Home Safety: Insights from Female Executive Protection Agents
When it comes to personal safety, women can benefit immensely from the expertise of female executive protection agents. As Female Executive Protection Agents (FEPG), we all have the ability to take what we learn from the field of executive protection and apply it in our everyday lives. In this particular article, we'll explore perspectives from our very own female executive protection agents on how we can go about being prepared for unwelcome visitors or individuals in or around our home.
Here are some examples of unwelcome visitors or individuals:
Burglars: Individuals who attempt to break into your home with the intent to steal your belongings.
Trespassers: People who enter your property without permission, which may lead to concerns about their intentions.
Strangers Knocking at Odd Hours: People who approach your door during late hours or act suspiciously.
Stalkers: Individuals who obsessively follow or harass you.
Aggressive Solicitors: Individuals who are excessively persistent in trying to get your attention or financial support.
Unwanted Family or Acquaintances (The ex!?): Sometimes, even familiar people can become unwelcome or behave inappropriately.
Protesters or Demonstrators: In rare cases, demonstrations can become unruly or intimidating, especially if they occur near your home.
To help protect yourself from any of the above examples, female EP agents suggest creating a secure home environment as the first step in preparedness. Let's break it down:
1. Know Your Home and the Surrounding Area
Familiarity with your home and the surrounding area is an essential component of personal safety. Take the time to thoroughly understand your home's layout, including escape routes and potential hiding places. Make sure all entry points, such as doors and windows, are secure. Beyond your property, familiarize yourself with your neighborhood's crime patterns and potential risks. If you can move out of an area that has high crime - do it. That being said, some of us do not have the means to leave such areas so this article should be an essential and helpful read.
Also, establish rapport with your neighbors, as a vigilant community is often a deterrent to criminal activity. By staying well-informed about your environment, you can be more proactive in deterring criminal threats and reacting effectively to any unexpected situations.
2. Locks and Alarms
Female EP agents stress the importance of using locks and alarms in and around your home. Consider smart locks and alarm systems that you can control remotely, offering both security and peace of mind. There are so many instances where technology can help us in the event we do not remember if we locked the door or shut the garage door down.
As EP agents, it always is nice to be able to double-check the lock status of a client's house with a simple click of an app. We can instantly check the status of these access points and make sure they are closed/locked when they need to be.
Cameras can also be powerful deterrents as well. How many times have we seen thieves steal packages on someone's ring camera? Search YouTube if you haven't seen these videos. By putting these video cameras around our homes and at entry points - we are already scaring away many potential criminals.
We highly recommend the Ring doorbell system. This brand is reliable and extremely easy to use. It lets you see who's at your door, chat with visitors from your phone, and can keep an eye out for any suspicious moves with motion detection. You can even store video recordings in the cloud for added security. Plus, it plays well with other smart home gadgets, making your whole setup smarter. It's a breeze to install, and the community-sharing feature keeps everyone in the loop.
There are so many different options (click for more options) for home security systems to choose from. The goal is to find one that works best for you and your family.
Remember to always read reviews and take enough time to choose the best system. When the alarm/video system arrives, test it out! If you don't LOVE it - send it back! As EP agents, we have learned to not waste time on brands that are unreliable or difficult to use.
3. Neighborly Bonds
We need to stress this again. Build relationships with your neighbors. This doesn't mean becoming best friends but we advocate knowing who lives next door, across the street, around the corner, and more. Female EP agents understand the value of vigilant neighbors who can help keep an eye on your property and notify you or authorities of any suspicious activity.
For example, imagine an EP agent is responsible for a high-profile client living in a quiet neighborhood. A trusted neighbor notices an unfamiliar individual acting suspiciously near the client's home and promptly informs the agent. This proactive communication allows the agent to assess the situation and enhance security measures if needed, ensuring the client's safety without causing alarm.
The vigilant neighbor's quick response demonstrates how community cooperation can help maintain security effectively. In no way do we mean to say that the EP agent isn't doing her job correctly. The truth is EP agents cannot see every part of a neighborhood nor do the majority of clients wish to hire enough security to make this feat possible. The real world is not a Hollywood Movie. Having this neighbor down the street can help forewarn the agent of something that could potentially be dangerous.
4. Personal Preparedness
Self-Defense Training: Many female EP agents advocate for self-defense training. Self-defense training is a powerful tool that can boost a woman's confidence in her ability to protect herself when needed. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that physical strength can vary, and women might not always have the physical size or muscle advantage. Therefore, we recommend a holistic approach to personal safety, which includes self-defense training but also emphasizes the importance of having some form of non-lethal personal protection tool. These tools can level the playing field, offering women an added layer of security when confronting potential threats. By combining self-defense skills with accessible and effective personal protection tools, women can enhance their ability to stay safe and confident, regardless of their physical strength. It's all about providing a well-rounded approach to personal safety that actually works for women.
Firearms and Concealed Carrying (If lawful in your state): Some female EP agents choose to have firearms available for self-defense. If you decide to go this route, extensive training and a thorough understanding of firearm safety are crucial. Being trained and ready to deploy the ultimate "equalizer" can save your life or the lives of others you care about.
Firearm Considerations:
- Training: If you choose to have firearms available for self-defense, comprehensive training is essential. Female EP agents advise participating in courses on firearm safety, marksmanship, and legal responsibilities.
- Secure Storage: Female EP agents stress the importance of secure storage. Firearms should be stored in a locked safe or cabinet, separate from ammunition.
