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Travel
Safety Tips For Women Travelers
Choosing
a Hotel
Smaller
is smarter: you want the staff to be familiar
with guests and with you. The smaller the lobby, the more noticeable
the loiterers.
Aim
for a well-trafficked street (neighborhood
restaurants and late-night stores mean traffic, corporate offices mean
darkness). Affluent residential areas tend to have more reliable
transportation and fewer threatening street people.
If
you're still concerned about the area, ask a female
employee--not one in reservations--whether she walks around at night.
(Call the restaurant, for instance.)
A
reception desk near the entrance, and/or the
elevators, is more likely to deter non-guest undesirables.There should
be privacy for guests checking in: no one should be able to overhear a
name, room number, or other personal information.
Room
numbers should be written on the key envelope, not
mentioned aloud or inscribed on the key--this way, anyone finding your
key won't have access to your room.
Look
for a parking lot that is well lit and secure. Find
out if there's valet parking . . . and if it will be available when you
need it. Use it, even it costs a little bit more.
Does
the hotel gym have an attendant? Being alone and
semi-dressed in the basement is not good for your health.The hotel
should have sufficient staff to walk you to your room late at night.
Inquire when you book and you'll get an idea of how woman-friendly the
hotel is.
Elderly
Man Burglarized By Gas Company Criminal
Martin
was an 80 year old citizen of North Dakota. He had relatives who lived
far away and were only able to visit periodically. Although he is up in
age, he still does all the things he needs to live from day to day.
With a little help from his neighbors he gets along just fine. He is
living where he wants to live, and around people who check on him from
time to time.
The weather was brutal in the winter months so he did not get out much.
There is too much uncertainty for a man of his age to be wandering
around outside. One day while sitting at home alone, there came a knock
at the door. Its was a fairly young guy with a clean demeanor.
He said he was from the Gas Company and was sent out to warn residents
of a gas leak from the construction around the street. Martin was well
aware of the construction around the street so he did not think twice
and opened the door. At that moment, the guy forced his way inside,
shoving Martin back
He locked the door and proceeded to search the house. He demanded money
and jewelry. Martin was a tough old man and volunteered very little to
the attacker. Martin did not see a weapon, so he tried to attract help
by talking really loud.
When he got close enough to the nightstand he turned the TV on, which
had the volume set at its highest level. This was normal for him. If
the volume went down the neighbors knew he was all right. If it stayed
high they knew he needed help and would rush over.
The intruder tried to turn it off, but could not operate the remote.
The burglar was getting frustrated and afraid of being caught. He
continued fumbling trying to turn the TV off . Fearing that the
neighbors would soon come to investigate. The Burglar left the house
and ran down the street.
The elderly have always been victims and targets of crime. Criminals
view them as good targets because the are usually on fixed incomes and
settled into a routine. They sometimes live alone, which makes them
more of a target. They grew up in simpler times so they are trusting.
They expect neighbors to be helpful to them, as they would be to them.
So it is not surprising that they fall victim to the con artists and
thugs of today. Elderly people living alone are especially vulnerable.
They must learn to defend themselves, but many of them fear guns. Lots
of them have dogs but find it difficult to do all the things necessary
to take care of a pet. They have a limited amount of money and may not
be able to afford professional pet care.
There are panic buttons for the elderly, but again they cost money to
maintain. Being aware and double checking strangers will keep elderly
people out of trouble. Electronic bill payments and other functions of
the computer can be lifesavers. They keep elderly people from making
unnecessary trips to businesses.
If you are elderly and living alone, you can place self defense devices
through out your home. Only you should know where they are. They might
include noisemakers, panic buttons if economically feasible, and
others. You can also have someone that you trust call you periodically.
You can give them a word that if used will alert them to call
for help. This is call a duress word. It is a system used in many
prominent businesses and the military to identify hostage situations or
other trouble. The key to its effectiveness is secrecy.
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