31 "Crucial" Home Safety Tips That Could Actually Save Your Life In Dangerous Situations

1. "I got a sensor light put above my door; it floods the nearby area with light for about 10–20 minutes. I think it's scared off a couple of drunks by now (I live within staggering distance of a pub), because I've seen the light flash on, followed by a surprised yelp and drunken fleeing."

—retrocrebbon

2. "Always have a landline phone. In the event of an emergency, 911 can instantly pick up the address. It's so crucial in many situations! Cells get lost, stolen, break, etc. If your cellphone is misplaced in your home, you can call it from a landline. Also, I feel so strongly that most people should not have locks on their cells. The list of reasons is endless!!! Number one: If you're driving alone or have a car accident, police or others can't use your cell to notify loved ones."

—Anonymous

3. "Don't have deliveries sent to your home. If possible, pick them up from a UPS store (which is free for Amazon packages and the like), the post office, or a relative's house. Personally, I have most everything delivered to my parents' house, as they are typically always home, and it ensures my neighbors don't steal my packages."

"My landlord has had a lot of his stuff delivered to the house, and the delivery drivers can't figure out which door is which."

—Anonymous, 38, New York

4. "When going on a first date with someone, give someone you know the details, such as the name of the other person, where you're going to meet, what time you expect to be home, etc. My cousin and I had agreed to do that and call each other when we got home. Also, leave the same information on your fridge or another prominent place so people looking for you know where to start."

"Also, I work late some nights, often until after 10 p.m. I take the same route home every night and call my daughter on my way home. If I don't make it home by a reasonable hour, at least someone will know where to start looking."

—tammylovatob

5. "I keep a can of wasp spray near my door. It shoots out in a stream like bear spray and will incapacitate an intruder at a fraction of the cost of bear spray or pepper spray. And if that doesn't deter them, my two pit bulls will finish the job."

"If you live alone and have the resources, get yourself a dog. Best security system I've found as a single woman is owning a loyal dog or two."

—shinyghoul265

6. "If you have a remote garage door opener, be sure to close the door immediately after you enter. My friend was attacked after she opened her door to remove her packages and left the door open. Close it immediately. The packages can wait."

—Anonymous, 74, North Carolina

7. "Carry a full, stainless steel water bottle with a handle while you're walking alone at any time of the day, but especially at night. That could do some serious damage with one swing if need be, but it's unassuming as well. I used to carry mine outside of my backpack while commuting through sketchy train stations to school."

—Anonymous, 25, Canada

8. "When someone unexpected knocks on your door or rings your doorbell, while asking who it is, do not stand in front of the door but stand off to the side. Bullets will go through your door."

—Anonymous, 76, Georgia

9. "I always take my purse to bed with me and also the keys to my car. I told my neighbors that if my car alarm goes off at night and will not stop, that means someone's in my house, so please come help me."

—Anonymous, 56

10. "Do NOT keep a regular schedule. Leave and return at different times, so people can't figure out when you won't be home to break in."

"Do not answer the door at night unless you are expecting someone. Pull curtains after dark. Do not sleep with windows open if on the first floor."

—Anonymous, 60s, USA

11. "I place my car keys (and fob) in an RFID box. Same for the keys I carry around. I use an RFID wallet and slip cover for my passport."

—Anonymous, 50s

12. "Never sleep in a dark house. Keep at least one light on."

—Anonymous

13. "Never leave garage door openers in your vehicle — especially if they are visible (ones you hang on your visor). Lots of garage door openers for attached garages have been stolen in my neighborhood from people's vehicles, which is extremely unsettling."

—Anonymous, 25, Canada

14. "Back in the day, if a date insisted on picking me up, I would wait in front of an apartment building I didn't live in. I live alone now and am locked in my car before I open the garage door to leave, and stay locked in it while the door is closing when I return. One of my neighbors parks her car in my driveway, so it always looks like more than one person lives there."

—originalturtle72

15. "Don't leave your garbage bin on the street longer than garbage day, or if you're out of town, get a neighbor to bring it back up to your house. Leaving your bin out past garbage day can give the impression you're not home."

—Anonymous, 25, Canada

16. "I use a door security bar on the front and back doors, AND on my bedroom door at night. I also have an alarm system. You can get them on Amazon for $20 each."

—Anonymous, 70, Texas

17. "Becoming friendly with neighbors is a big one. I live alone, but I know I have several neighbors I can knock on the door if necessary. And several are within earshot. Look into how approachable your apartment is as well. I live in a sort of gated (the gate is never shut) community with a windy drive. Getting in and out isn't easy."

—emilyl4fc46ac80

18. "When I lived alone, any time I had food delivered, I'd always call, 'Food's here!' over my shoulder to my fictional boyfriend/housemate as I accepted the delivery, so it would NEVER seem like I lived alone."

—eleanorh44bb646f7

19. "Bear spray by the door is useful. Buy a timer for your lights — they sell some with a phone app, so you can turn them on and off even if you're out of town."

—dancer4eva2014

20. "NEVER live on the first floor, and NEVER give your full name for the buzzer (if needed): Your first initial and last name (or part of your last name) will suffice."

—dancer4eva2014

21. "Regularly call your mom or someone super close to you, so it will be noticeable if you're missing."

—dancer4eva2014

23. "I heard somewhere you should always have a big, heavy pair of work boots outside your door to make creeps think a guy lives there."

—kittylane276

"I always keep a pair of men's boots outside my door."

—islandmiss

24. "Get a dog. Just the barking of a dog alone will scare off plenty of criminals. This has been proven."

—whytetigress13

"The best protection, in my opinion, is having a mean dog. He's such a sweet boy to me, but to anyone who is not in his small circle (five people), he's terrifying. And I love it. Deters most people from even wanting to come over. I also put a set of, like, Christmas sleigh bells on the handle of my back door so they jingle every time it's turned. If I don't hear it, my dog will."

—emmybburg

25. "Get a door alarm. I recently had an ex show up and walk into my house at 3:45 a.m. The door alarm is such a comfort for me now."

—desireedallas

26. "Check your car's backseat and trunk if you're going to drive at night. You never know who or what might be waiting for you."

—petalt0themedal

27. "Do NOT answer the door if you're not expecting anybody."

—f4bul0u5

28. "I always put two names (first initial, last name) on my apartment mailbox."

—smogmonster

29. "I keep an old softball bat and pepper spray by my bedside table and back door. I don't answer my front door. I have a handgun, but I don't like it. Any time I'm with friends who are shooting, I pick up a few spent casings and leave them on my porch."

—eerie_e

30. "I'm hoping to get a motion sensor to put at the end of my driveway to let me know anytime someone pulls in (I live in the country). Always turn my porch light on when I leave, no matter when I expect to return."

—eerie_e

31. "I'm glad I have a Ring camera (especially while I'm living alone while my fiancé is deployed) because some guy who looked drunk or on drugs was pounding on my door in the middle of the night and reading my mail that was stuck in the mail slot."

"Fortunately, I was out of town that weekend, but it was super freaky to see, and I would've been really scared had I been there that night."

—arya_ravenclaw

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Fellow women who live alone, what other safety tips and precautions do you follow? Tell us in the comments, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.