Yesterday after my email, I received another great tip from a reader. If you use the suction cup attachment for a portable GPS system in your car, make sure you wipe off the mark it leaves on the window. Leaving the smudge lets people know you have a GPS system and could interest them enough to break in.
Today’s story also is related to vehicle safety. You may have been following the story of the three college girls who went missing while on a stargazing expedition in North Dakota.
They were discovered yesterday in ten feet of water hidden by tall grass at the bottom of a pond. Authorities say they probably drove straight into the pond because they were unfamiliar with the area and couldn’t see in the dark.
When I think about 10 feet of water, it doesn’t seem like much. But when a car is submerged the whole situation changes. It is important that you know exactly what to do should this ever happen. There is no room for error.
The moment you enter the water your mind is racing and you panic as you reach for the seat belt. The car will begin to sink and tilt vertically because of the weight of the engine. Water will begin to rush in. The most important thing to do is NOT follow the bubbles. Air is escaping through the trunk because the car is sinking head first and will likely turn upside down.
1. Immediately open a window if you can. If you cannot get a window down, because anything could happen, you should have an Emergency Hammer in your car. This tool has 2 very sharp hammers that will break a window or windshield instantly. It is important to keep this tool in a very accessible place.
2. After the window is opened or broken, unbuckle your seat belt. If you do this before opening a window, you will likely be swept to the back of the vehicle with the current of the water. If the seat belt is jammed, you can also use the Emergency Hammer to cut it.
3. Prepare any passengers as the vehicle is sinking. Get out and swim to the surface. The longer you stay in the submerged vehicle, the lower your chances for survival.
Remember to break a window first! Create an escape path immediately. If you don’t, you will have to wait until the car is almost fully submerged and pressure has equaled out. Then try lowering the window, breaking it with your seat belt or brace yourself for kicking it out.
With the Emergency Hammer, you have a glass breakage hammer and a seat belt cutter all in one.
I received an email that I wanted to share with you. I won’t share the actual email because it tells a story that is a little over the top. But there are two important messages.
GPS systems are everywhere now. Some are portable, some are built into cars. One feature of these systems is the ability to store addresses in them. You can even name these addresses for quick reference such as “home” or “in-laws” whatever it may be.
The story was about a car that was stolen from a parking lot. The thieves used the car owners GPS, found a saved address named “home” and went to their house to break in. Somebody had their thinking caps on that day.
First lesson, don’t save your home address in your GPS. Save a local store or somewhere close to home.
Second lesson, don’t leave valuables out where people can see them. Criminals act on opportunity. A purse or expensive electronic is like an invitation to a thief. Hide things under seats or better yet, lock them in the trunk.
A diversion safe is a great way to hide valuables in plain sight. No one is going to think twice about a JB Engine Degreaser.
Tonight is the night of ghosts and ghouls. In case you missed our Newsletter, here are some safety tips for keeping children safe:
- help your child pick a costume that is safe. Think fire proof, no loose material that could cause them to trip, make sure eye holes are large and don’t interfere with peripheral vision.
- Jack-o-lanterns: make sure if you have any on your porch they are out of the way of children.
- If your child is carrying a prop, make sure it won’t cause injury if he should fall.
- Kids love to help carve pumpkins but they shouldn’t be allowed to cut the top off. Let them clean out the inside and have them draw on the pumpkin, then you can cut it out. There are pumpkin kits available with saws and designs.
- Teach your kids basic safety: don’t talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing the street, follow traffic lights, and don’t eat any candy until you inspect it.
Hope you have a great Halloween and remember Safety First!
I received an email yesterday from a first time, mother-to-be who wanted to know if we had anything that would let her keep an eye on the new arrival.
I said, “Of course we do!”
She’s due to be a new mom in three weeks. And I could tell she had so many mixed emotions…excitement, anxiety, relief and a little fear.
I recommended to her the Baby Monitor hidden camera. A camera is hidden in the nose of a stuffed puppy which you can put in a crib, playpen or set on a shelf that lets her see and hear everything the baby does.
She was very excited to have this ability. It means while she’s running the household, she knows her baby is safe.
