TRAVEL WITH SERENA - PICKPOCKETS

Last week Tessa had a great fashion tip regarding static cling. Her solution? The common safety pin. Today’s tip also features safety pins.

Whether you’re traveling abroad or just spending the day at a fall bazaar, you need to make sure you’re not an easy mark for pickpockets. These thieves are devious. They’ve mastered the art of removing your valuables without you even realizing you’ve been victimized until they're long gone.

The easiest way to deter pickpockets is to make sure they can’t dip their hands into your pockets or your tote bag. And the easiest way to do that is to use safety pins to secure your pockets and tote bag whenever you’re in crowded places.

GUEST SAFETY EXPERT K.M. FAWCETT -- DRIVE-UP ATM SAFETY

Today we welcome back safety expert K.M. Fawcett with some more safety tips as we head out for our holiday shopping or anytime.

K.M. Fawcett is a Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate. She and her husband Scott own the Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, located in Lebanon, NJ. K.M. is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. K.M. writes paranormal romances and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. When not writing novels or teaching karate, you can find her blogging about martial arts and writing action at www.attackingthepage.wordpress.com. -- AP

The Drive Up ATM

Use the drive up Automated Teller Machine (ATM) during daylight hours.  If you must use an ATM after hours, take someone with you.

Choose an ATM that looks and “feels” safer, even if it’s a few miles away.  Avoid ATM machines with poor lighting or visibility.  Avoid ATMs near obvious hiding places like shrubbery or overgrown trees.  Robbers like to have the element of surprise and no witnesses.

Make sure no one is hiding or loitering in the area of the ATM.  If someone looks suspicious or you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, drive away and find another ATM.

Keep your engine running, your doors locked and all other windows rolled up.  It might also be a good idea to leave enough space between your car and the one in line ahead of you in case you have to maneuver your vehicle out of there.

Make your transaction as quick as possible by having your card ready and your PIN number memorized.  Avoid counting your money in public.  Immediately put away your cash.

Be aware of your surroundings by watching your side and rear view mirrors during the transaction.  Robbers will most likely attack from the rear on the driver’s side.

If you see anyone approaching or feel threatened in any way, drive off immediately.

If an armed robber demands your cash, card or both, or tries to enter your vehicle, drive away.  Call the police and report the incident.
Great advice! Thanks so much for joining us today, K.M. So readers, do you practice safe ATM withdrawals? Post a comment to be entered in our drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

GUEST MELINDA LEIGH, SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR: SECURE YOUR HOME

Melinda Leigh from Attacking the Page is back today with some more safety tips. Melinda holds a 2nd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Melinda hosts Fight Like a Girl Southern NJ, a blog featuring effective and easy to learn self-defense for women. She’s also one of the bloggers at Attacking the Page, a blog about Martial Arts & Writing Action. You can also visit Melinda at her website. -- AP

There are many things you can do to make your home and property more secure, both when you’re home and away.  Make sure your property is well-lit, the windows and doors clearly visible.  Burglars love thick shrubs and shadowy entrances.  Lock your doors. This sounds simple, but many people neglect to lock up while they are at home. 

Single women should list their initials instead of their first names with the phone company and other utilities when possible.  Don’t post your address, phone number or other personal information on social networking sites, this includes your marital status if you’re single or the fact that your husband will be in Japan for the next two weeks.  If you have a home security system, use it.  Keep valuables in a safety deposit box. 


In addition, if you are going on vacation, make arrangements to have your lawn mowed, leaves raked or deliveries picked up.  Let a trusted neighbor know you’ll be away and when to expect you back.  Give the neighbor a phone number to contact you in case of emergency and a key. Ask the neighbor to walk through your home occasionally. Things like a broken pipe or freezer can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Unplug small appliances.

If you’re leaving your car at home, park it in its usual spot.  Ask your trusted neighbor to park in your driveway.  Keep drapes and blinds in their usual positions.  Use timers on interior/exterior lights and a radio or TV to make it appear as if someone is home when you are at work or on vacation. 

