Taking care of children and ensuring they stay out of danger’s ways can prove to be a very challenging task. Managing household chores along with taking care of the little ones not only needs a lot of patience, but also good forethought. Right from doors to windows, power sockets and more, you have to ensure you childproof everything so your little one is not prone to accidents that can prove to be fatal.

First of all, ensure you securely lock the doors of the rooms that you don’t want your child to enter. Opting for door knob covers can prove to be beneficial since children cannot hold them firmly and turn them around easily.

Cabinets in various rooms and kitchens that may have items that can harm the child should be carefully locked. Children can reach out to the cabinets easily and hence you need to be extra careful while childproofing them. Do not keep sharp objects such as knives and any poisonous substance in the cabinets that can cause great harm when in the hands of the child.

You should ensure that various electronic appliances such as refrigerators, dish washers and ovens have a security latch which makes it tough for your child to yank it open and fall prey to hazards. Ensure you also get a lock for the toilet seat so the child does not easily lift it open and fall into it.

If you and all of your loved ones aren’t carrying pepper spray right now then shame on you. Pepper spray is one of the easiest and when used properly most effective self defense tools available.

But self defense products are much more than buying a pepper spray and handing it over. It’s very important to know how to use it should you be attacked.

The first thing you want to do is pick the right pepper spray for you. Here are some choices:

- keychain pepper spray: usually small in size, around 1/2 oz, has a keychain for carrying on you keys, approximately 8 foot range and contains 5 one-second bursts

- keychain pepper spray in leatherette or molded holster: same features as the one above with a holster of your choice

- home models: anywhere from 2-9 ounces an they vary in range. Good to keep near doors or other entrances to your home

- car models: include usually a smaller pepper spray about a half ounce and include a visor clip for easy storage and accessibility

- disguised models: made to look like a lipstick case, pen or even jewelry that actually contains pepper spray

http://www.tbotech.com/pepper-shot-pepper-spray.htm

The next step is to get familiar with your pepper spray. Inspect it, hold it in your hands, practice the motions of picking it up and pointing at an attacker. Just get comfortable with it and trust that it will protect you.

Now let’s imagine you are attacked. Before the attack happens your pepper spray should already be in your hand or easily accessible. You should not be digging through your purse or searching around for it.

Most pepper sprays have a safety. And usually the safety is also part of the actuator or sprayer. You’ll want to turn the safety off and then immediately point the pepper spray directly at an attacker’s face and press down on the actuator. It really is that simple.

The more directly you hit someone in the face, the more effective the pepper spray will be.

Pepper spray will do the following to your attacker instantly:
- cause their eyes to slam shut
- deep, heavy coughing/choking
- irritation of the nose, mouth and throat
- a burning sensation
- mucous membranes will swell

These effects will give you more than enough time to escape.

Finally, if you’re someone who has to “see it” to believe it, do one favor for me…spray a tiny amount of pepper spray on your finger and rub around your eyes, nose or mouth. Then email me your reaction!

Pepper Spray Options

Spring and Summer are right around the corner. A lot of us have already begun to feel the temperatures rising.

This is an exciting time of year. People are thinking vacations, outdoors and fun!

Here are five tips to keep you and your family safe as the seasons unfold:

1. Pools – a refreshing way to cool down on a hot day. But pools are very dangerous to small children. If you are visiting a place with a pool, be sure to know where all life saving devices are, keep life jackets or swim wings on kids at all times, and talk to your kids about pool safety. If you own a pool do all of the mentioned and also consider a Pool Alarm. This alarm monitors changes in the surface level of the water. Should a child, animal or anything else fall in, the alarm will sound.

2. Skin care – even if you live somewhere that’s mostly cloudy, you are still getting the harmful rays of the sun. Make sure everyone is well covered in sun block of at least SPF 30 and be sure to reapply throughout the day.

