Safety tips for living alone

Don't become, like some older people, locked in your own house. Here's some safety tips, that don't close you in!

1. Always keep your screen door locked! This way if you answer the door, there is always something between you and who ever is there. The main door can be open, but the screen door is locked, so if it's someone bad, it will take a few moments for them to get thro the screen door. In the summer I leave the main door open for airflow, but I always, always make sure the screen door is locked!!!!!! You don't have a screen door??? Get one!!!!!!!

2. Always lock the bathroom door when your in the house alone. My thought is being your safe in your most venerable spot.

3. If your afraid of some one breaking in, and you can't hear it.... Hang bells from your door nobs. Those Indian bells you can find at most $1 stores. When the door is opened, the bells will ring. I have a friend who was terrified of someone hididng in her closets.... She hung bells from every closet door, just in case. Even so, it MAKES you FEEL SAFE, and that's what's important.

4. Windows, open them around 5 to 6 inches... Just enough for air, but not enough for someone to squeeze through. And place a nail above the window and pound it into the side frame on the inside of the window... A big strong nail. So the window will only open those inches, unless you remove the nail. This way you can keep the windows open of air, but no one can remove the screen and hop in, the nail will prevent the window from opening more then the few inches you've set it at.

This is also great if you hate to lock up the house when you go out!!! You can still have air flow, leaving the windows open, but prevent break in's!

(Tip: MAKE IT A HABIT TO WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE CHECKING WINDOWS, EACH TIME YOUR AWAY, EVEN TO THE STORE. IF SOMEONE BROKE IT, IT'S BETTER TO SPOT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE THEN WHEN YOUR ALREADY INSIDE!)

5. Keep a weapon within easy reach of your bed. Don't have to be a gun, try a steak knife, or large nail file, mace, pepper spray. Somewhere you can reach it without seeming to move much. If someone sneaks up to you while your in bed, you can grab something to defend yourself with!

6. If your alone at night, LOCK YOUR BEDROOM DOOR!!!! Any barriers you put between yourself and someone breaking in, is a good barrier! You may not hear them coming in the front door, but you will hear them trying to break in your bedroom door.
And if your bathroom is in your bedroom, get a inside dead bolt on it. If you run to the bathroom to hide, you can bolt the door.

7. Have a phone in every room!!!! Including the bathroom!!!!! You can always turn the ringer off, but at least you have it if you have to call for help!!!!

8. Don't blare the TV at night. People tend to do this, and if someone outside hears the TV blaring, they have less fear of breaking in, they know you won't hear them.