Stop your newspaper and mail or get a neighbor to collect them for you. Same goes for any deliveries.  Have the same neighbor put out your trash and bring the can in as normal. 

Don’t post your plans on social network sites, announce it on your answering machine, or otherwise broadcast your upcoming absence. Tell your Facebook friends all about your trip after you're home.  It’s also a good idea to let your alarm company know you’ll be away and how to reach you.

Great tips, Melinda! Thanks so much for stopping by to share them with us. And readers, remember to post a comment to be entered into the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author.-- AP            

GUEST KATHY FAWCETT, SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR: PLAN TO PARTY SAFE (PART 2)

As promised, Kathy Fawcett from Attacking the Page is back with us today for Part 2 of her Plan to Party Safe tips. Kathy has recently advanced to Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate and co-owns The Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, located in Lebanon, NJ, with her husband Scott. She is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. Kathy writes paranormal romances and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. When not writing novels or teaching karate, you can find her blogging about martial arts and writing action at Attacking the Page. Welcome, Kathy! -- AP

PLAN TO PARTY SAFE, Part 2

This post is a continuation from my safety tips of the week. When going out to a party, club or bar, be sure you make a plan before you leave home.  If your plan changes, have a back up plan in mind.

PLAN A:  Know how much you're going to drink before going out.  If you are going through your drinks faster than you anticipated, try

PLAN B: Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.  No one needs to know your second and fourth vodka and tonics are only tonics.  Or that you filled up your beer bottle with water.

PLAN A:  Drink only from bottles or cans you have opened or have watched the bartender pour.  Don't accept drinks that are in punch bowls or other open containers.  Never accept drinks from strangers or people you don’t absolutely trust with your life.  If you didn't see what went into your glass, assume anything can be in it.  Your nonalcoholic drink could be spiked with alcohol.  Your alcoholic drink could be laced with drugs.  And consider this, even if it isn't drugged, the guy buying you a drink may think you now owe him something in return.

PLAN B: Get help immediately from someone you trust with your life if...

•                Your drink tastes bitter, is unusually salty, has a strange color, odor or has foam or residue on the surface.  Makers of Rohypnol (“roofies”) changed the formula so when dissolved in liquid, the pill produces a blueish-green dye.  Clear drinks turn  blue, beer turns green and dark drinks turn murky. BE AWARE however, that many date rape drugs are colorless, odorless, tasteless and can dissolve quickly in liquid.

•                You begin to feel usually drunk for the amount of alcohol you've consumed.

•                You feel dizzy, nauseous, drowsy, "out of it," or hallucinate.

•                Your girlfriend acts in the above manner.  (Remember you've already made a buddy plan to watch out for each other!)

You or she may have been drugged and may only be alert for a moment longer.

PLAN A: Don't leave your drink unattended.  If you leave to go to the restroom, the dance floor or to make a phone call, then

PLAN B: throw out that drink when you return.  You can always buy yourself another one.

Party Smart and Stay Safe!

More great safe partying advice, Kathy! Thanks so much for sharing. Anyone have something to share or add? If you post a comment this week, you're entered in our drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

GUEST KATHY FAWCETT, SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR: PLAN TO PARTY SAFE (PART 1)

PLAN TO PARTY SAFE -- Part 1

Kathy Fawcett from Attacking the Page is back with us today with more safety tips. Kathy has recently advanced to Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate and co-owns The Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, located in Lebanon, NJ, with her husband Scott. She is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. Kathy writes paranormal romances and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. When not writing novels or teaching karate, you can find her blogging about martial arts and writing action at Attacking the Page. Welcome, Kathy! -- AP

PLAN TO PARTY SAFE

When going out to a party, club or bar, make a plan and stick to it.  If for some reason things change during the night, have a back up plan.

