Safety
Crime Prevention Officers offer a variety of educational programs aimed at helping victims of crime and deterring criminal activity in their communities. Security officers run a neighborhood watch program and invite residents to participate in interesting programs. Crime prevention officers may also conduct business and home security surveys and discuss public safety concerns. The Shepherdsville Police Department also offers a home surveillance program in which officers inspect residents’ homes while they are on vacation. In addition, police officers conduct targeted patrols in areas of increased activity.
Bike Safety
- Keep your bicycle in good mechanical condition (tires, chain, brakes).
- Obey all traffic rules and signs; always give proper hand signals.
- Walk your bike across busy intersections
- Always ride with the traffic, as close as possible to the right side of the road.
- Be sure the roadway is clear before entering.
- Always ride single-file and watch for opening car doors.
- Most bicycles are built to carry one person — YOU! And you alone.
- If you must ride your bike at night, be sure your headlights and reflectors are in good condition.
- Select the safest route to your destination and use it. Avoid busy streets and intersections.
- Yield right of way to pedestrians.
- Always wear a bicycle helmet.
Child Safety
Parents, do your children know about strangers? Are you comfortable letting your children answer the telephone or front door if you are home or if they are home alone? Review these safety tips with your child. You can prevent your child from becoming a victim of crime. It’s important to give examples they can understand. Use your home, neighborhood, or school area as your setting. Help children understand that their safety is important to parents, and use the following points to stimulate discussion on this topic:
Who is a Stranger?
A stranger is someone your child does not know. Parents and guardians must decide who is a stranger and who is not. Explain that strangers come in all shapes and sizes. They can wear nice clothes, different clothes, or even a uniform. The uniform issue is confusing to children, so take time to explain that yes, the mailman is a stranger even though he comes to the door almost every day. This does not imply that people who wear uniforms will harm children, but children need to know that if they do not know the person in uniform, the person is a stranger.
Tell Your Child to Follow These Rules about Strangers
- Never take anything like candy, ice cream, or money from a stranger.
- Never talk to strangers.
- Never take a ride from a stranger.
- If a stranger asks for directions, stay away. Strangers shouldn’t ask kids for help.
- Never give your name or address to a stranger.
- Never tell anyone that you are home alone if you answer the telephone or door. Tell them that mom or dad is busy. Take a message.
- If a stranger in a car bothers you, turn and run in the opposite direction.
- If a stranger tries to follow you on foot or tries to grab you, run away, scream, and tell your parents or a trusted adult friend. A dangerous stranger doesn’t want to be the center of attention.
Instruct your Child on how to Safely Answer the Door
- Never open the door to a stranger.
- If a stranger knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, tell your child to look out the peep hole or call out, “Who’s there?” If it’s for you, your child should tell the visitor to wait and leave the door locked until you are available. If you are not home, your child should tell the visitor that you are busy and to please come back later. Your child can take a message, but he or she should NEVER open the door.
- If the visitor won’t go away and your child is scared, tell him/her to call 9-1-1.
How to Answer the Phone
- When answering the telephone, your child should not give out any information. If the caller asks, “who’s this?” Instruct your child to ask who the caller is and whom he or she called.
- If your child is alone, he or she should never tell anyone that he or she is alone. Instruct your child to tell the caller that the person can’t come to the telephone and that he or she will write down a message.
- If your child feels uncomfortable or gets scared by anything the caller says, tell him/her to hang up and make sure he or she tells you about any and all telephone calls.
- If you have an answering machine, let it answer the telephone if your child is home alone.
Be Street Smart
- Explain to your child how to safely walk to and from school:
- Always walk with a friend; there is safety in numbers. Strangers usually pick on kids who are by themselves.
- If you think that you are in danger or if you are being followed, yell and run into the nearest store, house, or back to school. Tell an adult what happened.
- Have your mom, dad, or both of them walk your school route with you to make sure that it is completely safe.
- Always stick to the same, safe route going to and from school. Do not take shortcuts, and never hitchhike.
What to do in an Emergency
- Explain to your child that if someone is hurt or very sick, there is a car accident, or there is a fire, call 911 as soon as possible. For further information on Child Safety, go to the following links: Web Wise Kids and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Drowning Prevention
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury and death in children under the age of 14. Temporary failure of supervision is a common factor in most drowning or near-drowning cases. Child drowning can happen in the time it takes to answer the phone—just a few seconds. Children can drown in small amounts of water and are at risk in their own swimming pools, bathtubs, spas, and hot tubs.
- Never leave children unsupervised in or around a body of water – even for a moment. Children can drown in as little as two inches of water in less than one minute.
- Install a self-closing gate around the pool.
- Alarm every door leading to water to alert you if a child has gone outside.
- Teach children water and swimming skills.
- During pool parties or family beach gatherings, designate an adult to watch the children.
- Remove any toys that may attract children to the pool area.
- Install a pool cover to securely cover the water area.
- Install a poolside cordless phone.
- Keep lifesaving equipment – a pole, life preserver and rope – in the pool area.
- Children with long hair should clip it back or wear a cap in the pool.
- Avoid keeping water in buckets or other large containers when toddlers are home.
- Don’t rely on flotation devices to protect your children in the water.
