Welcome back everyone! I have been gone for almost 2 years and there is a
reason. In those two years I have changed careers twice and moved two times. I
am now a law enforcement officer and hopefully for me and the family I should be
here for awhile. This fall I will be on the department for two years and feel
as if I'm finally getting the hang of things. What I would like to do is go
back through my older posts and update them, checking the links to see if they
are still working and update any content that may have changed. Once I finish
with that I will begin writing newer content. Thanks for your patience and I
hope this blog is still useful to some.
Regards.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Thursday, February 6, 2014
A "Safe" Decision
You may notice that this blog does not contain any ads. I do have an amazon link as it is nice to sometimes get an idea of a product that I am referring to, but I will never resort to splashing ads all over my page because the endstate of this project is not to make money. What I will do is endorse a company or product that I feel strongly about and you will notice that I have done so a few times throughout my blog. Today I would like to tell you about Authority Safes.
Authority Safes is an e-commerce safe supplier based out of Elkhart, Indiana. They have been in business for only 5 years yet have received numerous awards, including a constant "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for each of the 4 years they have been a member. Their customer service is impeccable and the level of company transparency they present, especially for being an e-commerce store, is a rarity. They have a by-name listing of their team, some with photos, posted on their website as well as a Live Chat option. The biggest concern I usually have about an e-commerce company is trust, and as with any product or company I mention in this blog, I would not be endorsing them if I didn't trust them. Their BBB rating, along with their openness and commitment to customer service, has put me at ease. But what's great customer service without a great product?
Authority Safes has a wide variety of safes for a wide variety of needs, including safes for your home and your business. If you are in the market for any type of safe begin your search with Authority Safes.
Having said that, lets talk about why we need safes in the first place.
It's pretty obvious that we purchase safes because we want to protect something of value. And as we know different people consider different things valuable. It is a subjective term. So the first question you need to answer is what is it you want to protect? Do you want to protect your jewelry from theft, or your kids from your firearms? In staying with the spirit of this blog, I am going to talk about safes and how they relate to personal security. If you want advice on the different kinds of safes, their ratings, and which one is right for you, contact Authority Safes.
When you have something in your home of value, the first thing you need to know is that it could potentially make you a target. This is where we digress back into risk mitigation, and this is where safes come into play. They should be part of your security plan to mitigate the risk of somebody taking, or attempting to take, whatever it is you are trying to protect.
A safe in and of itself is not enough. If I take a safe, put it outside in an empty lot, it is probably not going to last very long. Regardless of how heavy it is. You can Google plenty of videos of people wrapping chains around ATM machines and driving off with them. Get the thought out of your head that a safe is the end all be all. You still need to be smart.
So the next thing you need to be aware of, and try to minimize, is who knows about what you have in your home or office. Understand that when you wear your collection of Tiffany jewelry, people are going to take notice. If you host house parties, know who your guests are and be aware of the unaccompanied access they have to your house. Be aware that some of your guests may have family members or friends that you personally would never let into your home, but because your guest couldn't stop talking about all of the cool guns you had you have now become a target to his drug addicted son. Once you have begun to implement that simple step, your next step is to choose a safe.
When choosing a safe, you need to identify the personal value of what it is that you are protecting. This will help you establish the kind of safe you need. I don't really care about my passports, so I have a relatively cheap fireproof safe that I keep them in. Now, if one those passports held a memory that I cherished I may want to protect it better. The value of the item(s) only you can decide. A professional can help you with finding the right safe in order to properly protect that item(s).
While choosing a home security safe, keep in mind our discussion about minimizing who is aware of what you have. What I mean by that is the presence of a safe usually signals the presence of something valuable. If I can see your giant gun safe in your living room from the street you are advertising to everyone who passes by that you probably have some delicious guns in there. Hide it! And if you do need a big ol' gun safe, consider spending a little bit more and make a closet type room specifically to hide your safe. That way, when your kids' friends come over they aren't telling everyone that Jimmy's daddy has a bunch of guns in his huge vault downstairs. It will just be another room in the house with a locked door.
