Archive for February, 2009

Personal Panic Alarm: What is it and what are its Benefits?

Regardless of who you are, what you do and where you live, there is always a risk of running into an emergency or a dangerous situation. The worst thing that could happen should such a thing occur is when you find yourself completely unprepared to handle the situation or worse, protect yourself and call for help.  Potential emergencies such as these have prompted people to use personal panic alarms.  But what exactly are personal panic alarms and what are their benefits?

The personal panic alarm
The personal panic alarm is an electronic device that consists of a switch and a small speaker that will sound an alarm when turned on.  There are several brands of panic alarms and while they may differ in features, they all have one purpose – to sound out a loud alarm when activated.  This is to draw attention to the user, call for help in case no phone is available or if the user is incapacitated and to scare away an intruder or an attacker.

Benefits of the personal panic alarm
There are several options to choose from when purchasing a personal panic alarm.  Some are designed to be used in the home, where the elderly or physically incapacitated can make use of them, while others are handy and can be carried around.

The handy personal panic alarm is a small handheld device which comes with a switch button or pin.  In case of an emergency, the user simply has to press on the button or pull the pin to activate the alarm. How loud the alarm is will depend on its size and type.

The handy personal panic alarm is often sold by personal security retail stores online and offline.  They are battery operated and can be used readily after purchase. They are stand-alone products, in that there is no need for a third party service to activate the alarm.

There are also alarms that work as transmitters.  Another device, called the receiver, is placed within recommended range in the room, home or building.  This type of personal alarm can either be carried around or attached to the body or it can be placed in a fixed position in a designated area.

Fixed personal panic alarms usually come with a push button or a pull cord.  Portable alarms, on the other hand, sometimes come with a sensor to detect motion or pulse.  Others may even have a sensor to detect falls.  Should an accident happen, the personal alarm transmits a signal to the receiver, which then sounds out an alarm.

Personal panic alarms of these types are very useful for people who live by themselves or those who are frequently left alone in the house.  They are also beneficial for seniors and the elderly or those who have problems with mobility.  An alarm can call the attention of a neighbor or passerby or it can be used to dial a pre-set emergency number.

personal alarm with flashing light image

Elderly Personal Alarms Can Help Those Who Need Utmost Assistance

As people age, their needs change along with their physical capabilities.  More seniors, for example, will require monitoring than they would when they were in their 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s, even if they are in relatively good health.  If you or a member of your family is a senior, there are gadgets you can use that will help keep them safe and secure.  With an elderly personal alarm, help will be a simple automatic call away.

Elderly personal alarms: how they work
Elderly personal alarms are battery-powered alarms that may either be worn or installed in the home.  In case of an emergency, you simply push a button on the device.  This will either sound off an alert so someone nearby can come and help you or it will send out an alert to a remote location, such as a monitoring center.  The monitoring center can call an emergency number on your behalf or alert someone regarding your condition.

What you can expect
Elderly personal alarm systems are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a trained staff.  This will ensure that you get help whenever you need it, day or night.  Many services have national coverage, which means you can use the device wherever you are at the moment.

An important thing to remember: always make sure that your personal alarm is loaded with fresh batteries.  This will ensure that you get the help you need when you need it.  Consider professional maintenance as well so any defects or malfunctions are corrected immediately.

What to look for
Consider your needs above all when buying an elderly personal alarm.  Today, you have an excellent array of choices in terms of options on top of the basic features you’ll get upon purchase. Other than a medical alert, the system might also include physical signs monitoring or ambient room temperature monitoring, a very useful feature for bedridden individuals.  Purchase the services that are most important for you and don’t spend money on services you won’t need.

There are also elderly personal alarms that double as security systems.  Some features, for example, offer to monitor intruder alerts, something that can help secure your premises.  There are also others that automatically contact the police in case you find yourself in an emergency or duress situation.

