Safety Tips

• Always try to walk with a partner. If walking alone, let a friend know your route and when you walk.
• Try to walk in daylight. If walking at night, make yourself visible by wearing white or light-colored clothing.
• Consider changing your route periodically to prevent boredom and promote safety. Stick to places that you know.
• Obey the rules of the road. Always walk so that you are facing traffic. Cross only at crosswalks and never against the light.
• Never carry valuables or wear lots of jewelry.
• If possible, carry a cell phone or change for a pay phone to use in case of emergency. In warmer weather or on walks over an hour, bring a water bottle.
• Trust your instincts when it tells you something is unsafe. Be on alert for potential trouble. Never assume crime can’t happen to you.
• Try not to pound your shoes into the ground. Wear good walking shoes and replace them at least every six months. If blisters become a problem, try wearing socks that are padded at both the heel and the toe. If a dog threatens you, do not run. Calmly face the dog, and in a low, calm voice, tell him to go home. Then, back away.
• Use sunblock with a SPF of 15 or higher throughout the year.

How to Find a Walking Companion

Walking can be a solo journey, but finding a walking companion or club can keep it interesting and keep you motivated. On days when it is cold, rainy, windy, hot, muggy or days when it is hard to make yourself go out the door, having a companion who you can't let down makes a big difference. Finding the right companion and the right kind of companionship is the key. You want someone to walk with on a regular basis.

    Benefits

• Motivates you to walk by being accountable to another person
• Can set joint schedule and goals
• Companionship while walking
• More security while walking

    Where to Find

• Recruit your spouse, a family member, or a friend
• Join a walking club or mall walkers to find potential partners. If your family and friends are resistant to walking, go to where people are ALREADY walking to find your partner.