As with any violent crime, there’s not always something you can do to guarantee that you will not be a victim of sexual violence. But there are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of being assaulted.
The first is the easiest; trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe in any situation, go with your gut. If you see something suspicious, contact the police immediately. Avoid walking or jogging alone in secluded areas when possible. When approaching your car, have your keys in hand and lock the car doors before you even start the car. When out at a club or bar, do not leave your drink unattended. Drugs such as “date rape” types have been known to be passed this way. If you suspect you or a friend has been drugged, call 911, and be explicit with doctors so they'll give you the right tests (you'll need a urine test and possibly others). The National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) can often send an advocate to the hospital to help you through the whole process.
Be ware of your surroundings at all times and do not let yourself become isolated with someone you do not know or trust. By going out with a friend you have someone to watch out for you and who you can in turn watch out for.
If you are forced to defend yourself, remember your best weapon is your voice! SCREAM! Scream for help! Scream Fire! Scream Rape! Strike at vulnerable areas. The groin, eyes, knees, and throat. If he grabs you, twisting back on fingers works as well. Your aim is to inflict pan as fast as possible and to get away. RUN! And keep screaming while running.
Unfortunately, fewer than 1/3 of all assaults are reported to the police. If you are the victim of a sexual assault:
REPORT THE RAPE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORTIES!
When the rapist departs, contact help at once. Find a safe environment away from the attacker; if possible have a trusted friend stay with you.
*Do not shower or wash
*Preserve all clothing and the crime scene if possible
*Be prepared to describe the attacker and anything else that might be helpful
*Get medical attention even if there are no visible injuries
*Ask the hospital for a rape kit exam
*Personnel experienced in sexual assault will examine you and provide counseling and support.
Sexual assault is a crime of motive and opportunity. Ultimately, there is no surefire way to prevent an attack. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotlines at 1-800.656.HOPE
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Senior Safety - How to help keep our elderly safe.
As we age, there are two areas that we know can become difficult. Hearing and seeing. Make sure that you add lights where you may need them. Some examples could be inside halls, outside all exterior doors, stairways and in the kitchen. Put night lights up where you may walk regularly at night. You may want to add additional smoke and CO2 detectors. Having just one on each floor may not give you enough audio noise to realize the alarm is active. Perhaps ones with strobe lights and night lights built in that will aid in both notification by visual means as well as assisting in lighting ht way.
Stairs should all have railing, on both sides if possible and should be well lit. Bathrooms should have locks that can be unlocked from the outside.
Check with your local Police Department and let them know if you or someone is living alone. You can ask them to check in on you/them occasionally.
Look into getting a MedAlert type device so that you can get help if you fall or get injured and cant get to your phone.
Stairs should all have railing, on both sides if possible and should be well lit. Bathrooms should have locks that can be unlocked from the outside.
Check with your local Police Department and let them know if you or someone is living alone. You can ask them to check in on you/them occasionally.
Look into getting a MedAlert type device so that you can get help if you fall or get injured and cant get to your phone.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Have to deal with Flooding? Here are some safety tips!
The following is from the Rhode Island Department of Health and is written for First Responders. After I read it, I realized just how important this information could be to those of us in the North East of the United States. After al the rain we have received over the past month, we still have quite a bit of free standing water. Take the time to read this, as the information is important to those who have had, or will have to deal with flooding of their homes.
Stay Safe
Oram Security
Stay Safe
Oram Security
Safety Reminders for First Responders
Source: Rhode Island Department of Health
The Rhode lsland Department of Health (HEALTH) reminds anyone participating in flood response activities to take precautions when working in floodwater. Floodwaters may contain raw sewage or other hazardous substances that can cause infections such as E. coli, Hepatitis A, or Tetanus.
Seek first aid or medical treatment if you experience the following symptoms after working in a contaminated area: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache,muscle aches, fever, abdominal cramps, skin rashes, dizziness, or fatigue. If skin is broken and has come into contact with contaminated material and it has been five years since your last Tetanus shot, you should talk to your healthcare provider about receiving another Tetanus vaccination. Please note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend an updated Tetanus vaccination every 5 years for healthcare providers and every 10 years for the general public. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a 5-year vaccination interval for first responders.
