13 Ways to... Be Safer

KEEP YOURSELF SECURE

1. Keys only, please. Don't attach those miniature savings cards for drugstore or
supermarket discounts to your key chain.
If you lose your keys, an unscrupulous person might go to the store and gain access
to your address or banking information. Potentially, someone could steal your
car or break into your home.

2. Keep your wallet and keys separate. If your handbag is stolen or lost,
someone will
not only have your address, but also have easy access into your home.

3. Don't toss that mail. Insread, destroy any mail or paperwork with
your name or personal information on it. Identity thieves often search
garbage cans for unused credit-card offers or old utility bills.

HOME, SAFE HOME

4. Buy your own locks. If you need to change the locks on your doors,
it's fine to have a professional to
do it, but don't let him supply the locks, too. Buying your own lock set ensures that you
are the only person who has keys to your front door. Also, if you lose your keys,
change your lock. Sometimes "lost" keys are really stolen.

5. Never hide your keys. Leaving keys under doormats or in mailboxes
allows anyone to get at them. Instead, entrust a neighbor or friend with
a spare set of keys.

6. Trim the hedges. Tall bushes near the front door can double as a cover for criminals.
Keep robbers at bay by trimming shrubs and bushes so they don't hide doors or windows.

7. Hide your garbage cans. Ask a neighbor or friend to bring your garbage
cans in on days when you're not home. Garbage cans left sitting
on the curb are a sure sign that no one is home during the day.

SAFETY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

8. Fire up the barbecue — not your home. Make sure your grill is at least six feet
from your house
or outdoor structures, even if you have a gas grill. If your barbecue is sitting on a
wooden deck, place a piece of slate, a grill pad or other nonflammable material
underneath it to catch falling sparks. And never leave any grill unattended.

9. Don't forget to wear a helmet. Kids aren't the only ones who need safety
helmets when riding a bicycle.
According to the Department of Transportation, 90 percent
of the people killed on bicycles in 2000 weren't wearing a
helmet — 75 percent of them were aged 15 and older. Avoid injury by wearing a
well-fitting helmet.

PREVENT HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS

10 . Steady your ladder. According to the National Safety Council, more than 16,000
Americans die each year due to injuries from falls.
Minimize your chance of falling off a ladder by using a ladder
stabilizer — a device that clips onto your ladder and keeps it from moving.

11. Replace halogen torchere lamps. I Although these lamps are inexpensive,
exposed halogen bulbs can
get extremely hot and spark a fire. If your lamp has an exposed halogen bulb,
contact the manufacturer to get a guard or shield at no cost to you.

DRIVING HOME SAFELY

12. Restrain those pets. Keep cats and dogs harnessed or in a crate while you're driving.
Animals can block your vision or jostle your arm, causing accidents. In addition,
harnessed and/or crated pets are less likely to be hurt in an emergency situation
or if you stop short.

13. Hide your belongings. Stow your
purse and packages under the seat or in the trunk. Leaving them on the
seat next to you may
tempt would-be purse snatchers or carjackers.