Safety for the Ones We Love

June CISM Newsletter

We all have heard the saying "information is power." Our education and learning really never stop. We all play several roles in our lives, from employee to manager, spouse to significant other, parent to sibling, adult child and on and on. And with these roles come the responsibility to do everything in our power to provide safety for the ones we love as well as ourselves.

It is a given that we cannot take care of others if we don't take of ourselves. So let's look at some tips to enhance our safety and well-being:

Personal Safety

• Always be observant of your surroundings. We hear this over and over in our in-service trainings for our work. Should it apply to anywhere we are? What about shopping malls, parking lots and other public spaces? Think there can be safety risks? You bet!
  
• Trust your gut when you feel a sense of uneasiness.
  
• Always look for an exit route.
  
• Be aware of what information can be gained by looking inside your car, such as pieces of mail with your name and address.
• Avoid sharing personal information within earshot of strangers – inmates inside and civilians outside. Think about your cell phone conversations in public.

Identify Safety

• Never provide personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number in response to a telephone call.
  
• Don’t leave mail in mailbox for extended time.
  
• Shred any personal/financial documents not needed.
  
• When utilizing ATM or debit card, guard against someone seeing your PIN number.
  
• Don't publish your date of birth, mother's maiden name, pet's name or other personal identifiers on social media Web sites where they can be utilized at later time.
  

Child Safety

• Teach your child about "stranger danger." They need to understand the difference between good and bad strangers.
  
• If they are approached by a bad stranger who tries to lure or pull them away, teach them to get the attention of other adults in the area.
  
• Ensure they know their name, address and telephone number.
  
• Teach them the "buddy system" by avoiding walking anywhere alone and staying within well-lit, highly visible areas.
  
• Be sure they know to never approach a stranger in a vehicle.
  
• They should know that if someone grabs them, they should scream, "This is not my mom or dad!"
• Ensure they carry a cell phone or change to use a pay phone.
  
• If your child utilizes the internet, BE INVOLVED. Teach them about on-line predators.
  
• If they utilize chat rooms, be aware which ones and with whom they communicate.
  
• Instruct them to never go to a chat room's private area.
  
• Keep computers in common area of house where the monitor's screen is visible.
  

These are just a few tips to keep in mind for safety awareness. When we are safe and the ONES we love are safe, we have taken a big step in preventing the potential for a major stress escalation. So take a minute to assess yourself and the ones you love. Are you doing everything you can to provide safety? And for all of the DADs, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

To see previous CISM articles, click on the links below.

Stress - Don't Let It Manage You!
The Impact Listening has on Our Lives
Relationship Wellness
Setting Goals and Priorities
Foundation of Family

By Angel Martin, MSW, GSW senior manager, Critical Incident Stress Management
The mission of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program is expanding to include topics that may be of interest to staff dealing with stress in everyday life, and not just at work.