First responders should take the following additional precautions during flood response activities:
Hand Washing
• To avoid exposure to waterborne illness, wash your hands with soap and clean, running water or use alcohol-based hand gels before work and meal breaks, at the end of work shifts, and after handling contaminated clothing or equipment.
Protective Clothing
• If you will be working in or near a flooded area, wear chemical-resistant outer clothing, boots, protective eye goggles, and plastic or rubber gloves. Protective clothing is especially necessary when working in flooded areas with known chemical storage or chemical release hazards.
• If possible, layer latex disposable gloves over cut-resistant gloves. Avoid touching your face with contaminated gloves and properly discard or disinfect gloves after use.
• Do not place equipment or clothing that has come into contact with contaminated floodwater in personal vehicles.
• If possible, shower and launder contaminated clothing before returning home.
Other Hazards
• If working in or around flooded homes or buildings, minimize exposure to mildew and mold by wearing N-95 masks, if available. If N-95 masks are not available, surgical masks can be worn. Wear gloves and eye protection as well.
• Discard mold-damaged materials in plastic bags and clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water.
• Be aware of exposure to potential chemical or electrical hazards when participating in flood response activities. If working with portable generators, keep them dry and follow instructions for proper handling and safety. Never use a generator indoors or in poorly ventilated areas, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Place portable generators outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents.
• If working near roads or highways, remain aware of work zones and traffic control plans and the locations of signs, cones, barrels, and barriers.
• Ground may become saturated with water during heavy flooding, causing sinkholes and unstable terrain. Be aware of these hazards when working in water trenching operations or flooded areas.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Can you help fight terrorism?
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 79% of U.S. voters now think it is likely there will be another terrorist attack in the United States in the next year.
Is this really a surprise? Any time a “terrorist” attack is attempted in the United States, whether it succeeds or not, the public feels threatened. That is the goal of terrorism. To bring terror to people.
The FBI defines Terrorism as:
“The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
Terrorists do not think of themselves as terrorists. You may have heard the phrase “One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter”. By the definition of the FBI, some “Patriots” during the American Revolution were terrorists. We need to understand this, to help us understand where some of the attackers are coming from.
Now, if the attack is outside of the US, then our perceived level of threat is much lower yet in some ways, it should be even higher. If a terrorist attack is successful overseas, then the terrorists have found an operation that works. An operation that can now be applied inside the United States.
Due to the recent attempt by a Nigerian suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines flight 253, a Delta-owned Airbus 330, as it approached Detroit on a flight from Amsterdam over Christmas, our perceived threat level has risen. We see the lines at the airport and read about how TSA and the US Government is keeping us safe and yet we still have attempts and successful breaches of our vaunted transportation security. What needs to be understood, is how many attacks have been foiled by our Intelligence agencies. The FBI inside the US and the CIA, NSA and others elsewhere.
One of the greatest assets that we have when it comes to fighting terrorism in the Unites States is YOU. Yes, you. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you might catch the one little clue that will help our Law Enforcement stop an attack. Everyone pays attention once an attack has occurred, or when a recent attack was foiled, but we need to be even more vigilant during times of calm. Listed below are 7 Signs of possible terrorist attack. They are not all the indicators, but they are the basic ones that you can be aware of on a daily basis.
1. Surveillance
The first sign is someone trying to monitor or record activities. If terrorists are targeting a specific area they will most likely be observed in that area during the planning phase of the operation. Terrorists will attempt to determine the strengths, weaknesses, and number of personnel that may respond to an incident. Routes to and from the target are usually established during the surveillance phase. It is important to note suspicious actions such as someone using cameras (still or video), drawing diagrams or annotating on maps, using vision-enhancing devices, and being in possession of floor plans or blueprints of places such as high-tech firms, financial institutions, or government/military facilities. Any of these surveillance type acts MAY be an indicator that something is not right and should be reported immediately. Nothing is too insignificant.
