Hi friends,
I hope you’re enjoying your summer if you’re on my side of the world. Those of you in the other hemisphere will cool weather . . . we’re jealous!! 🙂
I’ve been loving my time with my daughter before we leave on a family trip next week. After a couple of weeks together, we’ll have to drop her off at college again. I love seeing her grow as an adult, but miss her a ton, too.
Thinking of her off at school reminded me of a simple idea for safety that is helpful for single adults living or traveling on their own . . .
Tell someone where you’re going and have a check-in buddy.
Remember when you were a kid and got lectured about telling your mom where you were going?
Well, a few years back, my youngest sister graduated from college and moved out on her own. This was her first time living without roommates, and at some point she realized that something could happen to her and no one would probably notice or send help for days.
So, we chatted together and decided on a nightly check-in, which made both of us feel safer. Every night before bed, she’d text or call me that she was home safe.
Occasionally she’d forget and I’d call her. Thankfully, she always answered and nothing dangerous happened to her. But with this simple plan, we both felt much better about her safety.
Tips when living alone:
- Find a friend or loved one who is willing to do a daily check-in with you. Pick a time or method that makes this as simple and easy as possible.
- Decide on a clear set of instructions of steps to take if you don’t check in.
Example instructions:
- I will text you every night before 8 pm. Pick a time that would be reasonable to get someone else involved if you don’t pick up.
- If I don’t text, call me in case I forgot.
- If I don’t answer wait X minutes and try again.
- If I don’t answer again, call Person 1 (someone who lives close enough to check on me like a neighbor. Or if you live in a complex, perhaps the office, just make sure to check office hours and adjust your check-in time accordingly).
- If they don’t answer, call Person 2.
- If they don’t answer, call Person 3.
- The police might be the next step, but check your local regulations for reporting missing persons and welfare checks.
Tips when traveling alone:
- Send your travel plans, including flights, hotels, convention centers, phone numbers, etc. to one or more friends or loved ones.
- Ask if they would mind a text/call check-in each day at a specific time. Again give them simple instructions of who to call and what to do if they don’t hear from you.
Ideas for safety while living with roommates:
- Sit down together and make a check-in plan.
- Agree on a nightly time that a call should go out if someone isn’t home
- Collect everyone’s emergency contact numbers (who to call and what to do) in a centrally located place for when someone can’t be reached or doesn’t return as expected.
- Post a calendar or whiteboard by the door to jot down plans for others to know – days someone is gone, staying out late or overnight somewhere, locations they’ll be, etc.
- Brainstorm a couple of scenarios and run through how everyone might respond. Repeat until you work out any kinks and everyone is comfortable with what will happen when they don’t check in, their phone dies, they can’t be reached after a certain time at night, etc.
Working together to keep each other safe doesn’t take much time or work, just a little planning ahead.
Let me know if I missed anything or you have some good tips or stories on the topic.
Stay safe out there! All the best and thanks so much for your support!
— Misty 🙂
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