVING SAFELY ON ICY ROADS

IF YOUR REAR WHEELS SKID

IF YOUR FRONT WHEELS SKID

IF YOU GET STUCK

IF YOU BECOME STRANDED

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HOME INVASION

Home Invasions, when criminals force their way into an occupied home, apartment or hotel room to commit a robbery or other crimes, are increasing at an alarming rate.  This is one of the most frightening and potentially dangerous crimes that can occur to a family because it violates our private space, the place that we think of as our sanctuary.

Thieves are getting bolder and more violent.  Their attacks are planned in the belief that their intended victims will be caught unaware and surprised.  Since an invader knows you are not expecting what he has planned for you, surprise is his best weapon.  Police departments are constantly telling people NOT TO open the door to an unannounced delivery or supposed repairman.  Yet it seems this caution is largely ignored.  Here are some of the tricks invaders like to use to fool you into letting them in:

• GAS LEAK INSPECTION:  A person dressed in a hard hat and possibly a forged ID tag will come to your door and say he has been called because of a gas leak in the neighborhood.  Do not let him in your house.  In reality, gas companies don’t check for gas leaks in your home unless you’ve called them.  Their duties only are to inspect and repair the gas lines in the ground throughout your area, not in your home.  Stop and think about it.  If there were a gas leak in your home, you would smell it.  Gas companies put special ingredients into the gas so to make sure you will smell any gas leak.
• FLOWER or SMALL PACKAGE DELIVERY: Flowers and gifts are hard to resist.  If someone tries to deliver flowers or a small package do not let them in.  They do not have to come into your house to deliver a small package.  You will know about any large package to be delivered and brought into your home since large deliveries are always planned. If the person is insistent for you to open your door, especially if there is no special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, etc. this should give you cause for concern.  Call the police immediately.
• ELECTRIC COMPANY REPAIRMAN: There in no reason for an electric company repairman to ask to come into your home.  Their responsibility is only to work on the power lines outside of your home.  If you had a problem in your home and you have called a licensed electrician, you should know the electrician you called and ask for his identification when he arrives.  If there is a question as to who he really is do not call the phone number he gives you.  Look up the company’s number in the phone book to confirm his identity.  All electricians have to be licensed and carry the proper identification with them.
• ALARM REPAIRMAN: Most people who have an alarm system have a sign posted in front of their home.  This is a warning to a would-be criminal that you are protected by a security system.  An invader might see this sign and pose as an alarm repairman here to do preventive maintenance on your system or to check its operation.  Do not believe this claim.  These calls are usually planned ahead of time and every alarm repairman is required to be licensed by his state.  They ALL have to carry a picture ID and have passed a security check by his company and state licensing commission.   Do not confirm his identity by using the number he gives you.
• Have all emergency numbers posted somewhere in your home with easy access.  Have your doctor, alarm company, spouse’s work numbers, cell phones, gas, water and electric companies’ numbers VISIBLY listed.

Home Invasion Methods

Home invasion robbers often work at night and on weekends when homes are more likely to be occupied.  The home invader will sometimes target the resident as well as the dwelling.  The selection process may include a woman living alone, a wealthy senior citizen or a handicapped person, for example.  It is not unheard of for a robber to follow you home based on the value of the car you are driving or the jewelry you are wearing.  Some home invaders might have been in your home before as a delivery person, installer or repair vendor. Home robbers rarely work alone and rely on an overwhelming physical confrontation to gain initial control and instill fear in you.  The greatest violence usually occurs during the initial sixty seconds of the confrontation and home invaders often come prepared with handcuffs, rope, duct tape, and firearms.  Some in-home robbers appear to enjoy the intimidation, domination, and violence they cause—they thrive on the power they exert over their victims.

Home invaders know that they won’t have to overcome alarm systems when the home is occupied or be worried about video cameras and silent alarms.  Unlike when they rob a retail store, home invaders expect privacy once inside your home and won’t have to deal with the police suddenly driving up or customers walking in.  Once the offenders take control of a residence they can force the occupants to open safes, locate hidden valuables, supply keys to the family car, and PIN numbers to their ATM cards.  Home invaders will try to increase their escape time by disabling the phones and sometimes will leave their victims bound or incapacitated.  It is not unheard of for robbers to load up the victim’s car with valuables and drive away without anyone in the neighborhood taking notice.

