Personal Safety and Security though an area not given enough focus is a knowledge that not only should be a basic life skill but also inculcated in our school’s curriculum.

I have trained more than 10,000 people in Kenya on First Aid, Fire Safety, Pediatric First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Community Emergency Response Team Training, Road Safety awareness, Sports Injuries Management, CPR & AED Training, Hostile Environment Individual Safety Training, Casualty Evacuation Techniques etc. but have realized that most of these areas do not dwell much on detailed Personal Safety and Security Training.

Good home security and being careful when you’re out will reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime. But should the worst happen, there are steps you can take to get help and make yourself safe.

Security in your home

Is your home really safe once you leave for work or school? Your home is considered a sanctuary where you should feel safe. Your home is the only environment where you have control over who can get close to you or your family. Protecting your home and family from criminal intrusion should be high on your list of priorities.

Most burglars are opportunists and they will look for unlocked doors or opened windows to get in. Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar’s selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes.

Securing your doors and windows

Two-thirds of burglars gain entry through a door and one third get in through a window. Fitting your doors and windows with good locks and alarm system can go a long way to deterring them.

Locking up

Most burglars are opportunists and they will look for unlocked doors or opened windows to get in.

• Lock all outside doors and check all your windows are locked. Even if you’re just popping out for a few minutes, lock up fully before you go.

• If you have a carer or relative with their own key, make sure they securely fasten your door on their way out.

• Keep your ladder and garden tools locked away.

• Keep your keys, including your car keys, in a safe place. Don’t leave them in the locks or lying around the house. Remember, the first places a burglar will look for your door key is under the doormat, in a flower-pot or on a table, cupboard or drawer.

• Don’t leave your spare door keys outside. Even if they are hidden, professional burglars will easily be able to locate hiding spots.

• Keep valuables out of sight.

• Leave a front room light on if you go out for the evening and consider leaving the radio on. Draw the curtains, leaving a gap at the top so the light can be seen from outside.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND CREATE GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

Good neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbors on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust. Good neighbors will watch out for your home or apartment when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away. Between them, good neighbors can see to it that normal services continue in your absence by having a watch on your nanny or house manager. The Nyumba Kumi Initiative in Kenya necessitates participation of your neighbors in taking care of your surrounding. Good neighbors can pick up your kid from school, lock your gate if left open, and can inspect the outside or inside of your home periodically to see that all is well. Good neighbors will occasionally park in your driveway to give the appearance of occupancy while you are on vacation.

Allowing a neighbor to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside the door. Experienced burglars know to look for hidden keys in planter boxes, under doormats, and above the ledge. Requiring a service vendor to see your neighbor to retrieve and return your house key will send the message that someone is watching. This neighborhood watch technique sets up what is called territoriality which means that your neighbors will take ownership and responsibility for what occurs in your mini-neighborhood. This concept works in both single family homes communities and on apartment properties. This practice helps deter burglaries and other crimes in a big way. Of course for this to work, you must reciprocate and offer the same services.

• Get to know all your adjacent neighbors

• Invite them into your home and establish trust

• Agree to watch out for each other’s home

• Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality

• While on vacation allow your neighbour to get into your compound once in a while to check what is happening.

• Offer to occasionally park your car in their driveway

• Return the favor and communicate often

Safety When Out Walking

• Stick to well-lit, busy roads and plan your route before you go.

• Keep your bag close to you and don’t put everything in it. For example, keep your keys and mobile in an inside coat pocket.

• Keep valuables out of sight.

• Don’t carry large sums of money.

• Before you use a cash machine, check that no one’s hovering behind you.

• If you use a wheelchair, keep your belongings beside you rather than hanging them on the back of the chair.

• If you think you’re being followed, keep moving and head for a busy area. Tell someone what’s happening or call the police.

• Keep your bag in sight all the time

• Consider carrying a personal alarm.

• If someone tries to snatch your bag, it may be best to let them take it rather than trying to fight back.

• If you’re robbed in the street, try to take the contact details of any witnesses and note down as much detail about the thief as possible.

• Change your locks if any keys have been taken.

• Cancel any stolen bank cards – the phone number should be on your bank statement or your bank’s cash point.

Safety When On Public Means

• Try to wait for public transport in busy, well-lit areas.

• Sit near other people or close to the driver or conductor.

• If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, change places.

Safety When Using a Taxi

• Keep the number of a reliable, licensed taxi company handy.

• Find a company you trust and feel comfortable with and use it each time.

• Check the taxi that arrives is the one you ordered before you get in.

• Ask the driver to tell you the name of the person who booked it.

• If you feel uneasy, ask to be dropped off somewhere you know that is busy and well-lit.

Safety When Driving

• Make sure you have enough petrol.

• Plan your route in advance and tell somebody where you are going.

• Park in busy well-lit areas. If you park in the daylight, think about what the area will be like after dark.

• Don’t leave anything on display, lock any items in the boot.

• While driving, keep valuables out of sight.

• Think about what you would do if you broke down. Do you carry towing rope, booster cables etc?  If it’s cold, it’s a good idea to have a blanket and some warm clothes in case you have to wait for help.

• Consider joining a roadside assistance scheme eg AA Kenya. Prices vary, so shop around and check price comparison websites to get the best deal.