2. Seeking Information
The second sign is the attempt to gain information though inquiries. This includes anyone attempting to gain information about a place, person or operation. Elicitation attempts can be made by mail, fax, telephone, or in person. Examples would be someone inquiring about a critical infrastructure like a power plant, water reservoir or a maritime port. Terrorists may attempt to research bridge and tunnel usage, make unusual inquiries concerning shipments or look into how a facility such as a hospital operates. They may also attempt to place “key” people in sensitive work locations to gain intelligence.
3. Tests Of Security
Tests of security or probing are techniques terrorists would use to attempt to gather data. These are usually conducted by driving past or even penetrating the target, moving into sensitive areas, and observing security or law enforcement response. Specific areas of interest to terrorists would include how long it takes security or law enforcement to respond to an incident, number of responding personnel, or the routes taken to a specific location. Terrorists may also try to penetrate physical security barriers or test the response procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. Vehicles may be parked for unusually long periods of time, sometimes in no parking areas, as a test of security.
4. Acquiring Supplies
This may be a case where someone is purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons or ammunition. It could be the unusual purchasing or storing of fertilizer or harmful chemicals. Terrorists would also find it useful to acquire law enforcement equipment and identification, military uniforms and decals, as well as flight passes, badges or even flight manuals. Terrorists often use false or stolen identification documents including passports and driver licenses. They may try to produce counterfeit identification by photocopying. Any of these items would make it easier to gain entrance to secured or usually prohibited areas. Anyone wearing a uniform should have the proper identification on them.
5. Suspicious People Who Do Not Belong
Another pre-incident indicator is observing suspicious people who just don’t belong. This includes suspicious border crossings, stowaways aboard a ship or people jumping ship in a port. It could be someone in a workplace, building, neighborhood or business establishment who does not fit in because of their demeanor or unusual questions he/she is asking, or statement they make. This does not mean we should profile individuals, but it does mean we should profile behaviors.
6. Dry Run - Trial Run
Another sign to watch is for “dry runs.” Before the execution of the final operation or plan, a practice session will be run to work out the flaws and unanticipated problems. This is especially true when planning a kidnapping but it can also pertain to bombings. A dry run may be the heart of the planning stage of a terrorist act. If you find someone monitoring a police radio frequency and recording emergency response times, you may be observing a dry run. Multiple dry runs may be conducted at or near the target to gain intelligence.
7. Deploying Assets – Getting Into Position
The seventh and final sign to look for is someone deploying assets or getting into position. This is your last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs. It is also important to remember that pre-incident indicators may come months or even years apart. Therefore, it is extremely important to document every fragment of information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, and forward this information to your state Police Department of Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As the passengers on Flight 253 did, we all need to be ready to act. Taking action could be notifying Law Enforcement if something does not seem right, it could be helping those that are hurt or it could be stepping up and stopping an attack when we see it.
Stay safe!
Is this really a surprise? Any time a “terrorist” attack is attempted in the United States, whether it succeeds or not, the public feels threatened. That is the goal of terrorism. To bring terror to people.
The FBI defines Terrorism as:
“The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
Terrorists do not think of themselves as terrorists. You may have heard the phrase “One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter”. By the definition of the FBI, some “Patriots” during the American Revolution were terrorists. We need to understand this, to help us understand where some of the attackers are coming from.
Now, if the attack is outside of the US, then our perceived level of threat is much lower yet in some ways, it should be even higher. If a terrorist attack is successful overseas, then the terrorists have found an operation that works. An operation that can now be applied inside the United States.
Due to the recent attempt by a Nigerian suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines flight 253, a Delta-owned Airbus 330, as it approached Detroit on a flight from Amsterdam over Christmas, our perceived threat level has risen. We see the lines at the airport and read about how TSA and the US Government is keeping us safe and yet we still have attempts and successful breaches of our vaunted transportation security. What needs to be understood, is how many attacks have been foiled by our Intelligence agencies. The FBI inside the US and the CIA, NSA and others elsewhere.
