Any safety tips for a woman living alone with her children?

Question

Children are 11 & 14 and both are girls. I have an home security system already. Any thing else I can do to keep me and my girls safe? Just want to cover all bases.

Answer 1

Here are few suggestions:

Always leave a light on
Have a baseball bat or something similar readily available by your bed and entrance doors.
Make sure you keep your vehicle locked at all times if it is outdoors.
Make sure all the windows are locked.
Don't advertise your phone number in the phone book so that it appears as a single person. For instance, if your name is Suzi Smith, don't list it as Suzi Smith. List it as S. Smith.
Get a dog.
Have flashlights available.
Never answer your door after dark unless it is someone you know.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Good luck!

Answer 2

* Make sure all windows and doors are locked. If they are @ home alone, make sure they know 2 make sure everything's locked when ur gone

* At 16 yrs. old (I'm 17 now), my mom bought me a small can of pepper spray. I know it sounds over-the-top, but it's really good to keep privately in ur purse or on ur keychain. Just in case

*For u mom- when ur driving at night and about 2 get in or out of the car, make sure u have ur key in ur hand already. So many predators will jump on someone who's not prepared. Get inside the house as quickly as possible and always look around- be aware of ur surroundings. Tell this 2 ur girls also. Also, check the backseat of ur car b4 u get in. Sounds like an urban myth, but it's very true. Someone could have easily got into ur car when ur not aware.

*For ur girls- make sure they never answer the door for anyone that u don't know. If it's the mailman or UPS, make sure u can see their truck in the background. Don't open the door all the way when accepting packages. If it's a salesman/woman- don't answer the door!

That's about all I can think of. My mom taught me all of this and since I'm an only child, u can imagine how overprotected I am, haha. Good blessings!

Answer 3

Taking a self defense course is very helpful. I learned a lot when I took one as my physical education requirement in college.
A dog is also helpful because it can alert you and can scare would-be intruders away.
When my sister and I are alone with our kids we always sleep with a phone nearby. I guess we are both a bit paranoid because we also sleep with the cell phone within reach; just in case the home phone will not work for any reason.
Teach your children stranger awareness. Be sure that they know not to tell strangers that they are home alone when someone phones, and not to open the door to strangers.
A friend of mine puts a door alarm (it is like a door stopper) in front of doors when her husband goes out of town. They are not expensive and can be purchased at any large retail store (Target, KMart, Wal-Mart, etc.). If your alarm system does not go to the second floor you can also get window alarms that are about $5.00 and include batteries. They work well; we have a few of them.
I saw a gun mentioned; personally I do not want a gun in my home. You have many options without a gun if you choose against one.

Answer 4

make sure you use you security system! some people have them but never set them! carry pepper spray with you in your purse at all times, especially if you are walking around a city. teaching your little girls how to throw a decent punch, or how to protect themselves would be a good idea too. stand outside your house with common items like car keys, a cell phone, etc. try to break into your own house. if you can break in, do a once over and check out the things you could improve to better safen your home! if you have a basement, i suggest putting a bar over any windows, or even near a sliding glass door. they do help! keep your cell phone charged and near you at all times. if ever something happens where you need to call for help immediately, having a cell phone with a full battery is beneficial. make sure your girls and you know where to go it someone did break into your house. have a trusted neighbor who you can go to in case your house has been broken into. i have an aluminum softball bat under my bed... i will probably never need to use it, but it is there just in case. always remember when thinking about security, better safe than sorry. investing in some precaution will benefit greatly in the long run! keeping your house well lit at all time isn't a bad idea either. when you arent home, put a few lights on in your house so a burglar will not think to break in! keeping valuables like birth certificates, information about your credit cards, social security information, etc. in a fire safe lock box in your closet or somewhere a robber wouldn't think to look also helps. password protect your computers so that no one could log on and steal information about you, or even your identity! remember that safety isn't only a physical matter, but your security can also be violated when people you don't want get information about you!

Answer 5

I've got prickly plants planted under my windows - makes it less likely for burglars to want to hang out there. I also have a dog whose bark is bigger than his bite. My house is well lit on the outside, and I also have a security system. You should have a phone near your bedside, so if the alarm does go off, you can shut yourself (and your kids) into a room, and call for help. I've also heard of people leaving out a big dog collar, or a dirty pair of men's work boots to give people the idea that there was a man in the house. Make sure your daughters (and yours) windows are completely covered at night, so perverts can't peek in. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

SAFETY TIPS FOR LIVING ALONE
Health Authorities

1. Talk to your doctor about falls prevention. Have regular vision and hearing tests.
2. Take prescription and over-the-counter medications correctly. Keep a medication record and review it regularly with your doctor. Tell your doctor if your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.
3. Check with your local health department or emergency medical services department to see if they offer free home safety inspections.
Lighting

4. Install proper lighting throughout your home.
5. Pay special attention to stairs (with a light switch at both ends) and bathrooms.
6. Use night-lights in the hallways, particularly between the bedroom and bathroom.
7. Keep stairways, halls and walkways well lighted and install nightlights.
Loose rugs and objects

8. Keep lamp and phone cords out of open areas on the floor.
9. Keep large rugs flat by tacking down edges with double-sided tape.
10. Eliminate small throw rugs that may slip.
11. Don’t let newspapers or magazines collect on the floor or stairs
12. Wear proper footwear. Shoes, boots and slippers should provide good support and have good soles. Avoid loose slippers or stocking feet.
Stairways and steps

13. Be sure to have at least one handrail (preferably two) on all stairways and steps in your home. Ensure handrails are securely attached and in good repair.
14. Check that stairs are in good repair and are slip resistant. If any stairs are broken, have them fixed promptly. Add a strip along the edge of each step in a contrasting color to make it easier to see or use reflective anti-skid treads.
15. Take the same precautions for outdoor steps. In addition, arrange to have leaves, snow and ice removed on a regular basis. Use salt or sand throughout the winter months.
Bathroom

16. Use a rubber mat along the full length in your bathtub, and a non-skid bath mat beside the tub.
17. Install grab bars in all bathrooms, by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower. It's a good idea to have two bars in the tub, one on a side wall and one on the back wall. If you need extra support, consider a bath seat or bench so you can have a shower sitting down.
Assistance walking

18. Use walking aids and other safety devices for extra safety. If you use a cane or a walker, check that it is the right height and that the rubber tips are not worn. Install stainless steel prongs (ice picks) on canes for safe walking in the winter.

Answer 7

In this world today sweety no ones 100% safe, I think about that all the time, wow what a mess this world has become.. Do your best to teach your girls right from wrong and hope for the best, as for your house well you did the best, do you have dead bolts on the doors, locks on windows? Having a hard time with words here I'm talking to a writter and I'm not that good... Your friend from Tennessee...ROB.. Good Luck..

Answer 8

Yikes, DON'T get a gun! You sound like you are a bit edgy and concerned about safety, you'd probably end up shooting one of your kids by mistake if she got up to get a drink of water in the middle of the night. A home security system, and locking your doors are good ideas. Learn self defense, and teach your kids to be smart- i.e. don't get involved with drugs, don't give out personal information to people you meet on line.

Answer 9

Don't answer the door unless you know who it is. Don't give out personal info. Make sure your daughters know how to keep safe at home or away from home. Always keep doors and windows locked. Get a big dog if that's an option.

Answer 10

Keep the doors locked and the curtains closed at night. That's about all you can do, since you already have a security system.