Simple safety measures for singles, apartment-dwellers

23 years ago

Some years ago our local small-town municipality built an apartment residence, mostly for seniors.

Some members of the church where I was minister moved in. A number of the residents knew one another from before. Several lived alone.

I asked them whether, if the inhabitant of the neighbouring apartment knocked on the wall, could they hear it? Most said that they could.

I suggested that, as they knew each other's habits, that the first one to go to bed knock on the wall just prior to retiring and the resident of the neighbouring apartment could answer.

That way each knew that the other was O.K at bedtime.

They could carry out the same routine with the person occupying the apartment on the other side.

In the morning, the last one to rise could knock on the wall, and the other knock in reply - so they'd know that each was O.K. in the morning.

If one needed help, they could knock on the wall, say three times, then wait a few seconds and knock three times again. If they could manage to get to the wall.

That might not offer as much security, as the expected listener might be out, busy partying or doing other noisy things, etc. so might not hear the knocking.

I thought that it could offer some peace of mind to residents, at minimal expenditure of time or effort - and no cash.

Though I didn't check much - I don't know whether anyone used the idea. I don't remember hearing of it, if they did.

Some people establish telephone chains, to call one to another, then the next through a prepared list each morning. If the last person doesn't receive a call from the second last on the list by, say, 10 o'clock, s/he begins calling back up the list until they find out who didn't call, and whether there is a problem that needs attention.

It is more interesting if the sequence can be varied so that each one calls a different person from time to time, so that each doesn't just talk to the same person all the time.

It's a good idea to have more than one phone, with at least one on a table with cord hanging down so that one can reach it while lying on the floor. A wall phone might as well be on another planet, if one can't get off the floor.

Quite a number around here wear that push-button alarm on a necklace or wrist band that, through their phone, alerts a central centre, who then call helper(s). Some just buzz, some allow speaking, I think. Something like $30. start-up and $30. monthly.

Hope some of you can use one of these ideas - or perhaps it will spur your thinking to arrange something similar which could offer you and some others more peace of mind.

Let's share such ideas which might be helpful.

joyful guy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

minnie_tx
23 years ago
I think those are good ideas. Some other ones -not necessarily safety measures - might be to have a small battery operated radio and extra batteries and a few flashlights (also with extra batteries ) scattered around . One in the bathoom, the closet, the kitchen etc. so if the lights go out one would be readily available and one would not have to depend on a candle or matches. there are 120 hour candles in tall glass containers available at places like Walmart 4 for under $5.00 One of these in a room in a secure place is also good to have for a long haul, but it might be safer with the flashlights.
Another idea is to have a few extra bottles water and some "tide me over" food like small cans of tuna and soup and of course crackers. That way if one has to depend on others to come to your aid you will be supplied with the necessities to keep you for a while.
joyfulguy
Original Author
23 years ago
Hi Minnie TX

(My Mom's name - though I didn't know her much: she got sick when I was 5),

Good ideas - especially for us here in the north-east a week or so ago.

