Deck the Malls – Holiday Shopping Safety – 12 Days/Day 5

The holiday season has many of us heading out to shop for holiday gifts. When you do it’s very important to be aware of your surroundings and take the necessary steps to look out for your security. 2 Bee Ready wants to help you review some basic ideas to keep your shopping expedition as safe as possible.

Stay aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to get lost in your shopping experience. Be sure you are not so focused on your shopping activities that you loose awareness of who or what is around you. If you are bringing the kids along you need to be keeping an eye on them too. It’s easy for little ones to get out of sight, and it can be a handful. Distractions can be a hazard. If things are getting hectic, take a minute to regroup and refocus.

The same applies if you are shopping with elderly folks who may have mobility, sensory or cognitive difficulties. Be sure to keep an eye on your shopping party, where you are and who is around you. Remember, holiday shopping should be a good experience, if things are getting too hectic, take a break or try another time. The safety and welfare of you and your family is the most important thing.

Use care when presenting your credit/debit card to merchants. Be sure that your personal info and card info stays safely controlled, both online and in stores. If you carry cash to do your holiday shopping, be sure to not flash large amounts of green in public. It can make you a target for crime. When you are out hitting the malls, be sure to take note of where you park. Be sure to always park in busy and well lit parts of the lot. Wandering around with armloads of presents, looking for your car can make you more vulnerable to crime.

We hope that this little “12 Days of Preparedness” post helps you to have a safe and productive shopping adventure this holiday season.

Preparedness is more than just bottled water and flashlights. It’s an all encompassing mindset of safety and readiness. It’s making conscious decisions about managing risk in all aspects of life. The 2 Bee Ready team wishes you a happy and safe holiday season.

Chuck Wilson – Founding Contributor at 2BeeReady.org