3. Vacations – spring and summer are often prime season for tourist attractions. Not only does this make business owners happy but criminals as well. Remember, criminals act on opportunity. Get familiar with places you visit before you arrive and be sure to carry only small amounts of cash when you’re there. Keep your hotel locked and consider bringing a Door Stop Alarm. This alarm acts as a door wedge and alarm. Should anyone open your room door, an alarm will sound 130dB.

4. Heat exhaustion – the rising temperatures will make it almost impossible to stay indoors for a long period of time. Picnics, sports games, parades and community events will be filling our weekends. It’s important to remember to stay hydrated with water, especially for children and the elderly. Symptoms include: Heavy sweating, fatigue, headache, pale/clammy skin, thirst, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps. If you think heat exhaustion is occurring, get to a cool, air conditioned room and drink cool (not icy) fluids such as water or sport drinks.

5. Hot cars – last year we heard a lot of stories about children and pets being left in cars…some of them survived but some of them didn’t. This really is about common sense. No matter how quickly your trip into the store or wherever may be…take your children. If you are running errands where you cannot take a pet, then leave your pet at home. When you get home, double check your car to make sure everyone is out.

Hope that you’re as excited about the approaching summer as we are and I hope you find these reminders helpful!

A neighbor of mine recently came to me to ask for help with choosing hidden cameras for his home. We’ll call him “Joe” to protect the innocent.

Joe’s been having repeat break-ins occurring at his home. He explained that he knows it’s the same thieves every time, thinks he knows who it is, but can’t prove it. He continued to say he has two choices to end this: 1) shoot them, or 2) catch them in the act. He really prefers the latter.

With a family of 6, Joe is very concerned for their safety. His wife is now afraid to stay home by herself with the kids. Joe is dealing with the stress of being away from home, wondering how many doors he is going to have to replace before these criminals get caught. The police haven’t been very much help. There isn’t enough evidence.

Joe has been broken into many times by these thugs, and the last two times were within a month of each other – just this past month as a matter of fact. A no-good neighbor keeps a watch for when there is no one home at Joe’s and then makes a call and gives an “all clear”. Later, when Joe arrives home from a long days work, his house is torn apart, and things are missing. Valuable things like jewelry, money and guns. The jerks even tear through the kids’ rooms for goods.

Last Saturday, which was also the day Joe received his camera equipment from us, he and his son were out back shooting their guns, practicing for their next hunting expedition. Later that evening, while Joe was running up the road to drop his kids off at his parents so he & his wife could enjoy a night out with some friends, the culprits tried striking again. After hearing the gun shots earlier in the day, that no-good neighbor rang his kleptomaniac friends to fill them in.

The sound of those guns alerted them there was more loot. Unfortunately, Joe hadn’t enough time yet to get his camera’s set up and in place. Luckily, his friends had been pulling up in his driveway at the same time and ran them off before they could do any damage.

Now he has his hidden cameras in place and recording 24/7. He has them strategically placed at the entry points, and the next time those burglars prowl again, it will be their last time.

Even if you have never been burglarized, wouldn’t you feel more safe knowing that should this happen to you, you’ll have the security in place to prevent it from happening again?

We have a great line of hidden camera products – check them out! And, don’t forget, our Christmas Season sale is still running, so you’ll receive 15% off your entire order!

www.tbotech.com/hidden-cameras.htm

I got an email from a reader who became concerned about safety when a neighbor was attacked on an evening jog.

This lady jogs the beach every day after work around 6pm. Up until the time change it was always light outside during her run.

The other night she made her way down to the beach, turned on the iPod and started her 2 mile route.

So it was dark, she had earphones in, the music cranked-up, and no one was around…or so she thought.

During her cool-down a man grabbed her from behind and tried to force her to the ground. She never even heard him coming.

Luckily she was able to fight him off and run for help.

I immediately suggested the Mace Hot Walkers. They are 1lb walking weights with a secret weapon…Pepper Spray. Just point the weight at an attacker’s face and shoot! You even get one Free replacement canister.

Pepper Spray Walking Weights

Don’t get caught unprepared. Or you could be running for your life.

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.

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.