7 Practical Ways to Stay Safe and Avoid Dangerous Situations, Security Expert Advises

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Danger can sometimes develop without any obvious warning, making awareness and careful decision-making important aspects of personal safety.

Security consultant Richard Kumado has urged the public to take simple precautions in their everyday lives to reduce their exposure to potentially dangerous situations, both online and offline.

According to him, people can unknowingly make themselves vulnerable by trusting strangers too quickly, revealing excessive personal information or failing to let trusted people know their whereabouts.

Here are seven safety measures recommended by the security expert.

1. Be cautious about who you trust

Richard Kumado advised people to exercise caution when dealing with strangers and avoid giving newly acquainted individuals immediate access to their homes or private lives.

He noted that meeting someone in person or interacting with them online does not automatically make them trustworthy.

Taking time to know people and verifying the information they provide can help individuals make safer and more informed decisions.

2. Be mindful of what you post online

Social media can expose personal information to a wide audience, sometimes including people users do not know.

The security consultant encouraged people to maintain what he described as a “hygienic social media lifestyle” by carefully considering the information they share online.

He advised against unnecessarily posting sensitive personal details or information about one’s movements and urged people to report hacking incidents and other security breaches promptly.

3. Tell someone where you are going

People travelling to unfamiliar places or visiting someone were advised to inform a trusted relative or another responsible person about their whereabouts.

Having someone who knows where you are can be important if communication is lost or an unexpected situation occurs.

Mr Kumado also recommended keeping enough phone credit available to make an emergency call when necessary.

4. Avoid complete isolation

According to the security expert, people should avoid becoming so isolated that nobody knows what is happening in their lives.

Although privacy and independence are important, maintaining contact with trusted people provide an additional layer of protection.

Such individuals may be able to notice when something is wrong and seek help if they are unable to reach you.

5. Verify information before placing your trust in someone

Mr Kumado also highlighted the importance of conducting proper checks before making major personal or financial decisions.

He encouraged people to gather relevant information when dealing with relationships, travel arrangements, investments, property transactions or educational opportunities.

For instance, someone considering marriage can make appropriate enquiries about a prospective partner, while individuals can also verify the background of people they plan to travel with or investigate an investment opportunity before committing their money.

He referred to these checks as social-media, financial, travel and education due diligence.

6. Be careful about announcing your movements

The consultant urged people to think carefully before publicly revealing their travel plans or daily movements.

Announcing where you are going, who you are travelling with or how long you will be away could provide unnecessary information to people who have no legitimate reason to know.

Being selective about what is shared publicly can help reduce unnecessary exposure.

7. Avoid taking unnecessary risks

Mr Kumado further encouraged people to make sensible choices in situations that could put their safety at risk.

For motorists, this includes avoiding alcohol before driving and allowing sufficient time to reach a destination instead of rushing and potentially engaging in dangerous driving.

More generally, he advised people to plan ahead, verify information and avoid situations that unnecessarily increase their vulnerability.

Stay alert and make informed decisions

Personal safety does not always require complicated measures. Simple habits such as being cautious about who you trust, protecting personal information, informing trusted people about your whereabouts and verifying important details can help reduce avoidable risks.

Ultimately, staying safe often begins before danger occurs, through the everyday decisions people make about whom they trust, what they share and where they go.

By: Paulina Armah/Radio1.