OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASafety is the most important factor when making decisions that affect others. As an employer, you should be 100% dedicated to keeping your employees as safe as possible. This is the 21st century: there are threats all around us. Many will be fortunate enough to never experience a safety or security breach, while others will not be as lucky. Here are some tips that can help you stay safe in a world full of various dangers.

Walk with Confidence

When you are in public, especially in areas with higher crime rates – walk with a purpose. Walk with your chin up and your chest out. This displays confidence, especially when combined with a moderately quick stride. This act of body language works to deter potential criminals. For your own safety in rough neighborhoods, always walk with a purpose.

Be Suspicious of Strangers

Parents have always advised their children to never talk with strangers. They make a good point about personal safety! Leaking one piece of sensitive information can be destructive. Also, the physical risks are not worth taking. Fact of the matter is, a stranger is an unknown person who could have any background. The person could be a genuinely nice human, but you don’t know that. Never assume a stranger is a good person. Always be cautious of where you are and who you talk to.

Be Aware of your Surroundings

One of the most important safety tips is to always be aware of your surroundings. It is important to stay focused when traveling to potentially dangerous neighborhoods. Do not walk with headphones on because it inhibits your ability to hear the sounds of your surrounding vicinity. This can be the difference between hearing somebody running up behind you to hurt or rob you or being able to safety walk down a street.

Protect Yourself

When walking in suspicious areas, if you do not feel comfortable, then be prepared to react to potential threats accordingly. If you do not have a personal knife or firearm for self-defense, then keep car keys firmly in your hand. Personal safety is most important. However, when using personal weapons, be cautious. It is not worth losing your life over a wallet.

Be Careful on the Internet

Internet safety is extremely important nowadays. With technology continuing to advance, the risk of having personal information compromised over the internet is increasing. Hackers are all over the internet just waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Internet safety should be a mandatory class that all students in middle school are required to take.

Beware of Phishers

Phishing is the act of luring a person into giving up personal information by posing as a legitimate company. Usually this comes in the form of an email. Phishing can also be found on social media or other sites in the form of an advertisement or pop-up alert. Basically, if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is. Avoid suspicious emails and advertisement pop-ups.