Pepper Spray: Pepper spray is also an effective option for self-defense. It is non-lethal and allowed in almost every state. Please check with your local state and see if you are allowed to use pepper spray before purchasing it. If you are legally allowed to carry it, female EP agents recommend having a canister within easy reach in case of emergencies. Pepper spray is easy to use and super affordable.
We recommend these 2 pepper sprays:
PLEGIUM SMART PEPPER SPRAY is the smartest pepper spray on the market, by the global industry leader, for easy grip, aim, and spray. Connect our compact personal safety devices for women and men to your phone and add 5 emergency contacts to the app.
FEEL SAFE AS ASSAILANTS FLEE if in danger, trigger the Plegium pepper spray with GPS to auto-send free text alerts and calls to your contacts, pinpointing your location. Detach and spray our magnetic safety keychains pepper spray for women and men.
ATTACKERS WORST NIGHTMARE a blinding LED strobe light disorients and exposes them as a 130-decibel siren pierces the silence as pepper spray streams over a 10-foot range to brand them with red dye and undetectable UV dye so they can be identified.
DEPENDABLE FIERCE PROTECTION flip the safety lid and set off a stream of furious maximum-strength attacks. Carry our smart pepper spray and alarm for women and men on the go. Our cutting-edge non-lethal self-defense products have a 4-year battery life.
PLEGIUM GUARANTEE a police report gets you a free GPS smart pepper spray for women and men if yours was used in a life-threatening event. Optional paid pro monitoring service with active tracking and live audio stream that can be sent to authorities 24/7.
2. Mace Brand Personal Pepper Spray
ACCURATE PROTECTION – Accurate & effective, the Mace Pocket Pepper Spray combines an advanced delivery system with a powerful formula to protect you from threats. Its power stream pattern provides long-range protection up to 10 ft.
STRONG FORMULA – OC pepper spray causes respiratory distress and coughing, impaired vision and an intense burning sensation to the skin while UV dye leaves a long-lasting residue to support investigation and identification.
CONVENIENT AND SAFE: This pocket-sized pepper spray includes a keychain for fast access making it easy to find when in a hurry. Plus, it is 100% TSA/FAA compliant for checked baggage airline travel.
FLIP TOP SAFETY CAP – This Mace Brand pepper spray features a finger-grip design to maximize your grasp and accuracy. The unique flip top safety cap prevents accidents or misfires making this pocket pepper spray convenient and safe.
MACE BRAND – "Mace" is Pepper Spray, but not all pepper spray is Mace Brand. Made in the USA, we continue to innovate the industry with powerful formulas, fast-acting delivery systems, and new safety features that ensure protection and peace of mind.
USE CODE "WEPA" for 25% EVERYTHING
on Mace.com (Thanks, Dan!)
5. Visitor Management:
Verifying Identity: Female EP agents emphasize the importance of verifying the identity of anyone who comes to your door. This can be done through a peephole, intercom, or even a call to confirm their purpose. Make sure to never assume the person at your door is who you are expecting at that time. Always take precautions, friends and family will absolutely understand
Scheduled Appointments: Reconfirm appointments with service providers in advance. Luckily, many companies now use text notifications that can alert the customer of the service provider's time frame window on the scheduled service day. Female EP agents understand that impostors are less likely to pass through this level of scrutiny if appointments are confirmed.
6. Awareness and Vigilance
Trust Your Instincts: Your intuition is a valuable asset. If something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to take precautions, including calling the authorities, arming yourself with self-defense weapons, calling a trusted neighbor/family member, or doing whatever else can help you feel and be more physically secure.
Online Privacy: We cannot stress this point enough. People are CRAZY. Therefore, female EP agents remind us to be cautious about sharing personal information online. You would be amazed at the info that can be pulled from your photos. We aren't just talking about what someone can see in the photo. We are talking about information stored within the actual photo's metadata. Essentially, broadcasting your location or daily routine can make you vulnerable.
7. Emergency Planning:
Escape Routes: Know your home's escape routes in case of a threat. Practice these routes with your family members. Do you have a fire escape ladder that can be used from the top floor of your home? Get one. These ladders can be used in other emergency events that do not involve fire.
Emergency Kit: Female EP agents recommend preparing an emergency kit with essentials like water, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, and a multi-tool. We call these our "Go Bags" or "Bug Out Bags".
If you are looking for a nice backpack that is high-quality - here is one we recommend:
WHY?
- THE SPACE YOU NEED: This backpack is approximately 18" x 13.2" x 11.6". This pack has room for all of your essential gear.
- DURABLE & WATERPROOF: Made from 900D polyester material, reinforced and double-stitched at all stress points.
- MOLLE MODULAR DESIGN: Molle backpack webbing system on front and sides, designed to be used in combination with other equipment, you can attach extra pouches or gear; such as kettle pouch, walkie-talkie pouch, first-aid pouch, etc...
- MULTIPLE COMPARTMENTS: designed with 5 compartments for storing different items: two front pockets for small items, two large compartments with built-in zippered pockets.
FEPG is here to give our members the most up-to-date information possible. This isn't information copied and regurgitated from other sites. We are oh-so-tired of the laziness in the blogging community when it comes to personal safety, especially for women. All the information you find on FEPG is from the eyes of trained and highly experienced female executive protection agents who get paid the big bucks to guard society's most vulnerable.
Empowering yourself with the knowledge and insights of female executive protection agents is a valuable step in enhancing your home safety. Whether it's creating a secure environment, staying vigilant, or considering the use of firearms and pepper spray, the advice from these professionals offers a holistic approach to personal security. By embracing their expertise, you can better protect yourself and your loved ones in your own home, reinforcing the importance of safety in every aspect of your life.
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