Safety In case of Car Jacking

Carjacking of parked vehicles depends on the car owner being inattentive to their surroundings. Carjackers, like street robbers, prefer the element of surprise. Most victims say they never saw the carjacker until they appeared at their car door. To reduce your risk of being carjacked, I have listed some common sense steps below:

• Always park in well-lighted areas, if you plan to arrive/leave after dark

• Don’t park in isolated or visually obstructed areas near walls or heavy foliage

• Use valet parking or an attended garage, if you’re a woman driving alone

• As you walk to your car be alert to suspicious persons sitting in cars

• Ask for a security escort if you are alone at a shopping center

• Watch out for young males loitering in the area (handing out flyers, etc)

• If someone tries to approach, change direction or run to a busy store

• Follow your instincts if they tell you to walk/run away to a busy place

• As you approach your vehicle, look under, around, and inside your car

• If safe, open the door, enter quickly, and lock the doors

• Don’t be a target by turning your back while loading packages into the car

• Make it your habit to always start your car and drive away immediately

• Teach and practice with your children to enter and exit the car quickly

• In the city, always drive with your car doors locked and windows rolled up

• When stopped in traffic, leave room ahead to maneuver and escape, if necessary

• If you are bumped in traffic, by young males, be suspicious of the accident

• Beware of the Good Samaritan who offers to repair your car or a flat tire. It’s okay to get help, just be alert

• Wave to follow, and drive to a gas station or busy place before getting out

• If you are ever confronted by an armed carjacker don’t resist

• Give up your keys or money if demanded without resistance

• Don’t argue, fight or chase the robber. You can be seriously injured

• Never agree to be kidnapped. Drop the cars keys and run and scream for help

• If you are forced to drive, consider crashing your car near a busy intersection to attract attention so bystanders can come to your aid and call the police

• Call the police immediately to report the crime and provide detailed information

Mobile Phone Security

If you have a mobile phone, it’s worth taking steps to prevent it from being stolen and to protect yourself if it does get stolen.

Ask your mobile phone provider for your registration number (IMEI). Or get it by typing in *#06# on your mobile phone keypad – your IMEI number will appear on your screen.

Store this and your mobile phone number in a safe place so that you can give the details to your network and the police if your phone is stolen.

• Avoid using your phone in crowded places where you feel unsafe.

• Don’t leave it unattended.

• If you phone is stolen, report it to your network and the police as soon as possible so that it can be cancelled.

Fire Safety at Home.

• Install and test your smoke alarms once a month. Set a date in your calendar to change the batteries at least once every year.
• Make sure everyone who lives in the house know how to get out in case of an emergency. Sit down as a group and highlights all the ways you can get out of the house (including windows).
• Always have a fire extinguisher or blanket in the kitchen and make sure that family members know how to use it correctly.
• Keep matches and lighters out of sight and out of reach from children.
• Be cautious with candles, oil lamps and other decorations. If possible cover the flame, and prevent children and pets from being able to easily reach the flame. If in doubt, put it out.
• Keep flammable materials (such as drying washing or curtains) a safe distance away from portable heaters.
• Stop, cover, drop and roll’. If a person’s clothes catch alight get them to drop to the floor and roll around on the ground to help put the fire out. In a house fire the best air you can breath is near to the floor, so get down as low as possible and crawl to the nearest safe exit.
• Make sure you install deadlocks that can be opened without keys from the inside. If a door does require a key to open it then make sure the key is close to hand (but not in plain sight to attract intruders).
• More than 40% of house fires start in the kitchen. If you are cooking food on the range then don’t leave it unattended and turn the burners off if you are leaving the room.
• Never try to put out a burning fat or oil fire with water, as it will cause a dangerous explosive reaction. Use a fire blanket or put a lid on the burning pan.
• Check heating appliances on a regular basis and switch them off when they are not being used.
• Ensure the electrician doing installations and repair in your house is licensed and competent.
• Don’t overuse extension cables and avoid overloading power points with too many appliances.

EXTRA EMERGENCY HOTLINES

1. Anti-terrorism police 0202724406

2. NDOC +(254) 20 22102366 +(254) 22114445

3. National Police Service 999/112, 342 305/ 310225

4. Nairobi County Fire Services +(254) 20 222 2181/3 , (+254) 20 240 1025

5. Kenya Redcross 1199, +(254) 700 395 395, +(254) 20 395 0395, +(254) 728 602 502

6. St John Ambulance +(254) 20 221 0000, +(254) 20 224 444 0721225285

7. G4S Fire and Rescue Services +(254) 20 698 2999, +(254) 20 698 2307, +(254) 723 286 585, +(254) 733 900 030, +(254) 717 712 712,

8. KPLC +(254) 20 375 4000

9. NDMU +(254) 20 331 022

10. AAR +(254) 20271 5310, +(254) 725 225 225

11. KENHA 0202211999

12. Amani Counselling Center 0722626590/0733263870

13. KNH 0202726300

14. Nairobi Hospital 0202845000

Disclaimer

Note, the information given is not meant for training purposes nor should not be quoted or referred to as it is just my personal opinion and perspective.

For a comprehensive awareness training or sensitization sessions, kindly contact www.makinikaafrika.org or email info@makinikaafrika.org . For free Safety Videos, log in to https://www.facebook.com/makinikaafrika.org/

Safety starts with me/you/us.