Few people I know actually want to know the threat level set by the Department of Homeland Security. Whether you believe the Advisory System is necessary or not, Americans are now accustomed to living in the realm of yellow (Elevated) and orange (High), and our general apathy may be caused in part by the feeling that there’s nothing we can personally do to bring the level back down to blue (Guarded) or green (Low).

But we need to be mindful not to become totally complacent. We may not be able to prevent terrorist attacks or natural disasters, but that’s no reason to neglect the things we can do to manage our own personal security.

Here’s a list of simple, preventive things we can do that may actually make a difference in our everyday lives and those of our families. Consider adding at least a few of them to your list of New Year’s resolutions.

1. Exchange phone numbers with at least one neighbor. Just recently I heard about a house fire in the New River Valley that took place in the middle of the night. It was the dog across the street who alerted its owner, who in turn called to wake them up and get them safely out. I asked myself, would I even know how to alert my neighbors—or would they know how to contact us? You don’t have to feel obligated to become best friends, but having a name and emergency number(s) could come in extremely handy.
2. Lock your doors. This may run counter to number two, where I implied that we should trust our neighbors more, but your neighborhood may be more high traffic than you think. A surprising number of people leave to walk the dog or run to the store without bothering to lock the house; and how many times have you seen cars not only unlocked but also running outside a store? (Sometimes with a bonus baby inside!) It’s not insulting anyone else to lock up, and it’s easy to remember once you get in the habit.
3. Shred your documents. “Dumpster diving,” or finding treasure in another person’s trash may seem unsavory, but all of us have been to a flea market. There are a lot of people out there who will go to great lengths to make a buck. Unfortunately, your old credit card statements, or even offers for new ones, could be someone else’s big break. You don’t know where your trash will go when you put it out on the curb, so be safe about what you discard. (Coincidentally, if you’re tired of receiving those offers, save a tree or two and get your name excluded from unsolicited offers by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT.)
4. Document your belongings. In the event of a robbery, the police and your insurance company will need to know exactly what you’re missing, right down to the serial number of each gadget and the title of each CD. So it behooves you to be slightly anal-retentive and keep some lists—and preferably not just on the computer you might have lost in the robbery. Keep electronic backups on a network, hard copies in a secure place, or create them on Web sites like Listology.com.
5. Guard your PIN. When the cashier says “credit or debit?” go with #1. Most people give a little personal space at the ATM, but you might want to think twice about punching your code in a crowded store. “Shoulder surfers” don’t even need to try that hard to take note.
6. Use smart passwords. This one gets trickier, the more passwords we’re forced to have—and many people end up using the same one for almost everything. If you do this, make sure, first of all, that it’s not something easily guessed (adding the numeral 1 to a dictionary word is no longer a trick that works—put a different number smack in the middle and use upper and lower case if possible). Secondly, put a reminder on your calendar to change them—at least twice a year.
7. Check your credit report annually. The main goal of these precautions is to protect your identity and financial health, so to make sure that everything’s working as it should, check your credit report—and nowadays, it’s free. Since 2003 when the Fair Credit Reporting Act added the FACTA amendment, consumers have been entitled to receive one free credit report each year. To take advantage, go exclusively to the official site: annualcreditreport.com. If you do see something suspicious, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Center at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.
8. Review your insurance coverage. If you’ve had added any possessions or made any life changes (marriage, divorce, children) in the last year, don’t forget to update your insurance. Make sure you that in the event of an accident you have enough insurance to fully cover your losses, and if you don’t, reassess.
9. Create an advance health care directive. In the unfortunate event that you aren’t able to make choices regarding medical care, the creation of a “living will” advises caregivers to follow your wishes, and the accompanying “health care proxy” allows you to assign someone you trust to handle your medical decisions.
10. Write or update your will. Another tough subject to think about, and something that no doubt benefits your family more than you but is nonetheless important. You may not own land or have a lot of possessions, but having a will may be especially key if you have chosen to cohabitate (and therefore don’t have the same legal rights as married couples) or have children. You can even keep expenses down by buying do-it-yourself software or visiting LegalZoom.com—but remember that it’s never a bad idea to get a lawyer to look over what you’ve done.

Here’s to a healthy, happy—and safe—new year. What better gift to give yourself than good ol’ peace of mind.

Taryn Chase wrote this article as a note to self. She is also Managing Editor of the New River Voice.