A few ideas to help to stay safe

It seems like on a daily basis we read or hear of someone who has been shot or stabbed or beat or hurt in some way. Here are a few simple common sense things that might just help keep us safer.

Probably the most important is to keep alert. Don't be talking on your cellphone or texting or have your mind on gosh knows what. Keep your mind on being safe. If you need to talk to a friend, then pick a safe place and talk but not on the way to your car out in the parking lot. Be aware of those around you or your car.

If you feel like there is a problem, ask for an escort. When I worked in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, I would normally get through around 3 or 4 in the morning. The police didn't mind at all driving by as I went out to my vehicle.

Have only certain keys on a designated key chain. Don't carry all your keys on the same key chain. I've seen people with a dozen or more keys on the same key chain. It would be nigh on to impossible to find the right key in a hurry only by feel. I have my pickup key, house key and a key to the security lock on our driveway on my key ring. Three keys! Maybe have your house key and car key on the same ring. Unlock only the driver side door, if you don't have an armload of groceries or whatever. Know by feel the buttons on your key. Which button unlocks your car and which button locks it. Also know which button sets the alarm off.

Carry some type of protection like pepper spray or mace. When you buy it for the first time, buy a couple spray cans of it. Use one of them to practice with. (For heavens sake, not on somebody or something.) Know how to use it by feel so that you don't have to look at it to use it. Then carry it where you can get to it in a hurry.

If you are used to carrying around a large purse, opt for a small hand-size clutch purse to carry. You can carry it in your large purse if you want to, but when you shop it is less cumbersome than the large purse. It is fairly easy to grab the strap on a large purse, jerk it out of your hand and then it's gone.

If you have to drive, especially after dark, pick a route that is more populated or where there is more traffic. It may be longer, but if it's safer, then so what. Take the safer route.

Put the numbers of the area police departments in your cellphone. Since I live in Scott City, I've programmed in the numbers of the Scott County, Scott City and Cape Police Departments in my cellphone. I don't have Chaffee's, so I need to add it to my phone numbers. If I lived in Cape or Jackson, I'd add them to my list of cellphone numbers.

Remember that nothing is more valuable than your life or the life of a friend or loved one. A purse or car or gift can be replaced.

Have a good one.