Happy New Year’s! Let’s make a wager to make 2013 a safe year, double or nothing!
Stakes were high in 2012 and odds are 2013 will follow suit. Before the confetti could settle the race was on—the political race, that is. We started 2012 naming Mitt Romney as the new Republican candidate to run against President Obama. Throughout the next 12 months we were tested—tested by our faith, our government, our country, and ourselves. We experienced tragedies in Aurora, CO, and Newtown, CT. We witnessed politics from Obama’s re-election to CIA scandals and a fiscal cliff. We united over victories and outstanding feats from our USA Olympic teams, cried together over the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and treated ourselves to iPhone 5s and Kindle Fires.
With everything we can’t control, let’s take a chance and make a 2013 resolution we can manage—personal safety.
Practice fire drills and emergency routes at home, work, and school. Where’s the nearest exit (from your desk, the bathroom, the cafeteria, etc.)? Where do you meet outside? Make sure your kids know what to do if they’re separated from their class in an emergency. In a natural disaster, know where you’ll be relocated, or which family members or friends have room for you.
Get involved in your or your child’s school. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date including cell and work numbers, emergency contacts, and addresses. Know the teachers, principals, and staff. In case of an emergency, the more you know and pre-plan the better.
Join Neighborhood Watch. Know the people in your community, their cars, and their pets. A simple knock at the door a line such as “I’m locked out of my house,” “I think I hit your neighbor’s cat,” or “My car won’t start” can be fatal. Knowing who and what is around can keep you and your family safe. If you don’t have a Neighborhood Watch, start one!
What you type can and will be held against you. Use the internet and technology responsibly. We use the internet for everything now—dating, school, shopping, listening to music, getting the news, and keeping in touch with friends and family. Whether it’s your latest gossip, credit card number, or profile saying you enjoy long, romantic walks on the beach, once it’s there, it’s there.
Odds are stacked against us that 2013 will be hardship-free. Let’s do our part and make a resolution to be the solution.
To learn more about personal safety, Neighborhood Watch, and how you can get involved in your community, visit www.ncpc.org, www.mcgruff.org, and www.celebratesafecommuntities.org.
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