Seniors, Caregivers and Families Urged: Make 2005 Resolution to Ensure Safety, Health, Prevent Attacks Against Persons, Property, Keep Contacts for Rapid Medical Response

As 2005 draws nearer, not only is Father Time 2004 growing older-so is a growing number of much of the U.S. population. For many of those who will continue aging into 2005, it will be a time of growing isolation and worry about personal safety as well as access to life-saving emergency response medical teams.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 30, 2004 -- As 2005 draws nearer, not only is Father Time 2004 growing older-so is a growing number of much of the U.S. population. For many of those who will continue aging into 2005, it will be a time of growing isolation and worry about personal safety as well as access to life-saving emergency response medical teams.

It doesnt have to be that way, according to an Atlanta, GA-based advocate of senior safety, Richard Blackwell, who urges seniors and family caregivers to make-and stick to-a resolution to protect seniors from attacks against person and property, and to ensure that seniors have the most immediate access to emergency response medical teams.

Although not himself a senior, Blackwell has emerged as a leading spokesperson for seniors well-being through his innovative products and his promotion of safety and medical issues at his web site, www.SafeHome.net .

In addition to urging a national recognition of the importance of personal safety for seniors with the declaration of a National Seniors Safety Awareness Month, he has written to members of the Senate Aging Committee, encouraging them to increase the awareness of the need for protection for seniors, who are among the most vulnerable members of society. He is also the sponsor of an educational and informational outreach on seniors safety through his sponsorship of a section of www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com devoted to safety and security issues.

And, hes done more than that: When a 75-year-old neighbor was carjacked in the middle of the afternoon, he turned his business background to the development of an innovative, hand-held wireless early alert warning system-NeighborLink that can notify neighbors and even 9-11 if a senior is being attacked. The system can also shorten the response time of emergency medical response teams, offering precious minutes that can mean the difference between life and death.

Blackwell realizes that much of the national attention about seniors safety is directed towards identify theft and fraud, but he is quick to point out that there is an equally dramatic challenge in the area of personal safety and well-being. His observations are supported by statistics from the Department of Justice:

• Annually on average, 2.5 million property crimes against persons ages 65 or older occurred.
• More than nine in ten crimes against the elderly were property crimes.
• Elderly persons (age 65 or older) were victims of an annual average 46,000 purse snatchings or pocket pickings, 166,000 nonlethal violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault), and 1,000 murders 1992-97.
• Robbery accounted for a quarter of the violent crimes against persons age 65 or older.

Many of these crimes could have been thwarted if the victims had the benefit of 'instant communications with law enforcement," Blackwell says. Another area of need that Blackwell urges be examined is contact with medical resources, especially ways to reduce the amount of time needed for a medical response team to be summoned and to arrive.

The facts are evident-it takes approximately seven to ten minutes for an emergency response crew to respond to a 9-11 call, Much longer than the max 5 minutes needed to save a heart attack victim" Blackwell notes.

This validates the life-saving implications of the need for immediate notification of all available resources, and it is evident that many deaths can be avoided with such emergency communication capabilities, he continues. NeighborLink , with its ease of use and immediacy is designed to offer that life-saving time for response teams." Blackwell recommends the following checklist be used in making 2005 safety resolutions:

• Make sure your home is secure.
• Check to make sure all deadbolt locks and other locks work.
• Check bushes, trees to ensure they dont block views, creating areas for thieves, others to hide.
• Dont 'hide keys in mailboxes, under doormats or other places that you believe criminals wont find.
• Dispose of unused cans of paint, other flammable materials in the house.
• Make sure all exterior lights work.
• Utilize a workable personal security system, one that offers flexibility and freedom of movement. (Blackwell believes the inexpensive-a one-time charge of under $100 for most systems-and the fact that the alert-triggering device can be worn on a keychain is a major reason for the acceptance of NeighborLink (TM) by security conscious seniors and family members).
• In Your Car
Know where you are going and how to get there.
• Maintain your vehicle in good working order, with ample gasoline.
• Plan your trip and take friends along.
• When possible, travel during daylight hours.
• Dont enter dark parking lots or deserted garages.
• Leave only your ignition key with parking attendant.
• Let someone know where you are going and your planned return time.
• When driving, lock your doors and windows; lockup when you leave.
• If you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest public place; and
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Stay Alert - Be tuned-in to your surroundings; dont be taken by surprise. Be aware and prepared, even in your own neighborhood.
• Stand Tall - Walk confidently, dont show fear, and dont look like a victim.
• Trust Your Instincts - If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave right away and get help if necessary.

Combine all of these things with the benefits of the efficiency of immediate communications such as NeighborLink , and seniors can empower themselves and not live in fear of attack, Blackwell concludes.

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