We are lucky to live so far from the battlefield in the Middle Eastswherestears, blood and bodies are shrouded with smoke, explosions and missiles. But you might not be aware of numerous dangers hidden in our daily lives.

　　There are always dangers hidden in our lives and work that to be handled carefully.

　　The "should-nots", after being repeated enough times, become "shoulds". But dangers are still there and they only need a proper trigger to take place.

　　Just to save a few minutes, people, young and old, even parents dragging their children after them, stride across the rails by the side of broad and busy street.

　　No matter how carefully drivers stay on alert against unexpected pedestrians rushing out in front of them, disasters will still occur and there are always casualties.

　　The harsh noise of the brakes is easily forgotten by casual pedestrians who risk their lives consciously and subconsciously.

　　Once I took part in a seminar conducted by a senior official in charge of the security department of DuPont, a science-based multinational company based in the United States. I have never forgotten what I learned from it.

　　When taking an elevator, you should stand in the right with your hand holding the rail so as to leave room for others to pass and secure yourself solidly.

　　Never run in the office building no matter how worried you are in case you hurt yourself or knock somebody down.

　　Never lift a pair of chopsticks or any other sharpened articles with the point against others or yourself . . .

　　These trivial tips might seem pedantic and unnecessary to others, but just from these little things, the company infuses the sense of safetysintosthe mind of its employees who are obliged to popularize safety awareness in their lives.

　　"We DuPont people never jaywalk for the safety of others and ourselves," claimed a staff member of the company.

　　I support that attitude, I cannot promise to comply with it, because even if I don't jaywalk, people beside me often drag me across the street while making fun of my timidity.

　　I heard a story from my brother who is serving in the army: a soldier played with his comrade by pretending to stab him with a bayonet. Disaster struck because the comrade did not jump aside as he had expected.

　　A driver with years of experience always bragged about his driving skills while driving, he did a lot of other stuff at the same time, such as lighting a cigarette, changing tapes or examining beautiful women by the roadside.

　　When his friends persuaded him to correct his habits, he turned a deaf ear to them because he believed in his experience.

　　However, when driving on a bridge one day he swerved right off while changing a tape.

　　If you cherish life enough, examine yourself and ask how many should-nots have become shoulds in yourself.

　　If you do have "some small bad habits," please eradicate them before they ruin your own life or that of others. Not that I am threatening you!