Prevention Steps

If you can delay a home invader at the point of entry then you have a chance of deterring them or have time to call the police.  A solid core door, strong locks with reinforced strike plates, and reinforced window devices will stop most forced entries.  Some homeowners build safe rooms inside their home to allow them to retreat or escape violence while giving them valuable time to call the police.

The weakest home security link is the home occupant who fails to lock doors or windows or who will open the door without question at the sound of a knock.  The best defense against home invasion is education and planning.  Parents should hold a family meeting to discuss how to answer the door when someone knocks.  Another important topic is how to act should your home or family be invaded.  Once you know how home robbers work, you can effectively prevent most occurrences.

Remember these important security steps:

• Never open the door to strangers or solicitors
• Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, and window security devices
• Lock all doors, windows, and garages at all times
• Use four three-inch screws to secure heavy duty lock strike plates in the door frame
• Use the door peephole BEFORE opening the door
• Use your porch light to help you to see clearly outside
• Never rely on a chain-latch as a barrier to partially open the door
• Call the police if the stranger acts suspicious
• Alert your neighbors to suspicious solicitors
• Hold a family meeting to discuss home security plans
• Set the home perimeter alarm at night, if you have one

Your own alertness and vigilant behavior are your best safeguards against damage

For more information on other ways to protect your home such as getting a Free Home Alarm System , check out NightWatch today!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME BURGLAR PROOF

Each year in the U.S. there are more than five million home burglaries and a surprising nine out of ten of these crimes are preventable!  You can cut your risk of being burglarized vastly by taking simple steps to make your home more difficult to enter and less enticing to would-be burglars.
Here are 10 mistakes that burglars WANT you to make—check this list to avoid making them:

1. Leave your doors unlocked.
2. Leave your windows unlocked.
3. Leave your tool shed unlocked.
4. Build a high fence/private yard. Private secluded yards allow burglars to operate in secrecy!
5. Don’t install outdoor lighting.
6. Don’t have a home security system.
7. Leave your keys in the car in the driveway/garage.
8. Use a webcam as “home surveillance system.”  This will be no help when the thief is wearing a mask—and who is available to constantly check the constant feed and from where?
9. Don‘t bolt down your safes.  There’s nothing keeping an able-bodied thief from just carrying your safe—and all its precious contents– away with him.
10. Trust in “hidden keys.”  Your hiding places aren’t going to fool burglars for a minute—after all, they steal from strangers for a living!

THREE GREAT WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO PREVENT BURGLARIES: LIGHT, TIME AND NOISE

Light

• Mount exterior lights out of reach where burglars can’t easily unscrew bulbs.

• Purchase and install motion-sensitive lights, now available at relatively low prices.

• Use a variable light timer to activate lights inside your home.

• Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows so burglars can’t hide in the shadows

Time

Make it time-consuming for a burglar to break into your home:

• Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.

• Install double-key locks in doors which contain glass.  This will keep a burglar from being able to open the door simply by breaking the glass and reaching through.  (Note: Be sure to keep the key in designated place, for escape in case of fire).

• Place additional locks on all windows and patio doors.

Noise

• Get a dog.  You don’t need a large attack dog; even a small dog creates a disturbance that burglars would prefer to avoid.

• Whenever possible, have someone care for your dogs in your home while you’re away, instead of boarding them.

• If you can afford it, install an alarm system that will alert neighbors of a burglar’s presence.  Most systems can even summon local police directly.  Don’t forget to check the Alarm Code.

Other tips to prevent break-ins:

• Think like a burglar.  “Case” your home the way a burglar would and look for easy ways to get in.

• Be sure valuables like electronic devices and artwork are not visible from the street.

• Be sure to lock up ladders and tools which could be used to break in.

• Work together with your neighbors.  Organize a Neighborhood Watch and let your neighbors know when you will be away for an extended period.

• While on vacation, have someone pick up your newspapers and mail, so that you don’t advertise your absence.

• Display your house number conspicuously and have it well illuminated.  This will help police and emergency personnel find your home quickly.

Just in Case…

Sometimes, all your efforts won’t stop a determined burglar.  It’s wise to take some precautions that will help you get your property back should a criminal successfully break into your home:

• Make a list of your belongings, being sure to keep receipts, and periodically update this list.

• Keep copies of your inventory list and receipts in a safe deposit box or with a friend.

• You may choose to photograph and/or videotape your possessions to create a record of what you own.

• Engrave your valuables with an identification or mark to deter burglary and to prove ownership should the article be stolen and recovered by the police.

