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REALTOR(R): Safety Tips during REALTOR(R) Safety Month

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® are committed to helping their members stay safe while on the job, at home and on the road. To raise awareness about the important issue of safety, NAR has officially designated September as REALTOR® Safety Month.

SILVAR shares the following safety tips from the NAR that can prove valuable to everyone:
• Always keep a mobile phone at your side; program emergency numbers into speed dial.
• Meet all new clients at your office; verify their identity, and whenever possible, avoid being at the office alone.
• Take a personal safety course.
• Install deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors to your home and the door to your home office.
• When you're alone getting into your car, the first thing you should do is lock the doors.

It is not a pleasant topic to think about, but even with the most diligent use of safe work habits, you may find yourself confronted by a dangerous person. The primary goal when confronted with any potentially dangerous incident is to escape from the danger and call for help. When faced with potentially menacing behavior, you should first try to find a discreet way of removing yourself from the situation.

If an attack does occur, trust yourself and stay as calm as possible. Think rationally and evaluate your options. There is no one right way to respond to a confrontation because each situation is different. The response depends on the circumstances: the location of the attack, your personal resources, the characteristics of your assailant and the presence of weapons. You must rely on your own judgment to choose the best one:

• No resistance: Not resisting might be the proper choice in a given situation. An attacker with a gun or a knife may put you in a situation where you think it is safer to do what he or she says. If someone tries to rob you, give up your property, not your life.

• Stall for time: Appear to go along with the attacker. This might give you time to assess the situation. When his guard is down, try to escape.

• Verbal assertiveness: If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell “Stop!” or “Stay back!” Criminals have been known to leave a victim alone if he or she yelled or showed that he or she was not afraid to fight back.

• Physical resistance: If you decide to respond physically, remember that your first response should be to flee the area or the home. Act quickly and decisively to throw the attacker off guard while you get away. Your personal safety is your first priority; property can be replaced, but the value of your life and health is beyond measure.

• Observation: Be sure to make an effort to get an accurate description of your attacker(s). Even the smallest details may give authorities a clue to finding the suspect (s).

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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