When deciding on an elderly personal alarm, always look for a reliable product and service to back it up.  Remember that it could be your life and health on the line.  A low quality product and an unreliable service could endanger you or your loved one.  Have a representative demonstrate how the service works and check the time it would take for the monitoring center to act after you initially press the emergency button.  Look for an uncomplicated procedure.  The easier it is to use the alarm, the less time you waste.  Check the warranty period as well.

door knob alarm image

Tired of checking an empty mailbox?

How would you like to know exactly when the mail arrives?

With this new product called the MailMinder,

http://www.tbotech.com/mail-notification-system.htm

you’ll know exactly when the mail arrives.

No more walking to an empty mailbox.

This is a new product we found that is extremely cool. All you do is put the transmitter in your mailbox and whenever the door is opened, a chime will alert you that the mail is here!

You keep the receiver in your house and it will chime once when the mail arrives. It will also blink until you reset the alarm.

So, if you’re in the shower when the mail arrives, and you do not hear the chime, that’s ok. The receiver will continue to blink.
This blinking lets you know that the mail came.

You simply press a button on the receiver to reset the device for the next day’s mail.

Really cool product. I set one up here at our warehouse and my office manager is just thrilled that she doesn’t have to walk outside in the cold to see if mail got here yet. She knows exactly when it arrives!

Saves time.

Saves a wasted trip.

http://www.tbotech.com/mail-notification-system.htm

This convenient and time saving product costs only $14.95!

Order yours now!

Doubting Your Nanny? Check Out These Gadgets That Can Help

Rising costs of living and increasing demands in your career can make it near impossible for you to stay at home and keep your children under your personal supervision. Thus, you find yourself in need of engaging nanny services, but this of course doesn’t keep your worries fully at bay. Thankfully, there are various gadgets you can use today to monitor your nanny at home. These devices can help you determine if your nanny is deserving of trust and capable of caring for your children.

Types of Nanny-Monitoring Gadgets
Although there is a considerable selection of nanny-monitoring gadgets for you to choose from, you need not use more than one or two in order to successfully assess your nanny’s performance. As many of them can also be quite expensive, it’s best to purchase only those able to fully meet your needs or, better yet, rent them only when you’ve employed a new nanny.

Spy Cameras
Spy cameras probably give the best kind of evidence because you will not only hear but you can see for yourself as well how your nanny treats your children at home.

As they come in all shapes and sizes and with varying features, it’s best to determine your needs first. Wired cameras are cheaper but the audio and visual quality of their footage is generally superior to those of wireless cameras.  Wired cameras, however, are limited to a single location. Last but not the least, location is extremely important with wired cameras: you need to find a location that would give you the best and most complete view of the room without drawing alerting your nanny to its presence.

When shopping for a spy camera, be sure to ask about its storage and recording capabilities as well.

Telephone and Mobile Phone Bugs
Such devices or gadgets are usually implanted “secretly” in phones and allow you to listen in to the conversation of people using it.  Although certain phone conversations can give you a substantial and accurate assessment of your nanny, be aware that using such gadgets could be a direct violation of US laws in some situations.

If you are interested in using mobile phone bugs, there are two kinds for you to choose from. One works the usual way and functions only when it’s implanted in the targeted mobile phone. The other, however, works like a phone scanner, exploring air waves until it finds the conversation you wish to listen to.

cube clock radio camera image

Personal Emergency Alarm for Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe

If you have loved ones who have special needs, a personal emergency alarm might just be the device that could save their lives.  A simple personal emergency alarm is designed to send out a signal in case a trigger is pushed, while third party systems rely on an emergency call center to process the emergency alert and call the proper authorities for assistance.  If you want to keep someone you care about safe and provide them with assistance even when you’re unavailable, investing in a personal emergency alarm will help give you peace of mind.

The system
Many personal emergency alarms you’ll find in the market are stand-alone types, in that they are designed to give out an alarm signal.  The signal is usually an audible alert that informs a companion, fellow resident or neighbor that an emergency has occurred.

However, for medical and special needs, there are personal emergency alarm systems that use an autodial feature.  These are systems that consist of the personal alarm (portable or fixed, depending on the user’s preference) and a transmitter that has access to a 24-hour emergency call center.

