Hotel Safety

A Safer Way to Travel

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Do you take your safety for granted at home? Do you sleep safe and secure? Shouldn't you expect the same when you are on vacation? These are just a few of the safety issues you should consider when checking into a hotel.

	Keep a close eye on your luggage, purse, wallet, etc when checking in. If the lobby is busy, thieves will often take advantage of the distractions to take your things with them
	If paying by credit card, be sure the clerk returns your card to you Don't leave it lying on the counter while you complete your registration or while waiting to register. Also, be sure the card they give back to you is really yours. At check out, don't leave your folio (receipt) on the counter. Your credit card number is on there in most cases.
	Don't announce your room number out loud in the lobby. Anyone could be listening If the desk clerk should do this, explain the problem and ask for another room. You never know who is listening or why.
	Guard your key Whenever possible, select a hotel with electronic locks. These locks are recoded with every new guest so there is little chance of someone having a duplicate key to your room. If you lose or misplace your key, have your room rekeyed immediately.
	Immediately upon check in, get two business cards with the hotel name and address on them Place one by the phone in your room so you will know where you are and keep the other on you when you leave so you know where to come back to. If you get lost, you have the address and phone number handy. There is nothing more frustrating than telling the cab driver to take you the Marriott and having them ask "Which one?" That could be one very expensive cab ride.
	Check the locks on your door as soon as you arrive in your room. Be sure the door closes securely and that the deadbolt works. If not, ask for another room. Don't wait for them to fix it. Keep the deadbolt and safety bar on at all times.
	Never prop your door open with the safety latch or other items. Anyone could walk in
	Place your room key in the exact spot every time, preferably close to the bed. If you have to leave in a hurry due to an emergency, you won't have time to search for your key. Also, you'll need the key to get back into your room after the all clear is given.
	Locate the nearest emergency exit Find one at each end of the hallway. How many doors away? Does the door open easily? Is the stairwell clear of debris? Make a note on the back of the business card that you place next to the bed noting the number of doors to the emergency exits in each direction. Also note the location of the fire extinguishers and pull boxes.
	If the fire alarm goes off, take immediate action Grab your room key, flashlight, and that business card. Check the door to see if it is hot. If it is, don't open the door. If not, open the door a crack to see if it is safe to enter the hallway. If smoke is present, crawl to the nearest emergency exit. Get outside as quickly as possible and wait for instructions from either hotel or EMS personnel.
	Keep that all important flashlight next to the bed (See Pudsmom's Packing List) It is much too dangerous to be stumbling around in the dark in a strange hotel room if the electricity should go out. Also, the flashlight will help you find an exit in a smoke filled hallway.
	Avoid rooms with connecting doors if you do get a room with a connecting door, be sure you can securely lock it from your side. You should not be able to open it from the middle. Also remember that if you are passing back and forth between the two rooms and the connectors close, you will be locked out of your room if you do not have your key with you. If the safety latch is in place, the hotel may charge a service fee to cut the bolt so you can have access to your room again.

Remember, if there is a fire or other emergency, you are pretty much on your own to evacuate yourself, especially at night. What you learn in the first few minutes of your stay could mean the difference between life and death. YOURS!

A Word about Overnight Staffing

Have you ever thought about what goes on in a hotel when you are sleeping unaware in your room? Just how many people are working while you are sleeping?

In smaller locations, or limited service hotels, there may only be one person on duty during the overnight hours (11pm - 7am). That one person is responsible for your safety and the safety of ALL the other guests too. Can one person safely evacuate an entire hotel in the event of an emergency? Could you do it by yourself if you were in their shoes?

Before confirming your reservation, ask about overnight staffing and the availability of security personnel. What are their safety procedures? Have they practiced? Recently? In most cases, you will find that in reality you are totally on your own in the event of an emergency. So take those few extra minutes when you check in to scope out the area. This may be your only chance.

Note: In Orange County, Florida, there is a law that requires two people to be on duty in all gas stations and convenience stores during the overnight hours. People can come and go mostly on their own with little or no problems. There is no such law regarding hotels/motels. If you were asleep in a strange hotel and woke up to a serious emergency, could you get yourself out? Are you sure? Where is that emergency exit again?