Latest news with #AshleyHicks
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Daughter of Secret Service agent reveals the things she'd never do — to stay safe
The daughter of a secret service agent has revealed things she would never do to stay safe – including putting her kids' names on backpacks and having her back to the door in a restaurant. Ashley Hicks', 36, dad worked for the Secret Service for 25 years before he retired during the Obama administration. She was brought up 'considering things that other people don't think about' and was told to never accept a lift from a stranger unless they gave a code word. Now a mother of two kids – aged two and three – Hicks will never put their names on their backpacks to protect their identity and avoids turning her back when buckling up her toddler in the car seat. She says she stays 'aware' of her surroundings at all times and considers the 'worst case scenario' as she 'never wants to be caught off guard'. Hicks, who works in the healthcare sector, from Greenville, South Carolina, said: 'I don't consider myself street smart. 'It's been driven into us to have a plan,' Hicks said. 'I'm more aware than the average person. It's about considering worst case scenarios as you never want to be caught off guard.' Hicks remembers her dad drilling 'stranger danger' into her when she was young. 'We had code names for pick up,' the mother said. 'We were told if someone else comes to pick you up they need the code name. We had no names on backpacks. It was little things to keep us safe.' Hicks now never sits with her back towards the door in a public space – in case of any fire, shooting or emergency situation. 'My dad always took that position and now I do,' Hicks added. 'It's so you can see. You want to be alert. You want your back towards the wall to be able to visualize the entrances.' Hicks would also never sell anything on Facebook Marketplace as a solo woman living alone. If she did need to meet a stranger, she was taught to organise the meeting at a police or fire station. 'My dad always said don't let a stranger come to your house,' Hicks said. 'When I first started dating, my dad would say before you know their intentions to say 'I'll meet you there'. If it wasn't for my dad I probably wouldn't have thought twice about letting them pick me up. It does take away the naivety of growing up. You're always preparing for the worst case scenario.' Hicks was always taught to have a security system and when she couldn't afford one as a graduate student her dad suggested she put stickers up to suggest she had one – to make her less of a target. If she has to be out late in the dark alone she will try and park under a street light. Now as a parent, she understands why her dad was so cautious. 'Growing up I thought he was so overprotective,' Hicks said. 'Now I totally get it. A big one is the safety of putting your kids in their car seats with your back turned. If you're with your kid and by yourself park close to the buggy park.' 'Open the car door so it makes an angle and put your back against the door hinges facing towards your kid. You're facing your kid but your chest is out towards the parking lot. You can pull the cart in front of you too. No one can hide behind you because of the angle,' Hicks continued. Hicks will also drill into her kids their names and addresses when they are old enough so if they get separated, they can get help. Her husband, Michael, 36, who works in sales, will also carry a registered firearm with them if they go out. Hicks says her dad never wanted to 'scare' her but wants them to be aware so they can keep safe. Things Hicks will never do: Have her back to the door of a restaurant / public space. Put her kids' names on their backpacks. Turn her back when buckling her kid into the car seat. Let a stranger come to her home – e.g. from Facebook Marketplace. Things she will do: Have a security system or buy stickers to make it look like you have one if you can't afford it. Make sure her kids know their names and addresses by heart when they are old enough. Prepare for the worst case scenario. Park under a street lamp if she is out late at night alone.
New York Post
13-07-2025
- New York Post
Daughter of Secret Service agent reveals the things she'd never do — to stay safe
The daughter of a secret service agent has revealed things she would never do to stay safe – including putting her kids' names on backpacks and having her back to the door in a restaurant. Ashley Hicks', 36, dad worked for the Secret Service for 25 years before he retired during the Obama administration. She was brought up 'considering things that other people don't think about' and was told to never accept a lift from a stranger unless they gave a code word. 4 Ashley Hicks shared the safety tips she learned from her father, a former Secret Service agent. Ashley Hicks / SWNS Now a mother of two kids – aged two and three – Hicks will never put their names on their backpacks to protect their identity and avoids turning her back when buckling up her toddler in the car seat. She says she stays 'aware' of her surroundings at all times and considers the 'worst case scenario' as she 'never wants to be caught off guard'. Hicks, who works in the healthcare sector, from Greenville, South Carolina, said: 'I don't consider myself street smart. 'It's been driven into us to have a plan,' Hicks said. 'I'm more aware than the average person. It's about considering worst case scenarios as you never want to be caught off guard.' Hicks remembers her dad drilling 'stranger danger' into her when she was young. 'We had code names for pick up,' the mother said. 'We were told if someone else comes to pick you up they need the code name. We had no names on backpacks. It was little things to keep us safe.' 4 An image of Hicks and her father standing in front of a door at The White House. Ashley Hicks / SWNS Hicks now never sits with her back towards the door in a public space – in case of any fire, shooting or emergency situation. 'My dad always took that position and now I do,' Hicks added. 'It's so you can see. You want to be alert. You want your back towards the wall to be able to visualize the entrances.' Hicks would also never sell anything on Facebook Marketplace as a solo woman living alone. If she did need to meet a stranger, she was taught to organise the meeting at a police or fire station. 