The personal emergency alarm is triggered several ways, depending on the design.  Two of the most commonly used triggers are the manual trigger and the sensor.  Manual triggers require the user to push a button, pull a pin or cord to activate the system while sensors depend on a built-in feature that electronically detects an emergency situation such as a fall, the cessation of breathing or pulse.  There are even personal emergency alarms that sound an alert if the user ceases to move for a pre-set period of time.

The alarm then sends a signal to the transmitter, a separate device placed within range in a room or home.  The transmitter then automatically dials a pre-set contact number. This contact number can either be a personal contact, such as a family member, neighbor, hospital or emergency medical facility or it could be a call center that offers monitoring services. This call center then alerts the proper medical or emergency response team and directs them to the user’s address.

Majority of personal emergency alarm systems such as these are paid systems.  They charge a regular monthly fee for core services. Extra services such as intruder alerts or even room temperature monitoring cost extra.

Who needs a personal emergency alarm?
Anyone who lives alone, requires emergency medical care, does not have immediate access to a second party for physical assistance, has physical or medical conditions that may require medical care or those who are advanced in years will find the personal emergency alarm a blessing.  If there is any risk that you or someone you know might become involved in some sort of emergency, a personal emergency alarm might be necessary.

Keychain Alarm

Telescopic Batons: The Perfect Self-Defense Weapon

Wherever you are in the world, there’s no telling when you’ll be attacked. If you’re lucky, the authorities or at least someone dependable and willing to help would be around to protect you. But why entrust your fate in other people’s hands when you can be responsible for your own safety? When you arm yourself with a telescopic baton, criminals of all kinds are sure to think twice about attacking you.

Stop Being Defenseless with Telescopic Batons
Telescopic batons are made of solid steel and are the same weapons used by the police and security personnel. They are also expandable, with lengths varying from 16, 21, and 26 inches. Unlike other types of self-defense weapons, telescopic batons are not complicated to use at all. Most telescopic batons come with heavy-duty holsters made of nylon. Use its belt loop to hook it your waist and you’ll instantly change your image from defenseless target to someone confident and capable of protecting herself.

How to Use a Telescopic Baton
Although using telescopic batons is simple and easy, constant practice can increase your speed and help you respond more effectively if you do find yourself under attack in the future.

A quick flick of your wrist will expand the telescopic baton to its original length. Practice this move repeatedly so that you can perform it as quickly as possible. Try practicing with both hands as well so that no matter what situation you find yourself in, you’ll still be capable of using your baton without any difficulties.

Of course, getting it out is just the first part. You also need to practice using it not just a weapon to intimidate attackers but possibly as an offensive weapon as well if your attacker persists in assaulting you. The length of your telescopic baton will allow you to strike from a distance and you need to practice moves that will allow you to exploit this advantage.

To close your telescopic baton, a single tap and one straight, hard strike on a table, wall, or one with a similarly hard surface will effectively retract its length.

Choosing the Right Telescopic Baton to Purchase
Telescopic batons come in various sizes so choose one that you are comfortable handling. Make sure to look for batons that are easy to grip; you wouldn’t want to lose your hold on them when your fingers become slippery with fear or it starts to rain, do you? Also, other telescopic batons come with flashlight features, and this can ensure that you see your attacker better in the dark.

5 Self-Defense Products That May Help Ward Serial Killers Off

It’s sobering fact but it’s fact nevertheless about 75% of the serial killers in the world live in the United States.  Europe follows a far second, having only 17%.  Ninety percent of serial killers are men and nearly 85% of them are Caucasian.  Most serial killers commit their first crime at a young age, usually in their teens or 20s and majority of their victims are white females.  Does the statistics scare you enough?  It should. Serial killers are clever, merciless and brutal.  However, you don’t have to become a victim yourself.  There are self-defense products that may help ward them off.  Here are some you might want to consider:

Lipstick pepper spray
Serial killers work using a modus operandi.  They have a particular style and preference in terms of attack and type of victim.  Regardless, you could still help ward off physical harm by using a tiny gadget: the lipstick pepper spray.  Lipstick pepper sprays resemble an ordinary lipstick case but hidden inside the tube is several seconds’ worth of blinding, irritating pepper spray, enough to stop a full-grown man and render him helpless.

