Safety and Security of Senior Citizens

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I highlighted on spending quality time during second innings of life in various posts in my blog. Today I am writing this article to emphasis on safety and security which is equally important to enable us to spend quality time during second innings. The safety and security aspects will be discussed in this article in two parts.

1. Safety and Security at Home

2. Safety and Security outside the Home

1. Safety and Security at Home:

All the senior citizens are required to take care of their safety and security at home from external threats as well as from internal threats.

1. (i) Safety and Security from external threats:

External threats are the threats that comes to us from the sources outside our home. Strangers visiting your home may be an external threat. If you are staying in an apartment then your apartment is under common security provided by the Society or Apartment Owners' Association whatsoever may be. The security guards monitor the entry and exit of visitors inside the Housing Complex at the entrance of Housing Complex. Many Housing Complexes monitor the entry and exit of visitors not only through visitors register but also through CCTV cameras installed at the entrance of the Housing Complex and at the entrance of individual block or building. In addition, there is a mobile app called 'MyGate' which allow the visitor to enter if it is approved by the individual apartment owner. MyGate app is having multiple functions like visitor management, Community Management, Payment of Society Dues, etc. The link of MyGate app is MyGate. In addition there is an another app i.e. Gatekeeper App whose link is ApnaComplex.

Even after having common security arrangement in residential complexes, one need to be vigilant when a visitor is entering inside the apartment. One should have peephole as well as safety chain on the entrance door of flat or apartment. Peephole or magic eye is a small round opening lens through a door from which a person staying inside the house or apartment can see directly outside the door. Viewing is possible only in one direction through these lenses. Various types of peepholes or door viewers are available which one can buy online from amazon, flipkart, IndiaMART and many other sites. The link for amazon, flipkart and IndiaMART are

(i) Amazon

(ii) Flipkart and

(iii) India Mart.

In addition to peephole, safety door chain on the entrance door of house or apartment is required for additional security for preventing threat from unknown visitors knocking the door. Safety chain allows a person to open the door partially for safe viewing and speaking to visitors before deciding whether to open the door fully. Various types of safety chains are available which one can buy online from amazon whose link is Amazon.

Before permitting security guard at the main entrance of your housing complex for allowing entry of any visitor please ensure the identity of the visitor. Once the visitor knocks your door please see through peephole or magic eye to ensure the identity of the person knocking your door. If the person is unknown then open the door partially by putting safety chain on door.

Security cameras should be installed at home so that you can have eyes on your home even when you are outside the home. Have some emergency contact numbers and share it with your trusted neighbours.

1.(ii) Safety and Security from internal threats:

There are certain threats which a person may have to face while staying in home and these threats are not from external sources but exists within the close door of home. Unawareness about these internal threats may lead to accident. Security threat may come from kitchen, washroom, floor, etc. Wet floor is very dangerous and one may slip leg which may cause injury and bone fracture. Whenever you find water droplets on your floor, please get it wiped as soon as possible. Floor should be dry and clutter free. There are instances of slipping in washroom because of wet floor. After taking bath, please wipe out water on bathroom's floor to outlet with the help of wiper. This will help in keeping bathroom floor dry and clean.

There is another threat that may arise from your kitchen. Many times, kitchen floor become wet while cooking or washing vegetables. This may also lead to accident due to leg slip. Please keep your kitchen floor dry. Kitchen burner or gas oven should be handled carefully otherwise it may lead to fire hazard. After finishing your cooking turn of the knobs of gas oven as well as regulator of gas cylinder / gas pipeline to prevent gas leakage. Don't forget to switch of electrical appliances in the kitchen after use. Keep fire extinguisher inside your home and also know how to use it in case of any fire hazard.

Have an emergency medical kit with thermometer, gloves, cotton, gauze, sterile cleaning solutions, BP / Blood Sugar monitor. Dim light in your bedroom and bathroom should be always on at night. Keep a loud alarm bell in addition to mobile phone beside the bed to enable you to call for help in case of emergency.

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2. Safety and Security outside the Home:

One has to be more aware of one's safety and security while staying outside the home. While using staircase one should mind the steps while going downstairs as well as upstairs. It is better to hold staircase railing while using staircase as it protects us from injury in case of slipping of steps especially while going downstairs. If you are moving out of your home for going to vacation or tour then you have to take certain precautions as listed hereunder.

(i) Before leaving your home please ensure that all the water taps are closed, knob of domestic gas supply is put off, all your electrical appliances inside the home are totally switched off, all your windows as well as doors are closed and entrance door is properly locked.

(ii) At this age never try to lift your luggage otherwise it may lead to orthopaedic problems. Instead use trolley bag to carry your luggage. You may find various types of trolley bags on Wildcraft, Meesho, Nashermiles and also on various online shopping sites.

(iii) If you are travelling abroad then please have travel and medical insurance.

(iv) Please carry your regular medicines and doctor's prescription whenever you move out of your home for tour or vacation. In addition, please also carry some other common medicines and ointments to be used in case of any injury or other health issues as first aid. Please also have the information and contact number of Doctors in the locality where you are visiting so that you can have consultation in case of serious health issues.

(v) Carry your mobile phone whenever you move out from your home. Please keep your near and dear informed about the places where you are going and have their contact numbers to be used in case of emergency.

(vi) Please avoid posting your photograph taken at airport or Railway station in social media especially when you are on tour.

(vii) Note down the vehicle registration number of your hired cab and informed that number to your friend in that locality in the presence of cab driver. It will be better to share the contact number of cab driver to your friend so that in case your friend is not able to contact you then he or she can contact your cab driver.

Let us have secured second innings to have quality life with full of joy and pleasures. Share this with your friends and relatives having elders in their home.

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Second Innings of Life