• Be sure you have the right insurance coverage.  You may need to purchase additional coverage to protect special items like expensive jewelry or rare antiques.

• If you don’t own your home, consider buying a renter’s policy.  Your landlord will generally not be responsible for your possessions.

Follow simple burglar-proofing precautions consistently for your safety and peace of mind.

Check out more Home Safety articles from NightWatch Protection today!

Neighborhood Watches Are More Important Than Ever

While it’s important to have a home security and safety plan for your house and your property, it’s really worth considering your neighborhood as well. Especially, during an economic downturn, neighborhood watch groups are proving to be a first line of defense in battling property crimes. Matt Peskin, Executive Director of the National Association of Town Watch, estimates that there are about 20,000 neighborhood watch groups nationwide, and reports that there has been an increase in requests for information on starting groups from all over the country including urban, suburban and rural communities.

Martin Floss, Director of the Institute for Law and Justice at Hilbert College in Hamburg, New York, said that as the economy worsens, property crimes tend to increase. “Well-trained neighborhood watch groups can be great assets to local law enforcement,” Floss said. “If you can get people to organize, to look out for each other and to work closely with the police, that is only going to do good things,” he said.

Neighborhood Watch provides citizens with the opportunity to make their neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. All Neighborhood Watches share one basic idea: that bringing community members together to reestablish control of their neighborhoods promotes an increased quality of life and reduces the crime rate in that area. The reason for this effectiveness is rather simple: Involving community members in watch programs decreases opportunities for criminals to commit crime. Neighborhood Watch programs generally follow one or both of two approaches: opportunity reduction or social problems.

THE OPPORTUNITY REDUCTION APPROACH focuses on crime reduction through observation to restore informal control and a strong sense of neighborhood. Neighborhoods can post signs showing a Neighborhood Watch is in effect, and can make its presence known through public meetings and local advertising. These public statements help de-victimize neighborhoods and broadcast citizen-readiness to potential criminals.

THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS APPROACH typically addresses certain issues in the neighborhood that may be linked with higher levels of crime. Programs that target youth, such as athletic activities, drug programs, tutoring, etc., are often offered. The main goal of these programs is to provide young people with alternative and positive activities that not only occupy their time, but also prove them with opportunities to increase their skills and their self-image—and to become assets—not threats–to their neighborhoods.

Starting and Maintaining a Neighborhood Watch
What does it take to start and maintain an effective Neighborhood Watch Program? Here are five fundamental steps:

• MAP OUT STRATEGIES that address the problems in your area. From the beginning stages of a Neighborhood Watch effort, it is essential to involve the neighborhood and identify ways to deal with the specific local crime patterns.

• BUILD A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS. This is not always an easy hurdle to overcome since citizens are often angry with law enforcement for not doing anything about the crime problem in their community. For a Neighborhood Watch program to be successful, it is essential that officers understand the needs of a neighborhood and work as role models for neighborhood crime prevention efforts.

• ASSESS THE NEEDS OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. In many cases, law enforcement and community members do not have the same focus. For instance, law enforcement may be focusing their attention on addressing major crimes throughout the city while community members may be more concerned about local crimes such as bicycle thefts or graffiti, which are considered minor from a police standpoint. Effective Neighborhood Watch programs unite law enforcement and residents and encourage them to collectively determine what problems should be addressed and how.

• SELECT AND TRAIN AN ACTIVE BODY OF VOLUNTEERS led by organized, motivated and locally respected leaders. Without motivation and organization, volunteers may be uninspired to participate and will quit out of frustration.

• DEVELOP MEANINGFUL PROJECTS. Often, after a Neighborhood Watch has addressed its original issue, members lose interest. It is important for leaders to remain enthusiastic. Constantly create and embark upon new projects so that there is always a goal towards which the team is aspiring. Projects may include building a neighborhood playground or painting over graffiti, for instance.

Even with all of these steps in place, success does not happen overnight. Creating truly effective Neighborhood Watch programs takes patience, planning, and enthusiasm. Since studies show that once a Neighborhood Watch program deteriorates, criminals notice and quickly resume illegal activities, there is certainly motivation to strive towards success.

There are many ways in which the Neighborhood Watch concept can be put to use. One of the most important elements is to make sure that every person involved knows what to do when suspicious activity is noticed. For more details on how to start and maintain a successful Neighborhood Watch program in your area, see USAonWatch.org, a program of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the national site for neighborhood crime watch information.