Lipstick pepper sprays are great choices for women and young girls. They are easy to conceal and use.  If you’re scared of serial killers and would rather have a self-defense product that you can carry any time, the lipstick pepper spray is a good choice.

Portable alarms
Most serial killers will attack their victims when they are most vulnerable when they are alone, far from home, can’t get immediate help or can’t fight back.  Even if a serial killer has already chosen you as his victim, you can still ward them off by using a portable alarm.

A portable alarm is not a weapon per se but it is a self-defense product.  When activated (usually through a switch or a button), a portable alarm will give off a loud noise, enough to wake up the neighbors, draw attention to yourself and your attacker AND scare them off.  Portable alarms are quite effective to use against serial killers because they generally do not like being challenged.  Why make yourself an easy target when a portable alarm can save your life?

Kubotan, brass knuckles or batons
If you’re physically fit and able to defend yourself, there is no reason why you should be scared of serial killers.  They should be scared of you.  Weapons such as the kubotan, brass knuckles or batons can stop and disable an attacker effectively.  If you can use them to target the weak points of the body, you will be able to ward off serial killers and keep yourself safe.

rechargeable stun baton image

Thumbcuffs: What They Are and How They Are Used

Thumbcuffs may sound like a strange torture device to some or a fun toy to others.  Just the same, it is simply a device used for restraining an individual.  You can find thumbcuffs in many operations and activities performed by law enforcement officers such as policemen, detectives, soldiers and yes, even bounty hunters.  So what are thumbcuffs really and how are they used?

Under the thumb
Thumbcuffs are used as restraining devices.  They are made of metal and resemble the more common wrist cuffs or handcuffs, except that handcuffs are designed to fit around the thumbs, particularly below the knuckles.  They are significantly smaller than handcuffs, obviously, but they are as effective.

They can efficiently restrain the individual by keeping his hands close together in front of his body.  If preferred, the thumbcuffs can be put on with the hands behind the back for better restraint. In either position, an individual will find it difficult to run away or attempt an escape because he will be severely restricted by his uncomfortable and unfamiliar position.  If a person cannot use his hands or arms for balancing his body, he will find it hard to run fast.

Because thumbcuffs are smaller, they are easier to carry and conceal.  They come with a set of keys for unlocking.

Using thumbcuffs
Thumbcuffs are opened and slipped around each thumb. To prevent the thumbcuffs from slipping, make sure that they are positioned below the knuckles.  Once you close the ‘cuffs around the thumbs, the slight protrusion or angle of the knuckles will prevent them from slipping off.

Risks associated with thumbcuffs
Thumbcuffs, unlike handcuffs, require some level of cooperation from an individual to restrain them.  With handcuffs, an individual can be restrained even if he tries to struggle.  As long as you can put his or her hands or arms in the right position, you can easily slip the handcuffs around his wrists.  With thumbcuffs, the thumbs have to be fully extended in order to be slipped snugly into the device.

Thumbcuffs are also notorious for causing injuries to the thumb.  If the thumbcuffs are not designed with a lockspring, there is a danger that the cuffs will tighten too much. If they wrap around the thumb too tightly, they could block off the circulation of the blood.  If the thumbs remain in their position for several hours, the lack of circulation could lead to pain or even injury.

Today, handcuffs are preferred over thumbcuffs to minimize injury.  However, you’ll probably still find thumbcuffs being used by some police forces for arresting suspects.  Thumbcuffs have also found their place as favorite recreational toys, particularly for magicians performing escape tricks.

thumb cuffs image

Beginner’s Tips for Using Pen Knives for Self-Defense

A good thing to remember about self-defense is to always find a way to get yourself at an advantage over your attacker.  An attacker’s goal is to harm you, either by stealing something from you or hurting you physically.  During an attack, it could be quite difficult to position yourself in a manner wherein you can defend yourself.  At close combat, stopping an attacker can be a challenge.  By using a pen knife, you could protect yourself from physical harm and stop your attacker effectively.  Here are tips for using pen knives as self-defense products:
Know which end is which
Pen knives are designed to be concealed, which is why they are cleverly disguised as regular pens.  The first time you bring a pen knife home, examine it carefully.  The blade is usually located on the upper end & the tip you use for writing.  The handle is the other end.