Drowning Prevention Checklist
- Constant adult supervision by an adult who knows how to swim
- Childproof locks on all doors leading to water
- Gate or fence surrounding water
- Gate or fence is self-closing with a lock
- Pool cover is in use
- Alarms for doors and windows leading to pool are activated
- Child has completed swim lessons
- Above-ground pool stairs removed when pool not in use
- Lifesaving equipment in pool area
- Pool chemicals and supplies are locked in a secure area
- Child is watched in bathtub at all times
- Parent and/or caregiver know CPR
Home Security Tips
Helpful Tips
- Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
- Leave the lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers, or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
- Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
- Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
- Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
- Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives. Lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
- Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
- Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, social security number, credit card number, or other personally identifiable information without your permission to commit fraud or other crime. The FTC estimates that up to 9 million Americans have their personal information stolen each year. In fact, you, or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft before. Crime takes many forms. Identity theft is serious. More information can be found at the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Website. If you believe your personal information has been compromised, you may download the following document which provides guidance for taking steps to minimize the potential for theft of your identity.
Personal Safety
Stay Safe at Home
- Always lock your doors and windows, even when leaving for “just a minute.”
- Never leave a house key under a doormat, in a flowerpot, or on the ledge of a door. These are the first places a burglar will look!
- All exterior doors should be made of solid core wood or metal and have deadbolt locks with at least a one-inch throw that extends into the frame.
- Increase the security of sliding glass doors and windows by installing additional security locks. To prevent the door or window from being lifted out of the track, drill a hole through the door or window frame and the fixed frame, then insert a pin into the hole.
- Install a peephole in your front door. NEVER open the door to someone you don’t know!
- Use timers so that lights, radios, and televisions go on and off throughout the house to give the appearance that someone is home.
- Install exterior lights on timers that illuminate your doors and windows at night.
- Cut shrubbery back so it doesn’t hide doors or windows. Cut back any tree limbs that a burglar could use to climb to an upper-level window.
- Ask to see the identification of any repairman or delivery person before opening your door. If you are suspicious, call to verify.
- If a stranger asks to use your phone, offer to make the call for them. Have the person wait outside.
- Never let a stranger know you’re home alone, whether the person is at your door or on the phone.
Street Precautions
- Know where you’re going and the safest route to your destination.
- Walk at a steady pace with your head up. Look confident and avoid looking down at the ground.
- Stay in well-lit areas and choose routes where other people will be walking. Walk with a friend whenever possible.
- If someone is following you on foot, cross the street and head towards a busy area. If a vehicle is following you, turn around and walk in the opposite direction.
- Carry a whistle or personal alarm. Cut shrubbery back so it doesn’t hide doors or windows. Cut back any tree limbs that a burglar could use to climb to an upper-level window. Ask to see the identification of any repairman or delivery person before opening your door. If you are suspicious, call to verify.
- Vary your route while jogging or biking. Avoid isolated areas, and exercise with a friend whenever possible.
- If a stranger asks to use your phone, offer to make the call for them. Have the person wait outside.
- Never let a stranger know you’re home alone, whether the person is at your door or on the phone.
Senior Safety
Be alert when out and about
- Go with friends or family, not alone.
- Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside front coat or front pants pocket.
- Don’t carry credit cards you don’t need or large amounts of cash.
- Use direct deposit for Social Security and other regular checks.
- Keep car doors locked. Be alert in parking lots and garages. Have your keys handy; park near an entrance.
- Sit close to the driver or near the exit when on a bus or train.
- If someone makes you feel uneasy, trust your instincts, and leave.
Make your Home Safe and Secure
- Install good locks on doors and windows. Use them! Don’t hide keys in mailboxes, planters, or under doormats. Instead, leave an extra set of keys with a neighbor or friend.
- Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. If you are the least bit worried, call the company to verify.
- Be sure your street address number is large, clear of obstruction, and well-lit so police and other emergency personnel can find your home quickly.
- Consider a home alarm system that provides emergency monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies.
- Watch Out for Con Artists
- Don’t fall for anything that sounds too good to be true: a free vacation, sweepstakes prizes, cures for cancer and arthritis, a low-risk, high-yield investment scheme.
- Never give out your credit card, phone card, Social Security number, or bank account number to anyone over the phone. It’s illegal for telemarketers to ask for these numbers to verify a prize or gift.
- Don’t let anyone rush you into signing anything—an insurance policy, a sales agreement, or a contract. Read it carefully and have someone you trust check it over.
- Beware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.
- If you’re suspicious, check it out with the police, the Better Business Bureau, or your local consumer protection office. You can also call the National Consumers League Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060.
Get Involved in the Community
- Report any crime or suspicious activities to law enforcement.
- Join a Neighborhood Watch to help and look out for each other.
- Work to change conditions that hurt your neighborhood.
- Seek out volunteer opportunities.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms can save your life, but only if they are used and maintained properly. Test your smoke alarm monthly by pushing the test button provided on the alarm. If it’s not working properly, change the batteries and test it again. If it’s still not working, replace it with a new smoke alarm. Make certain that smoke alarms are installed outside the doors of each bedroom in your home. Modern building codes in most municipalities require this placement, but older homes may have been built without smoke alarms. Replace the batteries in the smoke alarm twice a year. Shepherdsville Fire Rescue recommends you do so each time you change your clocks for Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time, once in the spring and once in the fall.
When to Call 9-1-1
Dial 9-1-1 when there is a medical, fire or police emergency, such as life or lives are in danger, a fire, serious injury, serious medical condition, or a serious crime in progress. Dial 9-1-1 only when an immediate response is necessary, such as immediate help from law enforcement, immediate help from the fire department, or immediate help from paramedics. Dial 9-1-1 if in doubt about the seriousness of a situation, such as any possible situation that you believe may be serious and that may result in injury, death, loss of property, the apprehension of a suspected criminal, or the prevention of a crime that is about to occur. When in doubt, dial 9-1-1. Assistance is always dispatched to the most critical incidents first.