Once you have chosen a safe, and if you do not already have one, you should discuss with a security professional on your need for a home security system. Those passports I spoke of probably do not rate a $50 a month alarm monitoring fee. But a vault full of guns, that may be a different story. Every situation is different and each case needs to be looked at individually. Just ensure that you do at least consider it.
The one thing I will go into a little more detail on right now is the small gun safes designed to be accessed quickly. These usually hold one pistol, open quickly, and are fairly portable. If you have kids it's a no brainer. You need the safe to store your weapon while you sleep. However, if you plan on putting the gun you are going to use to protect you and your family into a locked box, you need to ensure you keep it near you and that you practice opening it. And I don't mean while you are watching your favorite t.v. show. I mean setting an alarm for 0243, and as soon as that alarm goes off you attempt to access your gun as fast as you can. Do it until it is second nature. I have three small kids of my own and pretty soon I will need to securely store my loaded firearm at night as well. I have already begun looking and will be contacting Authority Safes when I feel my current plan is no longer viable. There is a much higher chance of my kids getting ahold of my gun than someone breaking in to my home.
In conclusion, if you have something you need to protect or secure look into getting a safe. And when you look into getting a safe, start with Authority Safes. They are professionals, friendly, and can guide you in the right direction. They carry a wide variety of brands, including Mesa Safes which is a great manufacturer and has a full line of safes for any need. Not only does Authority Safes carry over a dozen brands, they are an authorized dealer for each one which means better and faster solutions. Simple and straight forward.
If you have any questions or comments, as always, let me know.
Authority Safes is an e-commerce safe supplier based out of Elkhart, Indiana. They have been in business for only 5 years yet have received numerous awards, including a constant "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for each of the 4 years they have been a member. Their customer service is impeccable and the level of company transparency they present, especially for being an e-commerce store, is a rarity. They have a by-name listing of their team, some with photos, posted on their website as well as a Live Chat option. The biggest concern I usually have about an e-commerce company is trust, and as with any product or company I mention in this blog, I would not be endorsing them if I didn't trust them. Their BBB rating, along with their openness and commitment to customer service, has put me at ease. But what's great customer service without a great product?
Authority Safes has a wide variety of safes for a wide variety of needs, including safes for your home and your business. If you are in the market for any type of safe begin your search with Authority Safes.
Having said that, lets talk about why we need safes in the first place.
It's pretty obvious that we purchase safes because we want to protect something of value. And as we know different people consider different things valuable. It is a subjective term. So the first question you need to answer is what is it you want to protect? Do you want to protect your jewelry from theft, or your kids from your firearms? In staying with the spirit of this blog, I am going to talk about safes and how they relate to personal security. If you want advice on the different kinds of safes, their ratings, and which one is right for you, contact Authority Safes.
When you have something in your home of value, the first thing you need to know is that it could potentially make you a target. This is where we digress back into risk mitigation, and this is where safes come into play. They should be part of your security plan to mitigate the risk of somebody taking, or attempting to take, whatever it is you are trying to protect.
A safe in and of itself is not enough. If I take a safe, put it outside in an empty lot, it is probably not going to last very long. Regardless of how heavy it is. You can Google plenty of videos of people wrapping chains around ATM machines and driving off with them. Get the thought out of your head that a safe is the end all be all. You still need to be smart.
So the next thing you need to be aware of, and try to minimize, is who knows about what you have in your home or office. Understand that when you wear your collection of Tiffany jewelry, people are going to take notice. If you host house parties, know who your guests are and be aware of the unaccompanied access they have to your house. Be aware that some of your guests may have family members or friends that you personally would never let into your home, but because your guest couldn't stop talking about all of the cool guns you had you have now become a target to his drug addicted son. Once you have begun to implement that simple step, your next step is to choose a safe.
When choosing a safe, you need to identify the personal value of what it is that you are protecting. This will help you establish the kind of safe you need. I don't really care about my passports, so I have a relatively cheap fireproof safe that I keep them in. Now, if one those passports held a memory that I cherished I may want to protect it better. The value of the item(s) only you can decide. A professional can help you with finding the right safe in order to properly protect that item(s).