joyful guy
Related Discussions
Simple Appliances With No Bells or Whistles
Q
Comments (24)
Thanks for the feedback, everyone! weedmeister: When you say look at the bottom end of a a manufacture's range, do you mean for higher end brands or all brands? The low end of a Bosch, for example, I have to imagine would be a different animal than the bottom end of a Whirlpool, right? rhome410: I like the look of Fisher & Paykel a lot. Lowe's shows their double oven is $4,099 (for a 30") and $2,309 for a single. They seem to be thought pretty highly of here at GW. Are they a better bet than a knob-less Electrolux? $4,900 for a Wolf double? From everything I've ever read, that's quite a steal! plllog: I'm not sure what, if any, showrooms in my area sell Gaggeanau. I'll have to look, just to see if display models are an option. rhome410: I've heard a lot of good things about the Bosch dishwashers. I'll have to take a hard look at their 500 series. chase045: Good tip on making sure the cooktop models are made for propane. I'd imagine some are, but most aren't. rhome410: Thank you for making the effort to find your propane receipt. That seems really reasonable. I'm not sure if I'll go that route or just go with induction, but it gives me something to think about. powertoolpatriot: I've heard good things about KithenAide here on GW, too. I'll definitely give them a look. Yeah, this July 4th weekend has all sorts of crazy deals. If you're in the market to buy, it's like being a kid in a candy store! MCMespirit: Thanks for the tips! I haven't look at Bosch's cooktops, but I've looked at the Kenmore Elite (and Pro) ovens. CR seems to like them a good bit, and with the sales Sears has you can get them at really good prices. Glad to hear from someone who bought one and is pleased. dianalo: Yikes, sorry to hear that! Hopefully it works out for you, but I appreciate the tip (which will come in handy should I decide to try the propane route over induction). GE's website doesn't show any (unless I'm looking in the wrong place), so I didn't know wall ovens with knobs from them were an option. I'll have to shop around and see if I can find any. That's an awesome deal on that Bosch DW. maire_cate: Thanks for the feedback!
...See More
Safety at Christmas
Q
Comments (5)
Better than using a ladder is a scaffold--much more secure and safe. Easy to store, because they come apart, and take up almost no room in the garage. And they're not that expensive, you can get them for under $200 at most home centers--I picked one up for DH for only $140 at Tractor Supply.
...See More
Security system? Safety of bedrooms in ranch style home
Q
Comments (32)
I'm a woman. I also understand statistics. >I understand your stats that we are more likely to get into a car accident than have a child abducted from their bed but do you think that Polly Klaas's parents would take comfort in those stats. So if it was your child you would just say wow, they had more of a chance being killed in a car accident than being abducted from home. That's insane thinking. If my kids died because they got a phenomenally rare form of cancer, I'd be devastated, but I wouldn't spend time obsessing about the possibilities of really rare cancers and wouldn't make sure I lived close to a great cancer center, just in case. Nor would I go around hysterically advising parents of the same if it DID happen. >The biggest risk from an unlocked window is burglary and a possible encounter with the burglar(s). That risk will vary greatly by location and time of day. The VAST majority of robberies are during the day--for a reason! If someone who knows you wants to kill you, having a bedroom on the second floor isn't going to help. And the vast majority of murders are of this type. If a stranger is interested in a crime of opportunity, there are many other things to think about before decided that having no first-floor bedrooms window is the solution. A stranger can enter just as easily through any other window and then CLIMB THE STAIRS. Windows can be broken, believe it or not, too. Want to block off all windows with bars? Then you're far more likely to die--from a fire! If you live in a bad neighborhood or a neighborhood with high "crime exposure," then you should have burglar alarms, lights, thorny plants, a dog, etc., before worrying about what floor your bedroom is on. Best advice for not getting murdered? Stay away from unstable people. Seriously. Be careful who you marry! And stay away from drugs, gangs, etc., and those who are involved in them. Don't work in a convenience store or gas station. or be a food delivery person. Don't live in the most crime-ridden neighborhoods, and don't walk through them, either. There. You've just taken out more than 98% of the risk of being killed.
...See More
Covid Safety Question
Q
Comments (36)
It's not wise to throw out false information of what peter would say. "Revelation 22:18,19 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." I read the reference sources used by the CDC to fact check their claims, and found they like to exaggerate a little. On study showed just a small drop in infections of the states which required masks to be worn. Another more recent study the CDC uses as reference show a drop in the effective rates of both vaccines to the Delta variant. for one it is 93% for alpha and 88% for the Delta. The other shows 74% for alpha and 67% for the delta variant. Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines I think the stupid ones are those who don't read the words of god or man and understand little. "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
...See More
minnie_tx
23 years ago
Minnie is my screen anme haha

a good site for being prepard for everything is the one below.
Over at AOL we had a lot of fun on a board posting ideas about all kinds of preparedness and one of the gals made a site Enjoy!!

It isn't selling anything but good ideas and info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Be Prepared
Jonesy
23 years ago
I saw an alarm in the luggage section at walmart. You put it under the door like a wedge and if the door is pushed it sounds. It looked kind of flimsy, but the one that was in my travel magazine look good. My mom is 91, Dad died in the 50's and she kept one of his shotguns, a small one for protection. Her son in law told her if she suspects someone is in the house, cock the shotgun, the noise would scare him off. He also told her don't keep the shell because a burgular could kill you with your own gun.
joyfulguy
Original Author
22 years ago
Hi again, all,

I just visited my old (step-)uncle, the 88 year old beef farmer with no kids whom I stayed with for a time in late winter a year ago, as he went to the barn to feed cattle despite having a very painful back, hip and left leg (he's had three hip replacements). Don't ask me what he plans to do with the money the current animals earn for him - he doesn't know himself, I suspect.

Several friends have been telling him for some time that he needed one of those warning devices that one can trigger when one needs help.

When I visited him the other day, he had just got one of them. You have a box attached to your phone and carry a warner button with you (wrist band or necklace). When you are in trouble and need help, push the button that you carry and a signal goes to the office, then they phone a number of friends who are willing to come to your aid.

Costs about $25.00 initially and $25 - 30 per month operating fee.

By the way - one should give all of the people on the list a house key, or expect to suffer a broken door or window if a signal gets sent.

Good wishes to you all for a healthy, safe retirement, enjoying friends, family and some interesting things to do.

joyful guy

P.S. It's bedtime - son wants to attend a festival as a clown, blowing up balloons for kids, tomorrow. It's some distance away, so he wants to leave at 5:30 a.m.

I'm happy and very thankful to be enjoying good health at 74.

jg

Simple safety measures for singles, apartment-dwellers

Comments (5)

minnie_tx

joyfulguy
Original Author

Related Discussions

minnie_tx

Jonesy

joyfulguy
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Simple safety measures for singles, apartment-dwellers

Comments (5)

minnie_tx

joyfulguyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

minnie_tx

Jonesy

joyfulguyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

joyfulguy
Original Author

joyfulguy
Original Author