Familiarize yourself with how the pen feels in your hand. You should be able to tell which end is the handle and which end holds the blade without even looking at the pen.  This will ensure that you will know exactly how to hold the pen knife in case of an emergency.

Always carry the pen knife
The key to using pen knives as effective self-defense products is to be able to access it immediately.  In cases of attack, you’ll usually have only seconds to spare.  You should be able to use these precious moments in getting the pen knife, opening it and using it against your attacker.

When traveling, driving or walking, keep the pen knife close to the body.  Slip it into your front or back pocket or keep it in your shirt pocket.  If carrying a purse, make sure the pen knife is close to the opening so you can access it immediately.  If you have to dig in your bag to get it, you’ll be placed at a huge disadvantage in just a short time.

Know the different types of attack using pen knives
The more comfortable you are holding your pen knife, the more effective you’ll be.  Make sure to practice holding, opening and using your pen knife in your home.  Practice different styles of thrusts or knife attacks.

Stabbing an opponent, for example, is an action that can be done as an overhand or underhand attack, depending on your current position and available opportunity. If you know how to use your pen knife efficiently, the more likely you’ll be successful in defending yourself and the least likely you’ll injure yourself.

Use the pen knife responsibly
Remember that pen knives may be self-defense products but they can be lethal weapons as well.  Use them only if you truly have to.

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Buying Handcuffs? Tips for Choosing Top Quality

You might think that handcuffs are all the same.  However, there are handcuffs that are better purchases than others.  For your money, security and safety, there are quality concerns you should keep in mind when choosing handcuffs.  Not all handcuffs are the same, which means you need to choose carefully if you want to get your money’s worth.  Here are some tips you might want to consider:

Determine the use of the ‘cuffs
Handcuffs used by security guards, police officers and other law enforcement individuals are designed to restrain.  The last thing you want to have is a pair of handcuffs that can be easily picked open using a simple paperclip or hair pin.  When choosing quality handcuffs, check the locking mechanism. If you want to control a person, make sure that the cuffs can only be unlocked by its keys.  Buy a pair that comes with two keys, so you have a spare.

For recreational use, make sure handcuffs are easy to get out of.

Look for good quality material
Police-issue handcuffs are made from materials such as stainless steel, aluminum or carbon steel.  If you want to go for brand name, look for handcuffs made by Smith & Wesson, Chicago Handcuff Co, Peerless and Hiatt Thompson, among others.

There are also good quality handcuffs from generic brands.  These are usually nickel coated/plated, which should afford you a few years of good use before the plating starts to chip.  Lower quality handcuffs are also cheaper than good quality ones.

Check tightness
Handcuffs are designed to tighten around the wrists.  What makes them unique from other common forms of restraint is that once the cuffs have tightened, it will be difficult to loosen them, ensuring that the person will not be able to free himself without the use of a key.

The problem with certain handcuff designs, particularly those that were in use some years ago, is that there is no control to prevent them from tightening around the wrist too much.  These models can often cause problems if an individual moves too much when restrained or if the cuffs were put on too tightly.

When choosing quality handcuffs, look for a model that has a safety catch.  The safety catch is a built-in mechanism that prevents the cuffs from becoming too tight around the wrist.  This is important, particularly if you’re trying to prevent or avoid injuries.

Plastic, anyone?
Lately, law enforcement officers have been using plastic handcuffs.  These are quite effective as restraints because they can be tightened and held securely.  Plastics are convenient for certain situations because they are easy to carry, conceal and use, particularly if there are several individuals that have to be arrested or restrained.

handcuffs, thumbcuffs, and legcuffs image