The Baby Monitor hidden camera is great for young children, too. Watch them while they’re playing or napping. Peace of mind is priceless.
It’s Saturday evening, people are making plans to get out and be social. Maybe you’re heading to a favorite pub or night club or even a good sports bar to watch your favorite team.
Whatever it is you’re engaging in this weekend, here are some tips to keep you safe:
- Let someone know where you’re going or what your plans are. If anything happens, at least someone knows where to start looking for you.
- Park in well-lit, highly traveled areas.
- Stick together. A group, even just 2 people, is a harder target for criminals. If you do seperate, set a specific time and place to meet.
- Watch your drink. If your drink is out of sight for any time, throw it away and get a new one. It only takes a second for someone to spike a drink.
- Know your limit if you consume alcohol. If you are suddenly intoxicated after only a couple drinks, get help or find someone you trust immediately.
- Do not drink and drive. Call a cab. You will save yourself the legal trouble and you aren’t risking anyones life.
And always carry a self defense tool. Even if it’s a small pepper spray, it could save your life.
Motion sensor alarms are used to detect the presence of someone or something in an area where they shouldn’t be. By using infrared technology, these devices can sense when someone walks in front of them and will sound an alarm to alert the owner. More than one sensor can be used around the home or business to protect a very large area. Some alarms will even call a phone number when triggered letting you know something is wrong.
I just watched a show called 20 Most Shocking Unsolved Crimes. Of those twenty, five of them were against children.
1. The 1981 kidnapping and murder of Adam Walsh. His mother was 75 feet away from him for about 7 minutes. His body nor the killer have ever been found.
2. The 1996 abduction and murder of Amber Hagerman. The AMBER Alert system was named after this little girl who was alive two whole days after she was kidnapped.
3. The 1996 murder of JonBenet Ramsey. The latest DNA evidence ruled that an unknown male handled her little body and the parents were ruled out.
4. The 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway. She boarded a plane for Aruba and never came home. No body.
5. The 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann who was left unattended in her parent’s hotel room while they dined nearby with friends.
And then there are the very recent cases: Kaylee Anthony believed to have died and then hidden by her own mother or Hayley Cummings…her story is completely unknown an still under investigation.
I could go on and on. And my deepest condolences go out to the families who are living through the hell of losing a child.
Children are easy targets and it is up to us as parents to protect them. To teach them about the dangers that are out there and how to deal with them.
I don’t like to hear any story of violence but it especially weighs on your heart when a child is involved.
Personal alarms are a great self defense tool for children:
1. Explain what an emergency is to your child. Talk about everything as is age appropriate but don’t wait too long.
2. Show your child how to use a personal alarm if they are in an emergency.
3. Teach your child how to call for help and also learn as parents to recognize when a child is in need of help.
Stay Safe and Prepared
I’m going to get right to the point today. Our Safety First Saturday topic is geared towards them women. But if you are a man, I’m sure you know a woman who can benefit from this info.
Life can be so hectic at times that we forget simple steps that can potentially save our lives.
1. Unless you’ve taken self defense classes or have some formal training, you’re going to be in trouble if someone catches you off guard. Carry a keychain pepper spray on you at all times and have it out when you are walking through parking lots, parks, or any other place where you can be isolated.
2. A lot of newer cars have automatic lock features but usually don’t engage until the car is moving. When you get to your car, do what you have to do quickly and confidently. Then get in and immediately lock your doors.
3. If you are being stopped by the police, you have the right to drive to a safe, well lit and/or populated area. You may also call the police station and ask if there is a police officer in the area stopping your car. Don’t be afraid and know it’s ok to question authority.
4. Just like your car, keep your home doors and windows locked. Criminals are opportunists. And have some type of home alarm. You don’t have to spend hundreds on a system and monthly monitoring fees. Get a Door Stop Alarm, Barking Dog Alarm, Slideaway Alarm or even an AutoDialer which will call you if someone breaks in when you’re gone.
5. Finally, it’s about attitude. Have confidence and always be alert and aware. Walk with your head high, shoulders back and always scan your surroundings. Keep your purse closed and close to you at all times. Be in control of yourself and make sure people know you’re a force to be reckoned with.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Remember, Safety First.
