Safety should always be a priority for everyone. Creating a lifestyle that is focused on keeping yourself safe requires some simple steps. You would be surprised how simple lifestyle changes can result in a much safer life. Follow these five tips for creating a safer lifestyle.
1. Driver Safety
Even if driving regularly is not part of your lifestyle, you should still take driver safety seriously. There are an estimated 5 million auto accidents each year according to the Department of Transportation. The New York State Department of Transportation released their findings on how much the actual cost of an auto accident is and the findings are astounding.
On the lower end of things, an auto accident can cost about $15,000. On the higher end of things, an auto accident can cost about $63,000. Most auto accidents wind up costing between $30,000 -$40,000. Of course, that is just financial costs, the physical costs of an auto accident can be lifestyle-changing and affect you for years to come.
Take driver safety courses. Research where and when most accidents occur and avoid those areas. Never drive and text, or drive and eat, or drive and do anything other than drive. Distracted driving accounts for 35% of all accidents.
2. Pay Attention To Actions, Not Words
Creating a lifestyle that is focused on personal safety requires that you learn to discern between what people do and what people say. Many times, attitudes and actions do not mesh. For example, you are dating someone that criticizes people for overdrinking, yet they have on several occasions overconsumed alcohol in front of you themselves. To stay safe and recognize red flags, pay less attention to what people say and more attention to what they do.
People will always show you exactly who they are if you watch. Many people make the mistake of making excuses for bad behavior and putting their own safety at risk.
3. Do Your Due Diligence
About 225,000 people die every year because of medical malpractice according to JAMA. One of the best ways to stay safe when you are going to have a medical procedure is to do your due diligence. You can look up a doctor and see if there have been any malpractice suits filed against them. You can also see if there have been any medical board complaints filed. Every state has a medical board that oversees licensing and handles complaints.
Always go with your gut and check out any medical practitioner before you agree to any procedure. A recent study by the University of North Carolina found that people will spend more time researching a parking spot (especially in NYC where, on average, you spend 107 hours a year looking for one) than they will spend researching medical professionals.
4. Consider All the Risks Before Making a Decision
One of the quickest ways to find yourself in an unsafe situation is to make impulsive decisions. Building a lifestyle that is based on safety starts with learning how to evaluate all the risks before you make every decision. Do not let anyone rush you to make decisions about anything. You do not have to spend weeks evaluating risks, but you should dedicate some thought to risks for every decision.
5. Get Help When You Need It
Creating a safe lifestyle where you feel happy and well-adjusted does not just happen. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to create a safe lifestyle, you feel like a salmon swimming upstream. If you are struggling with safety, there is help available and you should not be ashamed to reach out. Getting professional help is a great way to create a lifestyle where you feel safe and secure.
