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Violence Against Health Care Providers

Security Recommendations to Enhance the Safety and Protection of Providers

You will find below security tips that you may wish to incorporate into various aspects of your daily life. Keep in mind that many local law enforcement agencies offer free home and business security surveys. You should contact your local precinct, substation or office to avail yourself of this service.  

Home Security

  • Do not put your name on the outside of your residence or mailbox.
  • Have good outside lighting.
  • Control vegetation to eliminate hiding places.
  • Entrances and exits should have:
    • Solid door with deadbolt locks.
    • One way peep-holes in doors.
    • Bars and locks on skylights.
  • Restrict the possession of house keys.
  • Change all of the locks if keys are lost or stolen and when moving into a previously occupied residence.
  • Lock all entrances at night, including the garage.
  • Keep the house locked, even if you are at home.
  • Develop friendly relationships with neighbors.
  • Arrange for an unlisted/unregistered home telephone number (this limits accessibility to home address)
  • Obtain Caller ID on all phone lines.
  • Don't leave notes on doors.
  • Use a timer to turn lights on and off at varying times and locations.
  • Leave a radio playing while you are away (best with a timer).
  • Notify the police or a trusted neighbor of your absence.

Security In Your Business or at Work

  • Keep bomb threat/personal threat checklists by each telephone.
  • All staff members should familiarize themselves with the form(s).
  • Each form should have space at the top for:
    • Telephone number the threat was received on.
    • Exact time of call.
    • Exact words of the caller.
  • Install dead bolt locks on office doors leading to hallways and other public areas. Consider installing a "buzzer" entry door system.
  • Managers should issue and control keys, conduct semi-annual inventories, and have locks changed when keys are missing.
  • Have offices cleaned during business hours.
  • Ensure that cleaning personnel do not have access to security alarms or authorization to disarm them.
  • Instruct all employees on operation of your security system.
  • Do not allow visitors access to secure areas.
  • Do not allow persons visiting one office to have access to other offices or areas.
  • Immediately report persons who appear unannounced in your work area or who say they "opened the wrong door" or "were looking for another office."
  • Do not admit unexpected repairmen or delivery men.
  • Check with a reputable security company for information on available equipment and services.

Security in Vehicles

  • Do not use "vanity" plates that identify you by name or business affiliation.
  • Do not have your name or official title displayed at your office parking place.
  • Keep vehicle in good repair--you don't want it to fail when you need it most.
  • Keep gas tank at least ½ full at all times.
  • Park in well-lit areas.
  • Always lock your car.
  • Do not leave your car on the street overnight, if possible.
  • Never get out without checking for suspicious persons. If in doubt, drive away.
  • Leave only the ignition key with the parking attendants.
  • Don't allow entry to the trunk unless you're there to watch.
  • Use remote garage opener if available. Enter and exit your car in the security of the closed garage.
  • Before leaving buildings to get into your vehicle, check the surrounding area to determine if anything of a suspicious nature exists. Display the same wariness before leaving your vehicle.
  • Before entering vehicles, check for suspicious objects on the seats and floor.
  • Guard against predictable routines by varying times, routes and modes of travel.
  • Avoid dark roads and alleys.
  • Know locations of safe havens along routes of routine travel.
  • Always ride with seat belts buckled, doors locked and windows closed.
  • Do not allow your vehicle to be boxed in; maintain at least 8 feet between you and the vehicle in front and avoid the inner lanes.
  • Be alert while driving or riding.
  • Know how to act if surveillance is suspected or confirmed.
  • Circle the block for confirmation of surveillance.
  • Do not stop or take other actions which could lead to confrontation.
  • Do not drive home if you are being followed.
  • Get description of driver and other passengers.
  • Go to the nearest safe haven. Report incident to local police.

Public Transportation and Travel

  • Vary mode of commercial transportation.
  • Select busy stops.
  • Use different taxi companies.
  • Don't let someone you don't know direct you to a specific cab.
  • If possible, specify the route you want the taxi to follow.

Resources

 

Updated June 5, 2023