Seniors Safety

By Sheila Martindale

The recent incidents involving stabbings in Victoria, one of them resulting in the unfortunate death of a high school student, has given many of us pause for thought. Just how safe are we in this city? How safe are we as seniors, many of us being frail and vulnerable? If a big and muscular young man can succumb to an unprovoked attack, what chance do we older people stand?

According to the Victoria Police Department, there were 1,521 personal assaults in the Capital in 2009, a small percentage, no doubt, of the number in Vancouver, or Toronto, but a huge number for our pleasant community on this lovely island.

There is absolutely nothing that anybody can do to prevent a sudden and unexpected attack, such as has happened lately, in broad daylight in a well-populated area of the city (except perhaps for an entire revamping of the approach to social problems like poverty and homelessness, and that is another story.) But there ARE things that we, as older pedestrians and transit riders can do to give ourselves a measure of protection and security against violence on the streets. Several police departments in BC issue booklets full of suggestions, as do crime prevention associations, and certain public-spirited companies, including BC Hydro, which sponsored a publication entitled Seniors Safety and Crime Prevention. These ideas cover a wide range of security issues, including home safety, guarding against scams and fraudulent schemes directed at seniors, theft, and elder abuse in general. But for this purpose I will stick to those concerning being out on the streets or on the buses, since that is the problem that I (and many of my single women friends and neighbours) are currently most concerned with.

One sensible idea is to carry a whistle or other alarm-raising device at all times, and I immediately put this into practice ($2.99 at PharmaSave in James Bay, comes with a neck cord.) A potential attacker will be startled by a loud and piercing noise, will not want to draw the public's attention, and may be scared off. If you go out regularly, vary your route, and avoid isolated areas. If possible, travel with a friend. Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings and do not wear headphones or other devices which may distract your attention to what is going on. Walk facing the traffic to eliminate the risk of a vehicle following you. Keep to well-lit, populated areas. Don't burden yourself with heavy parcels. Avoid carrying an obvious purse, prefer a fanny pack or wallet concealed under a coat or sweater. Sit at one of the front courtesy seats on the bus, in view of the driver. After 7:00 pm in Victoria, a driver will stop the bus wherever requested, if you feel your personal safety to be at risk.

Another thing I have done, and this may not be practical for everyone, is try to increase my stamina and strength by regulating my diet and working out regularly. Oddly enough, being physically fit also leads to greater mental alertness. So, my sporadic efforts at exercise have taken a new and more determined direction in the quest for my own personal security. And, of course, we know that walking is one of the best forms of exercise, so let's not be too scared to walk here because of a few unbalanced individuals who may wish others harm. I also refuse to be held hostage by fear at night - I'm not willing to give up going to theatres, concerts, and other artistic events, whether in daylight or in the dark, but I am a lot less glib these days about the risks involved.

It does not hurt to keep on lobbying our politicians and city officials about making our city streets safer for all persons, but let's also do as much as we can to ensure our own security, and not end up as a statistic on the police records.