Section 7:Accident Prevention and First Aid

7.2. Security Measures

For guarding the safety of your guests’ belongings and your own assets you should think of security measures outside as well as inside the accommodation building.

The adequate lighting of the building, walkways and parking lot can prevent many incidents such as thefts or damage to your and your guest’s property. It will also ensure mere physical safety of your clients when approaching the accommodation. If the cars of the guests are parked within the yard, it can be useful to set the hour when the gates are closed (e.g., at midnight) to keep the cars safely inside. Late guests can park their cars, for example, just in front of the gate – this will also contribute to the comfort of those guests who are already asleep.

Supervision of the entrance to the accommodation will help you prevent the penetration of strangers. In small accommodations the supervision can be done by the owner, manager or the receptionist, while in higher class accommodations it can be a responsibility of the security staff. Else, it can be recorded by video camera installed at the reception. If you leave the accommodation without supervision, you should switch on security alarms reacting to motion, light, or heat inside the building. More usual glass/window/door alarms will scare away the burglars at the moment of breaking in. The cheaper option serving the same purpose would be installation of warning decals. Bright and easy-to-read decals warn the would-be burglars of the alarm systems (even if there are none) and often are very effective in scaring thieves away before they actually break in or steal something.

Bolt locks in the rooms will add to the security of your guest’s belongings and their feeling of safety. Safe deposit boxes present in each guest room or at the reception are the best ways of storing their valuables as well as your own cash.

In order to limit your liability for certain security accidents and prevent unpleasant situations with guest’s claims and accusations, prepare the statement on the accommodation’s responsibilities in case of theft and place it at the reception or provide to the guests in the information packages.Also, you can prepare general security warning and advice on paper to make them to take special care of their property – this will help keep the best impressions of the tourists´ visit and of their vacation as a whole. Such a warning to the guests can take any form, e.g. Useful Security Advice that can be formulated as “Our aim is to guarantee your safety, and to ensure this we are giving you simple advice. Follow them and you will take back home the best memories possible of our place:

Do not leave valuable objects or large amount of money in your room;

• Use our safe deposit box;
• Do not needlessly display in public or leave behind guest room keys;
• If you see any suspicious activity, please, report your observations to us”, etc.

7.1.3. Fire Emergency Procedures for the Personnel

7.3. Guest Safety Measures