One of the greatest assets that we have when it comes to fighting terrorism in the Unites States is YOU. Yes, you. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you might catch the one little clue that will help our Law Enforcement stop an attack. Everyone pays attention once an attack has occurred, or when a recent attack was foiled, but we need to be even more vigilant during times of calm. Listed below are 7 Signs of possible terrorist attack. They are not all the indicators, but they are the basic ones that you can be aware of on a daily basis.
1. Surveillance
The first sign is someone trying to monitor or record activities. If terrorists are targeting a specific area they will most likely be observed in that area during the planning phase of the operation. Terrorists will attempt to determine the strengths, weaknesses, and number of personnel that may respond to an incident. Routes to and from the target are usually established during the surveillance phase. It is important to note suspicious actions such as someone using cameras (still or video), drawing diagrams or annotating on maps, using vision-enhancing devices, and being in possession of floor plans or blueprints of places such as high-tech firms, financial institutions, or government/military facilities. Any of these surveillance type acts MAY be an indicator that something is not right and should be reported immediately. Nothing is too insignificant.
2. Seeking Information
The second sign is the attempt to gain information though inquiries. This includes anyone attempting to gain information about a place, person or operation. Elicitation attempts can be made by mail, fax, telephone, or in person. Examples would be someone inquiring about a critical infrastructure like a power plant, water reservoir or a maritime port. Terrorists may attempt to research bridge and tunnel usage, make unusual inquiries concerning shipments or look into how a facility such as a hospital operates. They may also attempt to place “key” people in sensitive work locations to gain intelligence.
3. Tests Of Security
Tests of security or probing are techniques terrorists would use to attempt to gather data. These are usually conducted by driving past or even penetrating the target, moving into sensitive areas, and observing security or law enforcement response. Specific areas of interest to terrorists would include how long it takes security or law enforcement to respond to an incident, number of responding personnel, or the routes taken to a specific location. Terrorists may also try to penetrate physical security barriers or test the response procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. Vehicles may be parked for unusually long periods of time, sometimes in no parking areas, as a test of security.
4. Acquiring Supplies
This may be a case where someone is purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons or ammunition. It could be the unusual purchasing or storing of fertilizer or harmful chemicals. Terrorists would also find it useful to acquire law enforcement equipment and identification, military uniforms and decals, as well as flight passes, badges or even flight manuals. Terrorists often use false or stolen identification documents including passports and driver licenses. They may try to produce counterfeit identification by photocopying. Any of these items would make it easier to gain entrance to secured or usually prohibited areas. Anyone wearing a uniform should have the proper identification on them.
5. Suspicious People Who Do Not Belong
Another pre-incident indicator is observing suspicious people who just don’t belong. This includes suspicious border crossings, stowaways aboard a ship or people jumping ship in a port. It could be someone in a workplace, building, neighborhood or business establishment who does not fit in because of their demeanor or unusual questions he/she is asking, or statement they make. This does not mean we should profile individuals, but it does mean we should profile behaviors.
6. Dry Run - Trial Run
Another sign to watch is for “dry runs.” Before the execution of the final operation or plan, a practice session will be run to work out the flaws and unanticipated problems. This is especially true when planning a kidnapping but it can also pertain to bombings. A dry run may be the heart of the planning stage of a terrorist act. If you find someone monitoring a police radio frequency and recording emergency response times, you may be observing a dry run. Multiple dry runs may be conducted at or near the target to gain intelligence.
7. Deploying Assets – Getting Into Position
The seventh and final sign to look for is someone deploying assets or getting into position. This is your last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs. It is also important to remember that pre-incident indicators may come months or even years apart. Therefore, it is extremely important to document every fragment of information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, and forward this information to your state Police Department of Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As the passengers on Flight 253 did, we all need to be ready to act. Taking action could be notifying Law Enforcement if something does not seem right, it could be helping those that are hurt or it could be stepping up and stopping an attack when we see it.
Stay safe!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The New Oram Security Blog!
Oram Security is proud to announce our new Security and Safety Blog! We will be posting interesting articles, safety and security tips as well as information on firearms instruction!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)