1. Basic Safety Knowledge

1) Always remember, no matter where you are, there is the possibility that one could be the next victim in crime. Always be alert, and even in a safe area, there would be some unforeseeable danger.

2) Always stay in calm when one is in dangerous, and always know what should do.

3) Always put yours or your relatives' name cards in your wallet, and do not carry a lot of cash.

4) Please do not store a lot of cash at home.

5) Always remember the nearest police station's phone number. Remember the basic English sentence to look for help, such as, "I need help, please bring me to the police station, please call the police and ambulance". Also, remember your physical address and the national emergency call number: 10111.

6) When you are involved in a crime incidence, please report to the police immediately, then report to the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town (Tel: +27-21-6740593, +27-828393158)

 

2. What you must consider before you leave home

1) Avoid to leave home at night for unnecessary grocery purchase, or just to refill the petrol…etc.

2) Always be certain where you are going, and let your family or friends are aware where you are going, and when you will return home.

3) Always be certain that you have brought all your personal belongings, and avoid returning home suddenly.

 

3. When you are on street

1) No matter you are going out alone or with other persons:

I. Always go out with someone you know well.

II. Always make sure where you are.

III. Always walk on the light and heavy traffic's street, avoid walking on the quiet avenue.

IV. If you do not have a cell phone, always carry some coins along with you, in case for emergency call.

V. Prepare the keys before you arrive home, never stay in front of your front door and look for the keys. Put a plastic band with your keys, it would help when you look for the keys in dark.

2) When you recognize someone is following you:

I. Across the street immediately and see if the person is still following you.

II. Do not intentionally walk to the dark or small avenue to testify whether the follower is a criminal or not.

III. Walk to the bright place and report to the police immediately.

3) When you are following by a vehicle:

I. Turn around immediately and run away would be the best method to shake off the followers.

II. Write down the registration number, brand, model and color of the following car.

III. Do not think that you could run faster then the vehicle. But you can always change your direction quicker than the vehicle.

IV. Go to the police station or crowd place to look for help.

 

4. When you are in a vehicle

1) Basic safety knowledge

I. Never show your personal belongings on the seat; always put them under your feet or in the car boot. Always lock the doors when you are in the car.

II. Always close the windows when there is someone walking around.

III. Use the hand-free to answer all phone calls. If you insist not to use the hand-free, please do not put the cell phone next to the window.

IV. Always maintain a reasonable distance with the vehicle ahead; it could allow you to change the driving direction when accident happens.

V. If possible, please prepare a baseball bat, a wooden bat or a golf bat in the car boot as a defense weapon.

2) If your vehicle break down in the middle of nowhere

I. Open the bonnet, lock yourself in the car and phone for help.

II. Do not open the window when someone approached and talks to you. It would be much safe to sit still in the car, than to look for strangers' help.

III. If someone approaches you, ask the stranger to call the police, your friends or tow car. But remember to wait in the car.

IV. Always bear in mind there are lots of police vehicles patrolling on the high ways.

3) If you recognize there is a vehicle following you

I. Drive to the police station or petrol station and report to the police. Never drive home.

II. Never let the following vehicle to stop you at the roadside. Your life is more important than the wellness of your car body.

III. Write down the registration number, brand, model and color of the following car.

4) When you are near to your destination

When there is only one kilometer before your destination, always remember:

I. Stay silence in the car, do not disturb the driver.

II. Always observe the surrounding people and vehicles.

III. Consider unfastening the seat belt when you approach the destination, although it would be against the traffic rules, but it could save some time when you are in dangerous.

IV. There should be no trees or obstacles and always maintain the brightness at the front door and in front of the garage door.

5) When you arrive your destination

I. Always park at the bright place, and park as near to the destination as possible.

II. Observe the surrounding people before getting off the car.

III. Try to park at the parking lot with security guards.

IV. If there is a parking attendance, which would park the car for you, only give the parking attendance the car keys. Keep all the other keys with you.

V. Do not leave the valuable belongings in the car.

6) Lock the car

I. Do not switch off the front light before the car has parked still in the garage. If possible, close the front gates before open the garage door.

II. Be high alert when you are approaching home, garage, or parking lot. If you discover strangers, or unknown vehicles around, try to drive around the block and return to see if those strangers or unknown vehicles are still around. You can approach to the police and ask for accompany with you.

III. If there is strangers enter to the elevator, rather wait in the lobby for few more minutes. If there is any stranger in the elevator with you, always stand next to the control buttons. In case of attack by the stranger, you can always press different floors' buttons, and start shouting "Fire" to attract more attention, when the elevator has stop at the nearest floor.

IV. Take away the car keys straight after leaving the vehicle.

 

5. When you are at home

1) Basic Safety Knowledge

I. After move into the new home, always change all the locks, and always install the safety one. Install the door hole, so not open the door to any strangers. Install burglar bars at the window, and always lock the security gate.

II. Install the reliable alarm system and join the reliable Armed Response Company.

III. Always close the curtains at night.

IV. Always switch on the lights at more than two rooms, in order to indicate there are people at home. The best way is to switch on the bathroom light, because a full of light's house can stop the intruder away.

V. Do not let strangers to step in your house to use your phone, if they need emergency call, you can dial it for him/ her.

VI. Always be alert when the strangers enter your house.

VII. If police officer wants to enter your house, you can ask the officer for his/ her pass, check it carefully and write down the officer's number.

VIII. Always check the electrician or meter reader' working pass, if you cannot make sure the trustworthiness of the pass, phone to their belonging company which number has shown on the white page or yellow page. Do not dial the number that the stranger provides.

IX. Always be alert to the following persons, whom do not make a prior appointment: Technician of house maintenance, Census Investigator, Market Investigator; Electrician, Plumber, Meter reader, TV License Officer.

X. Do not believe a stranger because of what uniform they are wearing, or just depend on what they have said.

XI. Always protect your neighbor's privacy; never tell the strangers that your neighbor is not at home or living alone.

2) If there is an intruder outside your house

I. Stay still in your room and switch on the light

II. Do not shout to the people outside.

III. Call the police immediately, slowly and clearly tell them what you are experiencing.

3) If the intruder is in your house

I. If possible, escape from the other doors or windows.

II. Report to the police at a safe place, do not try to catch the intruder.

4) If you are tired up by the intruder

Follow the instruction of the intruder, maintain the personal safety is more valuable than the personal belongings.

Notice that, firearms are dangerous, if you do not have the knowledge of using firearms, it could be possible for the criminals to use it to endanger your life. Always be careful when you shoot at the garden, because the outsider could be your family member. Only open fire when your life is in dangerous. Put a baseball bat next to your bed is more convenience than hiding firearms in the safe box.

 

6. Remember your phone is only for your own usage

1) Never tell the strangers of your address, name or phone number, and never say that you are alone at home.

2) Never talk to the strangers and cut-off the line immediately.

3) Always report to the police about the suspicious phone calls.

 

7. When you are under threat

1) Many daily necessaries could be use as defense weapons. Any weapon that is not with you when you need it would become useless. Always put the following things in your vehicle:

Ø A loud whisper

Ø Tear Gas

Ø Pen

Ø Letter opener

Ø Keys

2) Do not run without intention, a dark corner of the street or a playground would not be a safety place to go.

3) If you know that you could not approach any safe place, stop before the attacker could catch you. Turn around and face that stranger, it would make you in danger if the stranger caught you at your back.

4) If you are caught by an attacker without weapon, try to disrupt him/ her by talking to him/ her.