Guns and Safety

Guns are a controversial subject, but that doesn't change the fact that everyone needs to know about guns to be safe if they are around. You can be certain that even if you don't have a gun someone you know probably does.

Whether you have one or not and no matter what your opinions are regarding guns, they must be acknowledged as representing a potential danger to you and others whenever they are present.

Guns and Kids

The fact its that guns are kept in many households. That's why it's important to educate kids of all ages about the potential dangers of guns, and what to do if they find one.

If you keep a gun in your house and kids are around, it's vital to keep it out of sight and out of reach of kids. It's best that the gun should be kept locked and unloaded, and the ammunition should be stored separately.


Guns and Pretend Play

Allowing kids to play with toy guns is a personal decision, as is how to respond to a child's pretend shooting action during the course of play. Remember that even if you don't allow your kids to have a toy gun, their friends may have them. So spend time to teach your kids that real guns — unlike toy guns or those shown on TV, in movies, or in video games — can seriously injure or even kill a person.


Talking to Kids About Gun Safety

Teach kids of all ages to follow these rules if they come into contact with a gun:

• Stop what they're doing.
• Do not touch the gun.
• Leave the area where the gun is.
• Tell an adult right away.

It's particularly important for kids to leave the area to avoid being harmed by someone who doesn't know not to touch the gun. A child as young as 3 years old has the finger strength to pull a trigger. It's also important for kids to tell an adult right away about a gun that has been found.


If You Have a Gun in Your Home

Many kids are raised with guns in the home, particularly if hunting is a part of family recreation. If you keep a gun in the home, it's your job to teach your kids to act in a safe and responsible way around it. To ensure the safest environment for your family:

• Take the ammunition out of the gun.
• Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of kids. Hiding the gun is not enough.
• Lock the ammunition and store it apart from the gun.
• Store the keys for the gun and the ammunition in a different area from where you store household keys. Keep the keys out of reach of children.
• Lock up gun-cleaning supplies, which are often poisonous.
• When handling or cleaning a gun, adults should never leave the gun unattended.

Safe and Responsible Gun Handling

If you have a gun, each and every time you take a gun out of storage or handle a gun you should ALWAYS follow these four rules for safe gun handling. You want these rules to be natural habits; holding yourself to them each and every time helps make them so.

1. Treat every firearm as if it's loaded.
Even if you're absolutely certain a gun is unloaded don't change the way you handle it. ALWAYS assume the gun is loaded and ready to fire.

2. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Accept the mindset to always keep your gun pointed in a direction that would safely stop the bullet should it discharge. If you will be cleaning or handling your unloaded gun at home, find a safe direction ahead of time, because bullets penetrate floors, ceilings, windows, roofs, and walls. Good options miught be masonry, a full bookcase, a full freezer, or downward if you're on the ground floor. Best might be a five gallon bucket full of sand.

3. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
You are responsible for the entire path of every bullet you fire from your gun. If you hit your intended target, the bullet may still continue through.

4. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
This means to keep your trigger finger straight, and to raise it up to rest flat alongside the body of your gun. Whenever you are not on target and ready to fire, your trigger finger should always be outside the trigger guard and resting straight and flat alongside the body of your gun.

Robbers Are Equal Opportunity Criminals

From the National Crime Prevention Council this is info reproduced from the brochure Robbers Are Equal Opportunity Criminals.

Most of these tips may seem like common sense. But if you follow them you may ward off an encounter with a robber. If you are unfortunate enough to be accosted, stay calm and comply with the robber's instructions. In most situations it isn't worth it to fight back. Then, when he or she is gone and you are safe, call 9-1-1 as soon as you are able.

It isn't that robbers are around every corner. But they do take us by surprise and they can target anyone. The FBI defines robbery as "the taking or attempting to take anything of value under confrontational circumstances from the control, custody, or care of another person by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear of immediate harm."

That's a pretty grim definition. However, there are lots of things you can do to reduce your chances of being robbed and there are ways to react while being robbed and after. The most important thing to do in all circumstances is give the robber what he or she wants: don't fight back and risk your life. It simply isn't worth it.

Personal Safety Tips for the Street

• Don't walk alone late at night or during early morning hours. Instead, walk in groups whenever you can—there is safety in numbers.
• Let a family member or friend know your destination and your estimated time of arrival or return. That way, the law enforcement can be notified as quickly as possible if there is a problem.
• Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible. Avoid alleys, vacant lots, wooded areas, and shortcuts or secluded areas.
• Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement.
• Don't talk to strangers.
• If you are wearing headphones, don't turn up the volume so high that you cannot hear outside noises.
• Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.
• If someone or something makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave.
• Don't display expensive jewelry in public.
• Know the neighborhoods where you live and work.
• Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, and restaurants or stores that are open late.

Personal Safety Tips for Home

• Don't allow strangers into your home, even if they are hurt or say they need help. Keep the door locked and call the police for them.
• Don't advertise that you live alone.
• Don't be afraid to call law enforcement to investigate suspicious circumstances, unusual people, or strange noises. It's better to be safe than sorry.
• When you move into a new home or apartment, change the locks if you own it or ask the manager to change them if you rent.
• Don't leave notes on your door announcing when you will be home.
• Keep outdoor lights on at night.
• If you arrive home and your door is open or things appear to be out of place, don't go in. Leave and call 9-1-1.
• If you are accosted by a robber, follow his or her instructions.
• Don't argue or attempt to fight with your assailant.

Automobile Safety

• Always park in well-lighted areas.
• Always be alert to people just sitting in their cars.
• If you are alone at a shopping mall, ask a security guard to escort you to your car.
• After checking around your car, enter it quickly and lock all the doors. Teach your children to enter and exit the car quickly.
• If your car is bumped in traffic, don't get out of the car. Use your cell phone to call 911. Many times carjackers use this technique so that they can overpower you and steal your car.
• The last thing you should do is argue or fight with a carjacker. You could be seriously injured or killed. It isn't worth it.
• Never agree to be kidnapped. Either drop the keys or throw them away from the car as far as you can. When the carjacker goes for the keys, get out of there as fast as you can.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Tips

• Try to use machines you are familiar with and try to use terminals located inside banks rather than independent terminals.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Look around before conducting a transaction. If you see anyone or anything suspicious, cancel your transaction and go to another ATM.
• If you must use an ATM after hours, make sure it's well-lighted.
• Never walk away from an ATM with cash still in hand. If you are going to count your money, do so at a secure spot.

Summer Food Safety

Outdoor gatherings in summer months have added challenges to keeping food safe. High outdoor temperatures make it harder to prevent food-borne illness.

• Devise and use a way to wash hands. Wipes are good, but soap, water, and clean toweling are better.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Don't set cold foods out in direct sunlight. Keep grilled food warm by placing it to the side of the grill until serving.
• Food should not be left out for long periods of time. Use covers to prevent insects from getting on food. To avoid having too many leftovers sitting out, cook items such as hot dogs, brats, chicken, and other grilled foods in batches.
• Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separated from prepared and cooked foods. Most importantly keep it separate from fruits and vegetables that are going to be served raw.