Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/277

 �Help Protect Yourself

A great safety movement introduced by the New York police to help the citi- zen to protect his life and property

��j HOUSEHOLD police: departivient

J BULLETIN No. 1 cut of i.t«. .^.«^ •«<=«£

��W A N X E D

Everyone in this house to be a good, clean AnneHcan citizen. Keep sidewalk and street clean. Put all refuse in the garbage cans and keep the covers on.

ARTHUR WOODS

��WE Americans are the most careless people in the world. We preach the doctrine of safety first in the home, follow it up in the otBce and shop, and then step out on the street and forget all about it. The result is apparent. Last year twenty- two thousand persons were injured and six hundred and fifty killed by street accidents. That means one person killed ever}' four- teen hours and one injured ever\- twenty- three minutes! A pretty* record for a people who started the safet>--first movement!

Confronted with these figures and aware of the fact that they are increasing with alarming rapidity, the police department of New York City, cooperating with the Advertising Club of New York, has started a campaign to impress upon the people of the greater city the absolute necessity of keeping wide awake against dangers that daily confront them.

The general purpose of the movement is to help the individual citizen to save his life and property. There are rules for those who walk, rules for those who drive automobiles, precautions against burglars, pickpockets and disease, and instruction on miscellaneous subjects.

One of the succinct paragraphs under the heading, "You Who Drive," is: "Your automobile may be under control but how about the other fellow's? He may be a crazy man. You don't know."

Some of the precautions against burglars are:

"When you leave your house don't ad- vertise the fact by pulling down the shades or by leaving a note in the letter-box saying that you will be back at such and such a time. Sneak-thieves profit by such ad-

��vice. It is an invitation for them to enter.

"When your front-door bell rings and you press the button and no one comes to your apartment, notify the janitor immediately. You may have admitted a thief."

In regard to pickpockets you are advised not to be too eager to pull out your watch and give the time of day to ever> body who asks you for it. That's a good opportunity^ for somebody to grab it and run. Don't show your money in a public place. It is an invitation to criminals to follow, assault and rob you. Don't, when shopping, lay your handbag on counters while looking at goods. This is the opportunity for thieves.

As for disease, respect your neighbor as much as yourself. Don't beat your rugs or stir up ashes so that your dirt will be blown into his apartment to fall on his food or be breathed by him.

If you are well, keep well by helping others.

Buy by standard weight or measure, not by basket or prepared package. The po- liceman is your friend. Get his advice.

Under miscellaneous information you are asked if you have a good, clear description of your personal property. Could you, if requested, quickly supply a description of each member of your family? Such de- scriptions are essential if anything serious should happen in your house. W'rite them in a book.

When you see a crime committed, or observe a suspicious person or condition, notify the police at once. The more you cooperate with the police, the more the police can accomplish for you. Regard the policeman as your best friend. You are paying him to keep your street safe and orderly. He is entitled to your help.

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