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The best way to manage a risk
is to see that it doesn’t happen in the first place.
Use the Belt and Suspenders Philosophy of Safety.
With both a belt and suspenders, if one system
fails, the other takes over. Keep that concept in
mind as you plan for your safety and that of your
family, friends and colleagues.
In our professional lives we
are focused on deadlines, changes and catching those
oh-so-illusive opportunities. In our personal lives,
we are all way too busy! This busyness encourages us
to be more rushed, more stressed and less aware.
Most of us are not paying enough attention to
staying safe – which is becoming a greater
challenge, as criminals become more sophisticated
and better at targeting their prey.
Rule #1: Remember that
criminals are predators!
Don’t under-estimate them. Crime is their job. Many
have prepared as thoroughly as any other
professional.
There’s a life-saving phrase
every rookie cop is taught: "Don't play it cheap."
In a general sense, this simply means don’t assume
that all situations will work out well. Like sharks,
criminals are clever and cunning. Most crimes are
planned. Trust your instincts.
Learn to think like a predator
- which leads us into……
Rule #2: Be Aware!
Where are you at risk? What situations are your
children and loved ones at risk?
In terms of white-collar
crime, where is your business at risk?
Rule #3: Your Belt and
Suspenders…Develop habits to reduce your risk?
Your goal is to think about
your risk factors and reduce them.
Keep in mind:
Many very serious crimes begin as lesser crimes. For
example, the carjacking which escalates into a
homicide; the home burglary (to steal those holiday
gifts or the family silver) which escalates into an
assault on the homeowner. This is the reason it’s
critical to practice perfect safety habits…even in
the little things.
The following suggestions are
especially critical when you are busy and
distracted.
Robbery –
“Your money or your life.” Throw your money in one
direction. You run in the other direction. Women
have a tendency to stand there and hand over the
money. Then he asks for her purse, then her
jewelry…you see where this is going. Throw the money
and run!
Run even if he has a gun. His
chances of hitting you are less than 4 in 100. The
more distance you put between yourself and the
robber, the better your chances are.
Your Safety –
Most critical: Trust Your Instincts. If a situation
doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. In most of
the assaults I investigated, the victim felt “The
Uh-Oh” Feeling, but ignored it because she didn’t
want to appear silly or paranoid or, heaven forbid,
rude. (This is particularly important for people in
the helping professions – those wonderful
individuals who tend to be caring and compassionate
rather than wary and suspicious!)
Learn to visualize “What would
I do if…?” Have a plan. For example, if you’re being
followed while driving where would you go for help?
(Answer at end of newsletter).
- Carry a personal alarm
(RealGuard is an excellent choice!)
- Carry a cell phone with the
hot button set to automatically dial “911
- Send” when you hit the “9”.
Be prepared to let the dispatcher know your location
These suggestions are by no
means an exhaustive list. But we hope these tips
will encourage you to continue to learn more about
the skills and safety information you need to stay
safe. Our goal is for you to practice these skills
until they become just one more set of good habits!
Reprinted with
permission from Nancy Hightshoe Seminars
| Safety Tip:
The RealGuard Personal Alarm Unit is
networked to the agent's vehicle as well as
RealGuard Home Alarms placed by any real
estate agent in listed homes, creating a
community network of alarms. |
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