Guest Blog by Private Eye: Emergency Response Failure
One of Eye on Crime's readers, known as Private Eye, has kindly offered to write some articles on safety and security, after we approached him in this regard. He has had many years of experience in this field and we appreciate the advice he has given us thus far. I recommend that everyone reads his blogs, his advice can one day save you or a loved one.
Emergency Response Failure
Every week, there are hundreds of emergency responses to residences which can’t be found easily. Last week, my neighbour’s wife collapsed at home and immediate emergency response was needed. The ambulance drove up and down the road looking for a street number which was not on display. By the time the property was located, she had passed away.
One never knows when a medical, fire or security emergency will arise at home. Make it a priority to be located easily when every second matters.
- Make sure your street name and number is displayed and easily visible to passing traffic.
- Use reflective signage for rapid identification at night.
- Be proactive. Record the street names of your nearest street corner with your armed response company today.
- Connect your panic alarm to an outside strobe light that faces the road.
- In an emergency, park your car where it can be seen and activate the hazard lights to attract attention.
- Lock up your dogs.
Next week, we will address rape prevention.
Be proactive – be safe!
Private Eye
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strydomc:
With Zuma running this country you might aswell order your coffin know and keep it ready, even with all the visible signs outside your house they will not make it: TWO REASONS. It will interfere with there lunch break, and they dont get paid enough money to do the job. They just sit and sit and meantime YOU busy dying at home.
TIME THE DA GRABS THEM BY THE ...........
Anonymous:
Emergency Response is very important for elderly people, the most vulnerable.
payday loan
Anonymous:
This clearly shows that just alarms and security systems are not alone enough. There has to be people on the other-side that can respond in a correct way, mainly it's about education. For elderly people I would suggest that they install a security system operated by a reliable company.
jeffreyfrog:
Another great post! Very helpful. Can't wait for your next article "Rape". For me, in my own opinion, one public policy I can think of is public nudity. Often we hear about people exposing themselves to children or women. These people obviously need psychological help and this could lead to other types of sexual crimes such as child molestation or rape. What do you think? security monitoring
Anonymous:
the new street changes wil adversely affect the location of persons in need of emergency help.
Anonymous:
the new street changes wil adversely affect the location of persons in need of emergency help.
Anonymous:
Thanks for the helpful information. Indeed security is crucial.
911legal@gmail.com:
Violent Crime is destroying the fabric of our society. Children are being psychologically and emotionally traumatised by all forms of violence. Children witness their fathers, mothers and members of their community being savagely slaughtered. This is abnormal. There is compelling evidence that confirms that this pattern of violence will perpetuate when the children of yesterday are the adults of today. FACT
The Government of South Africa together with the Minster of Safety and Security have done nothing to curtail violent crime. This inordinate level of crime is paralysing South Africa and driving away investors. FACT
Young adults have either left, or are leaving South Africa, so that they can live a life where they don’t run the risk of loosing their life for their cell phone or their car. FACT
South Africa is loosing its taxpayers, which will ultimately leave South Africa in the doll drums if this violent crime is not HALTED immediately.
This Government has misappropriated some R75 Billion on arms – we don’t have to defend ourselves from an enemy – our enemy is crime. FACT
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=276131&area=/breaking_new...
As responsible adults YOU too must do your utmost to protect our children from this senseless violence, that is traumatising our children.
This Governments social policy does nothing to protect children that loose their loved ones and are only entitled to a puny R285 per month, in terms of the child grant.
There exists a chronic disparity where violent criminals are -
· Housed from the elements,
· Get three meals a day,
· Receive medical treatment, & access to
Education
· This comes at a cost to the taxpayer at about R4320 per month
The Constitution of South Africa states as follows
Equality
Section 9(1) - Everyone is equal before the law and has then right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
Human Dignity
Section 10 - Everyone has an inherent right and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
Life
Section 11 - Every one has the right to life.
Freedom and security of the person
Section 12(1)(c)
Everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person which includes the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources.
Children
Section 28 (1)(d) - Every Child has the Right - to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Section 28 (2) A child’s be interests are paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
It is evident that this government has NO COMPASSION or respect for our children. They will be the leaders of tomorrow! What culture are children developing given that crime must be OK, and that corruption by people in authority is also considered normal!
In March 2008, MNET’s Carte Blanche broadcasted a programme that depicted how children have been traumatised by crime.
see - Crime Trauma and Mental Health
http://mysite.verizon.net/nancy_poitou/CrimeTrauma.htm
Do our children deserve to be victims of our governments incompetence and lack of compassion?
"Every shooting or stabbing, every rape, every child sexually abused, every case of someone suffering domestic violence is one too many. Serious violent Crime accounts for a large percentage of all crime, but where it does occur, it devastates lives, blights communities with fear and causes terrible suffering not just for victims, but for their families and friends as well.
