FROM THE PRESIDENT

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are decorating our homes, making travel plans, and shopping to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones. With the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to become distracted, and not mindful of personal safety. The Houston Police Department’s Community Services Division provides common-sense tips that I’m pleased to suggest to you in this season of sharing.

First, while you’re out and about taking care of holiday errands, be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Also, there is safety in numbers, so shopping with a friend is a good idea. Pay for purchases by check, credit, or debit card. Carry only the cards you plan to use and a minimal amount of cash. Women should strap purses across their bodies. Wrapping the straps around arms or shoulders could cause injury from would-be purse snatchers. Men should carry wallets in front pockets.

Next, park in high-visibility areas, preferably near a streetlight in case it’s dark when you leave. Avoid parking next to vehicles with dark, tinted windows. A waiting assailant could be obscured from your view. When possible, slip purchases into plain bags, because criminals often look for “high-dollar” shopping bags. If you’re not going straight home, place purchases in the trunk. Walk briskly, confidently and directly through parking areas, and be cautious of those handing out flyers or asking questions. If you are uncomfortable, ask a security officer to escort you.

Holiday parties are also on the horizon, and if you attend, plan ahead. If you drink, don’t drive – it’s not worth the risk. Choose a sober, designated driver. Utilize mass transit or take a taxi. Spend the night where the activity is being held, and always report impaired drivers to law enforcement. The Texas Department of Transportation has set a goal of no more than 11,000 annual alcohol-related fatalities by 2005. If we work together, we can save lives and ensure the community is safe from impaired drivers, not only during December and January, but all year long.

If traveling out of town, put lights on a timer, turn on the porch light, and keep curtains and blinds closed. Don’t display gifts that can be seen from windows or doors, and after the holidays don’t advertise gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collection. Instead, destroy boxes and place in a sealed, black garbage bag. Notify a trusted neighbor or local neighborhood watch group of your absence, and stop mail and newspaper deliveries.

May your festivities be safe, and your holidays happy.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/12_01_02/page_19.html