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Safety & security Play it safe – live smart

Report crime in your area.

Be aware of what’s happening in your neighbourhood.

Don’t sms or phone while driving.

Be wise when using public transport.

Get clued up on safety and security.

Know your neighbours.

Join or support your local CPF.

Don’t leave your children alone at home.

Report electricity theft.

Leave lights on when you’re away.

Never accept help from a stranger at an ATM.

Speak out against or report abuse.

Know your neighbours’ workers (cleaners, gardeners, security).

Teach your children what to do in an emergency.

Know your rights in road blocks.

Ask someone to collect your post if you’ll be away for long.

If you’ve been raped, report it and get counselling.

Support your local police station.

Know what to do when someone swallows poison.

Keep your property neat and clean.

Never leave children unattended near water.

Repair broken windows.

Get involved in community organisations or interventions.

Learn CPR and basic first aid.

Make sure your car is locked.

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Saftey & security

Report crime in your area
Whenever possible, report all crimes to your local police station. However, if there is a chance of victimisation, there are many effective anonymous crime reporting tools, so use of one of them:
a) Crime Line - submit your tip-offs by SMSing them to 32211 (cost R1.00). For more info, go to www.crimeline.co.za.
b) Report a Crime – get reports of crime based on your area and see what has already been reported.
c) Turn it Around – report as much as you can and they will ensure it reaches the right authority who can act on your info.

Be aware of what’s happening in your neighbourhood
Find out who is doing building projects, who is going on holiday, what events are planned in your area and who is responsible in each case. Also take note of any suspicious activity in the area. In this way you can make more effective decisions which may affect the security of your neighbourhood.

Don’t sms or phone while you’re driving
It’s a fact that when we focus on our cell phones while driving, the attention we pay to the road and traffic around us is significantly reduced. Accidents happen in a moment, so make sure you’re paying attention in that moment.
Think about signing a pledge to commit to not using your phone while driving. Imperial has launched a number of pledges to be taken by road users, so take a stand and pledge one or more of these:
- I will not talk on the phone or sms while driving
- I will keep to the speed limit
- I will keep a safe following distance
- I will not drink and drive
- I will always wear my seat belt
- I will only use the pedestrian crossing
- Or write your own

Be wise when using public transport
SA’s road death toll is alarmingly high, and most accidents are caused by reckless driving, speeding, faulty vehicles and overloading. Those of us using public transport are also often the victims of theft or assault.
In a taxi: report overloaded or unroadworthy taxis. Don’t encourage the driver to speed because you are late.
On the bus or train: as far as possible, travel with others. Don’t put expensive jewellery or gadgets on display (showing off how cool your new cell phone is). When speaking on the phone, don’t advertise personal details or info as to where you’re on your way to.
On the road: walk on busy roads rather than taking short cuts through deserted bushes or fields. Women, wherever possible, wear comfortable shoes when walking long distances.

Get clued up on safety and security
Don’t be ignorant about crime in our country – but don’t be paranoid either. Make it your mission to find out what is really happening from the SAPS crime reports and STATS SA.
But then also get enough information to live safely and wisely.

Know your neighbours
Be a good neighbour and get to know the people living on either side of you, on your street or in your complex. You never know when you’ll need their help or when you’ll be able to help them. You’ll also build a better community by getting to know your neighbours.

Join or support your local CPF
A CPF (community policing forum), residents’ association or street committee all work in the same way – by getting people living in the local area involved with the police in the area, resulting in more effective crime fighting and prevention. Find out how your local organisation operates and how you can get involved, as it is all run by volunteers.
Some CPF’s can be found on the Mobilitate site, so see if the one in your area is listed.

Don’t leave your children alone at home
Accidents happen so quickly: a lamp gets knocked over, a sibling gets injured during play-fighting ... You never know what can happen so either take your children with you, or ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on them.

Report electricity theft
Electricity stolen through illegal power connections and meter tampering affects the stability and quality of the power supply. This can lead to even more power outages. As a result, every single South African ends up paying for stolen electricity. Report all thefts by calling the Eskom Call Centre: 086 003 7566 (it is a share call service and highly confidential).
For more information on Operation Khanyisa visit www.operationkhanyisa.co.za.