Can your home security system withstand rough handling from your curious kids? Learn the tips to keep it safe and functional.
Kids are naturally curious creatures. It’s just their way to learn and appreciate things and parents are actually more than happy to accommodate them. However, there are times when children’s active and healthy curiosity is not always appreciated, especially if they tend to damage items around the house. And your home security system may just be on their list. To keep it safe from kids’ curious minds AND hands, here are tips you can use:
Keep the home security system out of kids’ reach
In the hands of a curious two-year old, this system will survive, no matter how well-constructed it is. Little hands always have a way to get in between metal seams and around the tiniest screws. Pretty soon, settings on your home security system will mysteriously change or the system itself will begin to malfunction.
To keep kids’ curious minds and hands away from your home security system, have it installed at a location that is out of their reach. An active two-year-old, for example, will find it impossible to reach the gadget if it’s installed three to four feet above his reach. If it’s out of his eye level, this system may just remain safely ignored for several years.
Keep the home security system inside a cabinet
Most homeowners keep the main panel of their home security system inside a cabinet. Be careful in choosing the location for the panel and make sure it is out of reach of your kids. A sturdy wooden or steel cabinet equipped with a lock will keep curious hands and minds away. If you have older children, keep the keys to the cabinet in a place where they will not be found easily.
Familiarize them with the system
Kids are so curious they will tear or take apart things around the house just so they will understand how things work. By doing so, they often damage items, particularly electronics. In some cases, though, kids will often leave an item alone after they’ve familiarized themselves with it.
A good technique to try with older kids is to introduce them to the home security system while it is being installed. Explain what it is, how it works and why your home needs one. Once kids understand how important the system is, they will be less likely to try to take it apart or play with it.
Keep kids in mind when designing the layout for a more complicated home security system
Look for ‘kid-safe’ areas and nooks in the home where you wish your system installed. Get on your knees (crawl if you have to) so you can see the room from your child’s point of view. If you can see a component of your system and get to it from where you are, your child will, too. Try to plan the installation based on your kids’ limitations to minimize the risk that your tiny toddler will damage your expensive home security system.
SAP gloves are often used in self defense. This is a type of a tool that has steel sewn into their knuckles. They are not legal for self defense use in all states, so please do research before buying them.
SAP gloves are self defense weapons that usually have steel sewn into their knuckles. Also referred to as law enforcement gloves, these gloves can help protect your hands from blunt object trauma. Such gloves are also good for hand protection to defend yourself and knock out people – bad ones please. Most SAP gloves are made from leather, and some are available in open fingered models that are fashioned for users who live in hot climates. Such SAP gloves will keep the hand cool. These models also have powdered hot in the glove knuckles, and some models even have shot in the palms.
Some are also designed for different sports and needs. For instance, kickboxing and karate gloves are also available with powdered steel in the wrap, are flexible, and at times do not have attachments for fingers other than the thumb. SAP gloves for self defense have shots in the knuckles and will appear cool and unassuming. Even bikers use such gloves to keep their hands safe from flying debris common on roads. They also come in tactical models that law enforcement personnel use. Such gloves are fashioned from deerskin and are very flexible, making them easy to wear. They allow police officers to keep a firm grip on their weapons.
Selecting which gloves to buy, however, may not be simple. You need to check if they are legal for use in your state. Not all states approve the use of SAP gloves, say in situations such as professional fighting, or even for self defense. This can be difficult if you plan to use them for defending yourself and use them in court testimony later.
They are not also suitable if you are planning to put up a school that uses such gloves in a self defense course; or if you want to attend a school that teaches the use of such gloves.
If these weapons are legal, then you may need to consider other factors, such as price and their quality. Such gloves can be advantageous for many different purposes. You can use them when fighting, whether in true combat or for sport. If your opponent is holding a weapon, you may get struck in your hand, and you could sustain a good deal of injury if you are hit. You should also be able to maintain a better grip on your weapon with the help of a good SAP glove.
These are only a few benefits of using SAP gloves. Always check if they are legal before you buy them. For more information, talk to your security retailer or self defense expert.
