Learning Disability Services Easy Words

Staying Safe

An easy guide to stay safe

Stay safe

We all want to feel safe at home and when we go out.
Most of the time we are safe.
But there are some things you can do to help you feel safer.

Stay safe at home

Your home should be a safe place.
But sometimes you need to be careful if someone comes to the door.

When someone comes to the door:

• Keep a chain on the door until you know who is there.
• Only ask someone into your home if you know them.
• Look to see who it is before you open the door.
• If it is a stranger at the door, ask them to come back later when a friend or helper can be with you.
• Never give money to someone at the front door.

Keep your home safe

Here are some things you can do to keep your home safe:

• Put your keys somewhere safe where you can find them easily.
• Lock all the windows and doors when you go out.
• Lock all the windows and doors when you go to bed.
• Close curtains when the lights are on so no one can see in.

Look after yourself at home

Always be careful when someone comes to the door.
If you are unlucky enough to be attacked in your home it could be someone you know.
Or it could be a stranger who has come to the door.
Whoever it is, you should tell the police straight away.

In an emergency dial 999.

Safe when you go out

Usually you are safe in the street, but it is a good idea to be ready for trouble. Just in case!

Before you go out:

• Plan where you are going and how to get there.
• Put on comfortable clothes and shoes in case you need to run.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
• Put your money and keys in a safe pocket.
• Make sure you have enough money to get home.
• Take a phone card with you or a mobile phone if you have one.
• Take the phone number of someone you know with you.
• Take a torch if you are going out at night.
• Take a personal alarm if you have one. And make sure you know how to use it.

When you are in the countryside:

• Only walk in the countryside if you are with someone else.
• Wear something bright so you can be seen easily.
• Keep your ears open – do not listen to a personal stereo.
• Never hitchhike.
• Do not accept a lift from someone you do not know.

If you go to a pub or a café:

• Keep your bag where you can see it or feel it – never hang it on the back of a chair or a wheelchair.
• Keep your money and jewellery hidden.
• If you hang up your jacket or coat, do not leave things in the pockets.
• If you are with other people, look after each other.

Look after yourself when you go out

If someone bothers you or says nasty things when you go out, you can:

• Ignore them.
• Look in the other direction.
• Turn and go the other way.

If someone bothers you in the street you can:

• Cross over the road.
• Quickly go somewhere where there are a lot of people.
• If you are frightened by someone in the street or in the countryside, tell the police.

You can also tell:

• a friend,
• your family,
• staff at home,
• staff at your day centre, or
• your key worker.

Remember to plan your journey so that you do not have to wait long at the bus stop or at the station.

You will be safer if you look like you know where you are going and you know how to get there.

• Find out the times of buses and trains so you do not have to wait too long.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
• Try to wait for your bus or train in a brightly lit area.
• Try to travel with someone you know.

When you are travelling:

• Try to sit near other people.
• Try not to sit where there is only one other person.
• If you do not like the look of someone – move away from them.
• Try not to travel at night.

Look after yourself on buses and trains

• You will be safer on busy buses and trains.
• If someone does bother you, get up and move away.
• Tell the other passengers loudly, or tell the driver what is happening.
• You can keep ringing the bell on a bus or pull the emergency handle on a train to let the driver know there is a problem.
• If you are frightened by someone on a bus or train, tell the police.

You can also tell:

• a friend,
• your family,
• staff at home,
• staff at your day centre, or
• your key worker.

Stay safe in taxis and minicabs

Using a taxi or a minicab can be safer than using buses and trains – especially at night.
But it costs more.

Taxis

You can stop a taxi or black cab in the street.
You do not have to book a taxi or a black cab.
Taxis have a white label on the back with the taxi’s number on it.
The driver wears a badge with the same number.

• If you want to complain about a taxi driver you should remember this number.

You must book a minicab by telephone or go to a minicab office.

• Remember to tell the office what time you want the minicab to arrive.
• Ask for the driver’s name.
• Ask what sort of car it will be.

When the minicab arrives:

• Ask the driver his or her name and the name of the firm before you get into the car.
• Sit in the back, not next to the driver.
• Talk about everyday things.

When you get home:

• Have your keys ready so you can go indoors quickly.
• Ask the driver to wait until you have shut your front door if it makes you feel safer.

Look after yourself in taxis and minicabs

• Ask someone you trust to recommend a minicab firm or use a firm you have used before.
• If you do have a problem with a taxi driver or minicab driver, you should tell the police straight away.

You can also tell:

• a friend,
• your family,
• staff at home,
• staff at your day centre, or
• your key worker.

What to do if there is real trouble

Most people are safe all the time, but if you do have real trouble, it is best to get away if you can.
You could get hurt if you stop to fight.

If you have a problem with someone:

• Use your personal alarm if you have one.
• Shout and scream.
• Get away quickly.
• Go somewhere safe quickly.
• Tell someone what has happened.

If someone attacks you and you cannot get away:

• Try to hit them once as hard as you can where you will hurt them.
• Aim for the knees, groin, stomach or elbow, or pull back their little finger.
• Then get away as quickly as you can.
• Try to stay calm.
• Breathe slowly, this will help you stay calm.

What to do after a problem

If something bad happens to you, tell someone you know as soon as you can.
Ask them to come with you to the police station.
You can speak to a woman police officer if you want.

Try and remember exactly what has happened:

• What did the person look like?
• What clothes were they wearing?
• What was the number of their car?
• Where did it happen?
• What time did it happen?
• Who else saw what happened?

People who can help you

You can talk to other people about what to do to stay safe.

You could talk to:

• a friend,
• your family,
• staff at home,
• staff at your day centre, or
• your key worker.

You could talk about:

• what you would do if something happened to you.
• What sort of people frighten you. It might be people who are drunk, people in large groups or people making a lot of noise, for instance.

It is a good idea to practise:

• What to say to a stranger at the door.
• How to ignore people who say nasty things to you.
• Remembering things that happened to you.
• Telling someone about what has happened to you.
• How to order a minicab
• Asking when the next bus is coming.
• Shouting for help.

The police can help you feel safe. You can get more information about keeping your home safe and about personal alarms from your local police station.

Write down useful telephone numbers to use in an emergency:

• Someone you know
• Your local police station
• Your local Victim Support Group

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