Leave lights on when you’re away
Whether you’re just visiting family for a weekend or away on holiday, you don’t want to announce you’re not home to criminals. Ask a neighbour to put on some lights at night or get a timer switch, so it’s harder to know you’re not at home.

Never accept help from a stranger at an ATM
If you’re unsure of how to use an ATM, go into the branch and ask. Your personal identification number (PIN) should be known only by you, so don’t let anyone see what you enter.

Speak out against or report any abuse
You’re helping the community by reporting cases of abuse. You’re stopping the violence in your own home and community if you speak out. To report domestic abuse, call the toll-free number: 0800 150 150. For support you can contact POWA (People Opposed to Women Abuse) on 011 642 4345 or FAMSA on 0800 150 150.

Know your neighbours’ workers (cleaners, gardeners, security)
Be familiar with the people who are regularly coming and going in your neighbourhood. In that way you’ll recognise strangers and possible criminals more easily. If you employ anyone, you should have a copy of all employees’ IDs and contact details. And inform your neighbours about your employee.

Teach your children what to do in an emergency
Make sure they know who to contact (family members, police (10111)), what to do and where to go if something happens and an adult is not close by. Check out www.childsafe.org.za for handy tips and helpful safety brochures you can download.

Know your rights in road blocks
If you have outstanding fines and are stopped at a road block, you need to know what the police can and cannot do, in terms of arresting you. Know your rights in road blocks.

Ask someone to collect your post if you’ll be away for long
If you’re going away or leaving your house attended for a long time, ask a neighbour to collect newspapers and post that will otherwise accumulate. Nothing is more obvious to a would-be burglar that you are not around than a load of post-box fillers.

If you’ve been raped, report it and get counselling
In South Africa, if a man or woman does not consent to sex, it is regarded as rape. Before it happens to you or someone you know, make sure you know what to do in the event of a rape.

Support your local police station
Take the police officers some home-made biscuits or a pot of soup in the winter. They’ll appreciate the random act of kindness. (Try to steer clear of offering flashy cars or expensive clothing, though!)
Not all police stations can make use of volunteers but there are often admin intensive tasks that you could assist with, to free up trained policemen and women to do their jobs. Speak to the head of your local police station to find out more. Often your CPF will also know how best you can make use of your available time. Find contact details for your nearest police station.

Know what to do when someone swallows a poison
Download this poison chart to help you treat a suspected poisoning. For more assistance, contact the Poisons Control Centre on 021 689 5227.

Keep your property neat and clean
A neat, well-kept property is an indication that someone cares, that someone is around and takes pride in their surroundings. Make sure you don’t create a place for would-be criminals to hide by letting your property become overgrown.

Never leave children unattended near water
Even if a child can swim, he or she is still vulnerable in water, so ensure there is always someone who can swim well nearby when children are playing in water, be it a pool, dam or the beach. Check out more water safety tips.

Repair broken windows
Pay attention to the small things that need to be fixed and it will lead to an overall improvement on the big issues too. Made famous by Rudolph Giuliani, the "Broken Windows" theory is well-known to be the secret behind the turn-around in New York City when he was mayor. If it can be done there, it can be done in South Africa.

Get involved in community organisations or interventions
There are many organisations aimed at building better communities, keeping young people out of danger and protecting the vulnerable. Check out groups on forgood working in your area, or use forgood to raise awareness for the needs in your community.

Learn CPR and basic first aid
In any emergency or accident, we always wish there were a doctor or paramedic nearby. Get yourself equipped by doing a first-aid course or learning the basics of CPR. Organisations such as St John, First Aid Training and Action Training Academy offer courses in first aid.

Make sure your car is locked
Criminals always seem to be innovating. By using a jamming device that intercepts the connection between the car key and the car’s automated locking facility, the doors “appear” to lock but in reality nothing happens. As soon as you walk away from your vehicle, anything in your car is accessible to the thief who simply helps himself.
To protect yourself, always check that your car is actually locked before walking away.
If you think this is a scam, read this story.
Find out more ways to stay safe in your vehicle and be safe on the roads.

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