No-Nonsense Seasonal Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
The holiday shopping season is an anticipated American tradition that kicks off every year almost as soon as the football games end on Thanksgiving Day. “Black Friday” is the traditional opening of the holiday season for retailers. We all have our own shopping strategies for accomplishing the holiday gift-giving mission. You may be the master planner who meticulously researched all the Black Friday deals and plans to camp out overnight or hit your targeted destinations in the pre-dawn hours. Perhaps you are the weekend warrior who will go “old school” and fearlessly brave the weekend crowds to knock out your list. Or maybe you are the procrastinating Christmas-Eve ninja who will surgically remove key gifts from stores during the panic and mayhem of last minute shopping. Regardless of your holiday shopping strategy, safety is something that is easily overlooked during the holidays but should be on your mind all season long. This article will assist with no-nonsense holiday safety tips for Black Friday, parking lots, shopping and braving the crowds safely with your kids in tow.
Black Friday
Holiday shopping requires you to pack your patience but Black Friday shopping requires you to take your patience to a whole new level. Remember that you have chosen, of your own free will, to take on the massive crowds of the busiest shopping day of the year. You need to accept that frustration is part of the package deal. Long lines can lead to short tempers and you should not let your quest for retail bargains come at the expense of your personal safety. Consider coordinating your trip with friends, because there is safety in numbers. Avoid waiting outside alone, especially when it is dark. If you decide to camp out or end up in a crowd waiting for a store to open, take note of signs or barricades that have been set up to control the crowds. Look for visible police or security personnel monitoring the crowd. Crowds can be unpredictable and bad behavior can escalate quickly. If you sense tension rising within the crowd and do not see visible security taking action to correct it, trust your gut and walk away. Never rush or push your way into a store, do not argue or wrestle over merchandise and notify store employees of any unsafe behavior immediately before it escalates. That door buster priced toaster or television is not worth your safety and health.
Parking Lots
Always remain aware of your surroundings and keep your head on a swivel. Parking lots are full of dangers ranging from criminals looking for distracted shoppers to distracted drivers hunting for scarce parking spaces. Park as close to your destination as you can. If parking close is not possible, park under lights if it is dark. Avoid parking spaces next to large vehicles that may obstruct others view of you as you get in and out of your car. Keep your windows and doors locked at all times. Store valuables and packages out of sight in your vehicle’s trunk. Remember where you parked. Do not overload yourself with packages as you walk to your car and have your keys in your hand when you leave the store. Minimize your time in parking lots as much as possible and avoid contact with people loitering there. Ask store employees to escort you to your car if you feel unsafe or if you have too many packages.
General Shopping Safety
It is best to shop during daylight hours whenever possible and to take a friend or family member with you. Always pay attention to your surroundings and make note if it appears that someone is watching you. Notify a police officer or security officer if you feel someone is following you. Never leave your cell phone, wallet, purse or packages unattended in a shopping cart. Travel light and consider using pockets rather than a purse if possible. Plan ahead and try not to visit an ATM machine. Customers leaving ATM machines signal criminals that they just received cash and make a desirable target. If you must use an ATM, choose one that is inside a store or mall that is well lit and protect your pin number. Better yet, consider using a credit card to make your purchases instead of cash, debit cards, and checks. Credit cards can be cancelled with one simple phone call if lost or stolen and you are generally not responsible for any fraudulent charges. The other options may all lead directly to irreplaceable financial losses or difficult appeals processes to get your money back.
Shopping With Kids In Tow
Taking your kids shopping is always a safety challenge and this only gets magnified during the crowded holiday season. Your safest option is actually leaving the little ones with a trusted sitter or family member. If that is not possible, you need to make sure you set strict ground rules. Make sure you teach your kids to stay close to you at all times when shopping and do not allow them to get comfortable wandering off. Kids need to know their full name and their parent’s phone numbers in case you get separated. Put a note with that information in their pocket if needed. Make sure they know to seek out a police officer or store employee if they get separated. Do not allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom or to the car. Make sure your children know not to interact with strangers and to notify you if one is initiating contact with them. Never leave your child or children unattended in a car, running or not, for even a short period of time. Lastly, consider taking a cell phone picture of your child as you leave for your shopping trip. This will give you an up to date photograph of their appearance, including their current clothing, to provide to authorities in case they do get lost and you need to contact the police. This time saving measure will hasten recovery efforts.
Lastly, we know that terrorists have recently targeted retail and entertainment centers in other countries. Holiday gathering places in this country could potentially be viewed as attractive soft targets for extremists. Although it is unlikely that you would encounter such an experience here, it would be useful to make note of the nearest exits when you shop, dine or gather just in case you need to make a quick exit. Make sure you notify local authorities if you see anything suspicious so they can check it out and keep us safe.
We here at the Homeland Security Vortex wish everyone a safe and prosperous holiday shopping season. We hope that you utilize the tips provided to lessen the stress and frustration that holiday shopping can cause and dedicate time to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family. Thank you for reading.
RLend is a contributor to the Homeland Security (HS) Vortex which is a platform where insiders from the policy, law enforcement, fire service and emergency management fields converge to discuss issues related to Homeland Security.
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