The festive season, especially the end of the year, is always a time to look forward to because of the fun and enjoyable things that come with it, not forgetting the holidays. It’s also the time you cut yourself some slack and indulge in your favourite meals. Did I mention that it is also the perfect time to catch up on those conversations and chit-chats with family and friends who will be coming around?
The season comes with so much merriment and unfortunately, crime. Let’s take a look at some things that you should and shouldn’t do to have yourself a safe and memorable holiday.
How to Stay Safe During the Holiday Period
Avoid Trouble Spots
There are places notorious for their criminal activities and volatility when it comes to violence. Chances are, the crime rates in areas like these may increase during the festive season. Try as much as you can to avoid places like that.
Avoid Lonely and/or Dark Spots
Lonely and dark spots are comfortable places for street urchins to lurk around waiting for their next victim. Avoid places like these so you do not risk getting robbed and/or injured. Take an alternative route if there is one but if you must pass, do it with some group of people or pass during the day when everywhere is bright.
Avoid Late Nights if You Can
Keeping late nights is unavoidable for some people who live in cities with usually heavy traffic. In a city like Lagos, Nigeria where the majority of the population lives on the mainland but works on the island, arriving home in the dead of night is inevitable for some residents but if you are privileged to live close to where you work try as much as possible not to keep late nights even if you pride yourself in being a night crawler. You can put your night crawling skills on hold during the festive season for your own safety and resume when the period is over. There is a reason nighttime is meant for sleep. You never know what lurks in the shadows. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Get an Outing Buddy
The season is noted for a lot of shows and activities to help you let your hair down and unwind. These shows oftentimes go on very late into the night. You might want to attend a few. It is advisable you attend these shows in the company of a friend(s) or family member so that you can look out for each other in case you get so caught up in the moment and do not pay attention to your surroundings.
Go Cashless
There is absolutely no need to be carrying all that cash with you when you are going shopping. You must have heard tear-jerking tales of how people lost their entire shopping money during the festive season either through robbery or in the hands of those ruthless pickpockets. Save yourself the paranoia that comes with walking around with cash. Just get yourself a UBA card and load all your money on it. It is convenient and safe.
Keep Purchased Items Out of Sight
Do your heart some good and save it from palpitations from worrying about getting robbed by ensuring you tuck all purchased items safely away from the prying eyes of criminals. If all items can’t fit into the boot of your car, you can have them wrapped or covered in a way that does not give away what they are or what they might be worth.
Ensure Doors and Windows in Your House Are in Good Condition
Burglars are usually on the prowl during this period because they know a lot of people shop for the festive season. So, bad doors and windows in your house mean easy access if a burglar decides to burgle your home. To keep those items you spent almost the whole of your day shopping for safe, ensure that your doors and windows are in perfect condition or fixed if they are broken. You can take it a step further by ensuring they are burglar-proof.
Don’t Drink and Drive
This is one piece of advice that never goes out of style because it involves the ultimate… life and death. If you must drink do not drive and vice versa for your own safety and that of other road users. Some mistakes can be undone but unfortunately, death or killing someone doesn’t rank in this category. So always think of this before taking that alcohol and still deciding to go behind the steering wheel. Even with a clear head and vision, there is another very important thing you need to stop…SPEEDING!
Read Also: How to Plan a Vacation on a Budget