'My dad always said don't let a stranger come to your house,' Hicks said. 'When I first started dating, my dad would say before you know their intentions to say 'I'll meet you there'. If it wasn't for my dad I probably wouldn't have thought twice about letting them pick me up. It does take away the naivety of growing up. You're always preparing for the worst case scenario.' Hicks was always taught to have a security system and when she couldn't afford one as a graduate student her dad suggested she put stickers up to suggest she had one – to make her less of a target. 4 Hicks claimed she is always aware of her surroundings. Ashley Hicks / SWNS If she has to be out late in the dark alone she will try and park under a street light. Now as a parent, she understands why her dad was so cautious. 'Growing up I thought he was so overprotective,' Hicks said. 'Now I totally get it. A big one is the safety of putting your kids in their car seats with your back turned. If you're with your kid and by yourself park close to the buggy park.' 'Open the car door so it makes an angle and put your back against the door hinges facing towards your kid. You're facing your kid but your chest is out towards the parking lot. You can pull the cart in front of you too. No one can hide behind you because of the angle,' Hicks continued. 4 Hicks and her husband, Michael, have two kids. Ashley Hicks / SWNS Hicks will also drill into her kids their names and addresses when they are old enough so if they get separated, they can get help. Her husband, Michael, 36, who works in sales, will also carry a registered firearm with them if they go out. Hicks says her dad never wanted to 'scare' her but wants them to be aware so they can keep safe. Things Hicks will never do: Have her back to the door of a restaurant / public space. Put her kids' names on their backpacks. Turn her back when buckling her kid into the car seat. Let a stranger come to her home – e.g. from Facebook Marketplace. Things she will do:
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Newsweek
Secret Service Agent Raises Two Daughters, Their Life Lessons Go Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Growing up, most parents teach their children basic safety rules—like looking both ways before crossing the street or never talking to strangers. But the daughters of a former Secret Service agent have shared more advanced safety advice that has gone viral on TikTok, racking up 1.2 million views. The video, shared by Ashley Hicks (@ flips between safety tips from her and her sister featuring things they never and always do to protect themselves. Newsweek spoke to Hicks, 36, via email. She explained: "My sister and I made this video not to stoke fear, but to bring awareness to common-sense safety tips we grew up with that made us feel more in control of our personal safety." (L-R) Hicks, and her sister, who doesn't wish to be named, can be seen speaking to the camera. (L-R) Hicks, and her sister, who doesn't wish to be named, can be seen speaking to the camera. TikTok/@ The clip comes at a time when public confidence in the agency itself has sharply declined. A September 2024 Gallup poll shows Americans' rating of the Secret Service's job performance has plunged 23 points to a new low, with just 32 percent now calling its work "excellent" or "good," amid high-profile security lapses, including two assassination attempts on Donald Trump in nine weeks. The 36-year-old recalls her father sharing these lessons when she became more independent, such as driving alone or going off to college, to help ensure her safety while living alone as a single woman. "I'm not sure I'd consider myself street smart, but it has made me more aware. Growing up with a dad whose career was based around security, it was hard not to consider worst-case scenarios and be prepared for the unexpected as I entered adulthood," she said. Safety Tips They'd Never Do Sit with their back to the door in a restaurant or public space. Invite a stranger to their home to pick up an item sold on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Instead, they meet at a fire or police station. Skip a security system without deterrents. If they can't afford one, they buy security signs and window stickers to make it look like they have one. Safety Tips They'd Always Do Create the illusion of not living alone. When living alone as a woman, they'd always places a pair of men's shoes outside the door so passersby think a man lives there. Stay aware when approaching their car. Put your phone down, get in quickly, and lock the doors—especially at night. Sleep with the bedroom door closed and locked. Early Safety Lessons Hicks, who lives in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, also remembers her father teaching them basic safety strategies from a young age. She told Newsweek: "I do remember him educating us on simple safety tips about stranger danger, code names for pick-up, etc. He likely drilled these into us from early on, and I've just forgotten some. "He always emphasized taking 15 seconds when you enter a room to locate the exits and the importance of being aware of your surroundings. And to always follow your gut—it's a powerful tool." While his career gave them invaluable lessons, it also came with sacrifices. She added: "I look back on his time in the Secret Service with mixed feelings—his work was demanding, stressful, and it took him away from us frequently. He missed holidays, birthdays, and graduations. "But we got to experience things most people never will, and I learned a lot about hard work and true sacrifice from him. I don't think I truly appreciated what his job entailed until I was older. Now I look back on it with such pride in him and all that he accomplished." TikTok Reacts As of now, the video has over 165,000 likes and more than 1160 comments, with many users sharing their own safety tips. One user wrote: "When you live alone, always say 'Bye' as though there's someone inside. When arriving home, always say 'I'm home' as though someone is inside." Another advised: "Never wear two earphones. Always keep one ear free so you can hear what's going on around you." If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on Newsweek's "What Should I Do? section.
