It’s January, which means many of us have made resolutions about any number of things we might want to do or change this year. The usual ones that come to mind are losing weight, traveling more, taking a vacation, etc.… This year, however, we think a great resolution is to be safer.
Whether it’s home safety, making sure you’re secure when you’re online or being even more cautious when you’re driving, it’s important to maintain certain standards that will help protect you. Following are some safety measures to consider:
Home Safety
- If you’re away from home, make sure it’s not obvious. Use home automation to enable lights at particular times (and change those times up), install outdoor lighting (on timers), and stop your newspaper service (so they aren’t left on the lawn all week), as well as your mail.
- Make sure you schedule deliveries when you know you will be home or have packages delivered to your work place.
- To help prevent would-be thieves from breaking in under the cover of bushes or trees, keep them trimmed away from windows and doors.
- Don’t hide keys in the normal places many people use, like under the mat, over the door or in a planter. Instead, think about using a deadbolt with a keypad, which would eliminate the need for extra key.
Online Safety
- Change your passwords and make sure you don’t use the same password for every account. NEVER use 1234 or ABCD – always use strong passwords that combine lowercase and uppercase letters with numbers and symbols.
- Before shopping or banking online, make sure that the website is SSL-encrypted…look for a small lock icon near the address bar and you’ll know it’s safe.
- Be careful about sharing any personal information on social media. In particular, never post about being out of town.
- Set privacy and security settings on websites to limit the sharing of your information.
Driving Safety
- NEVER drink and drive. If you have been drinking, turn your keys over to a friend or call a family member or friend to pick you up. You can also call a cab or Uber.
- Never text while behind the wheel. Put your phone in the back seat in your purse or jacket so you won’t be tempted.
- Whatever your destination, leave a few minutes early so you won’t need to rush.
- Don’t eat and drive or worry about finding the right station on the radio while the vehicle is in motion. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
- Obey the speed limit. Did you realize that driving just 10 miles over the limit can increase your accident risk by 50 percent?
Taking these simple precautions can make you considerably safer and they can also reduce stress and worry too. And who doesn’t want less of that? Here’s to a safe and happy 2018 for all of you!
