Karen S. Relstab

Safety Tips for Au Pairs in Chicago

Call the Chicago Police to find out if your destination is in a safe area. If you have an address for a place you would like to go to and don’t know if it’s in a safe area, call the Chicago Police Department at (312) 742-4480 and tell them where you are planning to go. The person who answers the phone will be able to indicate to you whether your intended destination is safe or not.

1. Do not go out alone. A young woman out by herself in Chicago at night is a potential target for criminals. In 2004, approximately 75 percent of murders in Chicago occurred during the evening and early morning hours (between 5 pm and 4:59 am). Ask another au pair or a friend to accompany you when going out in the city at night.

2. Stay in crowded areas. Avoid secluded, dark areas or shortcuts. Busy, well-lit and heavily populated streets are safer places to be.

3. Walk with energy, confidence and purpose. Hold your head up, look around constantly, be alert and check your surroundings.

4. Travel lightly. Try not to carry bulky purses, bags or parcels. Always keep at least one hand free.

5. Stay alert at all times. When you are alone, avoid wearing headphones; try not to be engrossed in reading; avoid talking on your cell phone for long periods of time. You must be able to see and hear who or what is approaching from all directions.

6. Dress like an athlete in disguise. Always try to wear clothing and shoes that allow you freedom of movement. If you are in a situation where you have to run away from someone, heels that do not come off easily and constrictive skirts are not going to help you.

7. Let your driver help you, have someone meet you. If you do take the bus alone at night, sit by the driver, stay awake and alert, and have someone meet you at your stop. If you travel by taxi, have the driver watch you safely enter your destination.

8. Scan your surroundings before getting in or out of your car. Never get in or out of your vehicle without doing a visual sweep of the immediate area for suspicious persons. Be sure that your doors are locked and windows closed. Do not park your vehicle in dimly lit, isolated areas or parking lots.

9. Follow your instincts. If you think you are being followed and you don’t feel safe, cross the street, change your route and prepare to run for help. Know of open businesses and other public areas that you can go to if you need help.

10. Walk on the side of the street nearest to oncoming traffic. If accosted by someone in a car, run in the direction opposite the way the car is headed.

11. Stay in touch with your host family. Keep your host family advised of your whereabouts and what time you are supposed to arrive or return.

12. Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.

13. Never walk away from an ATM with cash still in hand. If you are going to count your money, do so at the ATM. Then take the time to put your money in your wallet and to put your wallet in an inside pocket or pouch before leaving.

14. Be aware of the “date rape” drug. The “date rape” drug is the common name for Rohypnol, generically called flunitrazepam. Rohypnol, also called “roofies”, is prescribed as a sleeping pill in countries outside of the United States. In bars and clubs, it can be used as a drug to incapacitate a victim before a sexual assault. Rohypnol can be dissolved in a beverage without your knowledge and is undetectable. Be wary about accepting drinks from anyone you don’t know well or long enough to trust. If you are accepting a drink, make sure it’s from an unopened container and that you open it yourself. Don’t put your drink down and leave it unattended, even to go to the restroom.

15. Remain as calm as possible if you are sexually assaulted. Take a mental photograph of the attacker. Notice everything: clothes, hair, any identifying marks such as scars or tattoos, and the height of the person in relation to you. Remember everything about the setting, if it is an unfamiliar place. Leave your own fingerprints everywhere. Hide some small personal item such as a button or earring ” anything that can later be traced to you. Do not bathe, douche or change clothing prior to seeking emergency medical care or calling the police. It is important to preserve physical evidence.

Public Transportation Safety in Chicago

1. Have your exact fare ready before you leave home. This way you won’t have to fumble for your money at fare box, or display extra cash.

2. Use the busiest, best-lit stop possible both to get on and get off the bus or the “L”. If you must wait, stay near the attendant’s stand or in the best-lit area available. Please note that the Howard Street “L” station, which is right on the border of Evanston and Chicago, is NOT a safe place to be if you are alone at night, and it is also not a safe place to leave your host family’s car.

3. Find a seat on the aisle if possible. This allows you to observe everything around you, and to avoid getting “boxed in” against the window.

4. Avoid sitting right next to the door. Thieves may try to snatch jewelry or personal belongings from people near the door and then exit quickly.

5. Stay awake and alert. Don’t let yourself doze off on the bus or “L”, or become too engrossed in a book. It can make you an easy target.

6. Do not leave your belongings on an empty seat. Keep your purse, shopping bag, backpack, packages, or other belongings in your lap, on your arm, or between your feet.

7. Don’t let your accessories invite trouble. Avoid displaying expensive looking watches, rings, necklaces or other jewelry.

8. Be wary of noisy passengers arguing or causing a commotion. This could be staged to distract you while others are trying to steal your valuables.

9. Observe the behavior of those around you. If you feel uneasy or threatened, change your seat or alert the conductor or driver.

10. Minimize the chances of losing your property by avoiding crowded buses and “L” cars.