We request your input on how we will implement a ZERO tolerance stance against crime. Your input will help us to compel the Government and the Minister of Safety and Security and his substructures to halt violence immediately , they must be held accountable for their incompetence.
Let your voice be heard and by supporting the F.A.C.T. petition - fight against crime today!
http://mypetition.co.za/index.php?page=sign_petition&petition_id=103
Anonymous:
Thank u for providing these constitution laws. It is ludicrous that SA has implemented so many laws to protect the minors and yet the govt. behaves adversely, what a joke. Since u 've asked for suggestions/input...I think it has to come down to those who are making a living as lawmakers( minister of safety& security, police depart/other law enforcement agents). Because they are unable to perform their duties-lack of adequate training, corruption,incompetence etc. then they
shouldn't be getting a paycheck.It amazes me that South Africans were willing to halt business activities/ go to court hearings ..demonstrate etc. when Zuma was going thru his hearings and demanded that Mbeki Steps down from office and yet they cann't do the same for their kids/family protection.They need to have their priorities straight.if they can demand that a president steps down surely they can do the same with lawmakers. So It is all about the mindset and thinking outside the box..We all know that South Africans are good with marching, demonstrating, destroying properties, it time that they take utilize that energy and march to Pretoria and start demanding actions..GOOD LUCK..
LEE:
Hi there,
I enjoyed your links on Crime section...
I would like to add a few more that I frequent:
http://www.crimestop.co.za/
https://www.crimeline.co.za/default.asp (for tip offs)
Wall of rememberance: http://www.health24.com/tools/remembrance/remembrance.asp
THANKS for an informative website!
Anonymous:
I believe that not enough people have emergency response numbers on their phones and are available freely. EVERYONE should have the police, firestation and hospital on their phones and by their home phones
Anonymous:
"connect your panic alarm to an outside strobe light"
What does this mean?
PrivateEye:
PvtEye
Connecting a strobe light to your panic alarm means that the panic buttons and strobe light would share the same circuit on your alarm system. Panic circuits work 24 hrs a day, whether your alarm is armed or not. If you pressed the panic button, the strobe light would automatically flash outside the building, where everyone would see it.
Anonymous:
I have read all the comment of various people. I feel that we have to take back our streets by assisting the Police to patrol our own areas. In other words we have to form neighborhood watches and sagegaurd our own areas. We have to stop sitting in the Lazyboy chair and comment on what the Police do and do not do. Let us stand up against crime and safegaurd our areas for our childrens sake, so that they can feel safe and that they can play where they want to and then our children will have more respect for their parents. Let us show what we can do. There is no better way than this, as we know that the Police are understaffed and reluctant to do there work with proudness. accept for the few positive one's.
P L Fourie
Leigh:
i was taught in school as young kid , oh and by police officers who came to our school,, that in any case of an emergancy,, being medical or brake in your should phone 10111. well now. relying on that darn number for help could get you killed. you have a better chance at servival by depending on your neighbours then 10111! due to the following reasons:
1.)about 5 years ago i lived on a plot in vanderbijlpark , i was alone at home with one of my friends when we heard people out side the house, we got worried and phoned that number, not once but twice we didn't get an answer. later we had to phone the barrageweg police station which was further and they were there within 10 minutes.
2.) 4 years ago after moving to another house in vanderbijlpark, hardly there for three months my car was broken into. again phoned 10111. still waiting for the police to pitch 4 years later. the security company had a better respones.!
3.) a year after that , the family company i work at was broken into quite a lot of damage was done to the office as well as things that were stolen, again we phone 10111, no answer! across from the office by a total garage we mark that there's a police van park there, i walk over and tell the policemen that our office has been broken into could he help us? his response " i'm off duty go to the police station and open a case."
4.) the last stroke! exactly a year after that . one evening , after going to bed at more or less 10 pm in the evening i feel something strange over me, being a light sleeper that i am, i wake up to hear something strange, i open my eyes to notice someone who had broken in looking at me whilst sleeping through my window, once the man had left to go raid our fridge i quitly crept out to wake my father, and phone the police,, first no answer then finally getting an answer but again we are still waiting for a response!!!! lucky the guy got a big fright at me and my father making a hell of a racket waking most of the street,, he ran away luckly with only a remote control, but leaving his shoes behind.
after that we decided bugger that we're moving!
there are so many people in vanderbijlpark who share the same stories and problems.
i love my living in south africa, but having to live like this is a horror on it's own. growing up i play in the streets for hours. now being grown up i bolt the house up and still don't feel safe! the saddest part of it is,, i cant even rely on our beloved 10111. nor the police.