PLAN A:  There is usually safety in numbers, so go with a group of friends you trust, stay together and leave together.  Don’t leave or let your girlfriends leave with a stranger.  Be sure you have a designated driver.  If you decide to stay out later, leave earlier or realize your designated driver has been drinking, go to 

PLAN B: call someone you trust to come get you or call a taxi.  Always take a charged cell phone with you and money for cab fare.

PLAN A: Don’t share personal information (phone numbers, business cards) with strangers.  If you really like the guy and want to talk again, go to 

PLAN B: Get his number instead.

PLAN A: Stay with friends and make sure they stay with you.  Don’t wander off alone even if you need to find a quiet place to make a phone call.  Buddy up when going to the restroom.  If you get separated from your friends and a stranger starts bothering you, go to

PLAN B: find help from someone you trust or an employee at the bar.  If you can’t get away or he refuses to stop harassing you, implement

PLAN C: DEFEND YOURSELF!

Another great safety tip, Kathy! Thanks so much for sharing. Kathy will be back next week with Part 2 of her Plan to Party Safety Tips. Have any of you ever been in a situation where you felt threatened? What did you do? Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

GUEST KATHY FAWCETT, SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR: TRAFFIC LIGHT SAFETY

Today we have another safety blog, courtesy of Kathy Fawcett from Attacking the Page. Kathy is a shodan (1st grade black belt) in Isshinryu Karate and helps run her husband‘s dojo, the NJ Academy of Martial Arts, located in Lebanon, NJ. She is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. Kathy writes paranormal romances and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. Welcome, Kathy! -- AP

TRAFFIC LIGHT OF SAFETY

Teach your children the Traffic Light of Safety.

Children learn at a very young age that a green light means go, yellow means slow down (unless you’re from New Jersey where it means gun it before it turns red) and red means stop.  So it is easy for them to understand the Traffic Light of Safety.

Green = Go.  It’s safe to play

Yellow = Caution.  Something isn’t right.  Get to a safe place now.

Red = Stop! You are in danger.  If you can’t get to safety, Defend Yourself!

The goal is to always be in a Green situation.  When teaching self-defense classes, I give the following example to my young students.

You are playing with your friends at the park.  Mom or Dad is nearby and can easily see you.  This is a green light.  Go ahead, it’s safe to play.

While playing, you wander past the big bulky jungle gym to the other side of the playground.  You can’t see Mom or Dad from here, which means they probably can’t see you either.  And look, there is a stranger nearby watching you play.  There is no immediate danger, but something just doesn’t feel right.  This is a Yellow Light.  Caution.  Get back to safety.  Find Mom or Dad.  Tell them what happened.  It may turn out that they know the other person.  He’s a dad whose kid is also playing at the park.  Or they may not know this person, and will keep a watchful eye on him.

What happens if the stranger calls you over?  He says he’s lost his puppy and asks you to help find him.  This is a Red Light.  Adults don’t need to ask kids for help.  They can find another adult to help them.   Get to safety immediately.  Don’t talk to the person.  Don’t make up excuses for why you can’t help, just run to safety.  If you feel you must say something, yell, “Have to ask Mom” WHILE you are running away.

What happens if the stranger grabs you?  This is an obvious Red Light.  You are in immediate danger.  You must do everything you can to get back to safety; punch, kick, bite, pinch, spit, and scream.

If you yell “No!  Stop,” people in the area may not help because they think you are a naughty child who doesn’t want to leave the park.  Yell, “Help!  Stranger!” or “I don’t know you!” or “Help!  You’re not my Dad.”  Let everyone in the area know you are in danger.

Keep in mind that you can use the Traffic Light to illustrate other scenarios with children of all ages, and adults too.  Try using this analogy with your teen when discussing Internet safety, partying, alcohol, drugs, or sex.

Great advice, isn’t it? Please share any examples you come up with in the comments section. Remember, anyone who posts a comment this week is entered into the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author.-- AP