While choosing a home security safe, keep in mind our discussion about minimizing who is aware of what you have. What I mean by that is the presence of a safe usually signals the presence of something valuable. If I can see your giant gun safe in your living room from the street you are advertising to everyone who passes by that you probably have some delicious guns in there. Hide it! And if you do need a big ol' gun safe, consider spending a little bit more and make a closet type room specifically to hide your safe. That way, when your kids' friends come over they aren't telling everyone that Jimmy's daddy has a bunch of guns in his huge vault downstairs. It will just be another room in the house with a locked door.
Once you have chosen a safe, and if you do not already have one, you should discuss with a security professional on your need for a home security system. Those passports I spoke of probably do not rate a $50 a month alarm monitoring fee. But a vault full of guns, that may be a different story. Every situation is different and each case needs to be looked at individually. Just ensure that you do at least consider it.
The one thing I will go into a little more detail on right now is the small gun safes designed to be accessed quickly. These usually hold one pistol, open quickly, and are fairly portable. If you have kids it's a no brainer. You need the safe to store your weapon while you sleep. However, if you plan on putting the gun you are going to use to protect you and your family into a locked box, you need to ensure you keep it near you and that you practice opening it. And I don't mean while you are watching your favorite t.v. show. I mean setting an alarm for 0243, and as soon as that alarm goes off you attempt to access your gun as fast as you can. Do it until it is second nature. I have three small kids of my own and pretty soon I will need to securely store my loaded firearm at night as well. I have already begun looking and will be contacting Authority Safes when I feel my current plan is no longer viable. There is a much higher chance of my kids getting ahold of my gun than someone breaking in to my home.
In conclusion, if you have something you need to protect or secure look into getting a safe. And when you look into getting a safe, start with Authority Safes. They are professionals, friendly, and can guide you in the right direction. They carry a wide variety of brands, including Mesa Safes which is a great manufacturer and has a full line of safes for any need. Not only does Authority Safes carry over a dozen brands, they are an authorized dealer for each one which means better and faster solutions. Simple and straight forward.
If you have any questions or comments, as always, let me know.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Security for Couples/Families
This may seem like an odd topic, but when you are living with another person(s) you should both/all be on the same page when it comes to security. This is a struggle in my home as there is one certain individual, I won't mention any names, who prefers to believe that bad things do not happen in her world. I respect her way of thinking and I actually believe that this world needs those kinds of people, but it makes my job a little more difficult.
I will begin with the home environment first. Let's say that you are the husband or wife who chooses to take your families security serious. You take some self-defense courses, maybe you even send yourself to a high speed shooting school. You start what-if'ing different scenarios for the home and certain locations around the city you habitually frequent and develop some decent plans in case things go wrong...but then you have to throw the other members of your family into the equation. I am not going to go into every possible scenario that could happen, there just isn't the time or space. But you do have to plan for at least the most probable possibilities as you see them.
Some things you need to take into consideration are:
You need to be aware of all of your most probably entry points and how you are going to protect your family depending on which one is breached.
Layout of your house relative to your bedroom vs. your kids:
If you are lucky and all of your bedrooms are upstairs, that's an easy one. You call the police and defend the stairs. If your bedrooms are spread throughout the house, or have a kid in the basement or vice versa, you need a different plan.
The age of your kids and their most probable reaction to a home invasion:
If they are young are they going to run out to the noise to see what is going on? Are they going to scream and cry and run to your room, giving away your position as well as possibly making themselves an easy target by running through an area the intruders are already in? Are they teenagers. Did they sneak out and are now sneaking back in? Will they roam about the house causing you to hesitate if you are utilizing a firearm?
Your spouse's most probable reaction to a home invasion:
Will he/she run to the kids room. Will he/she wake up and turn on the lights, alerting the bad to your location, letting them know you are awake hence taking away your chance of surprise, and ruining your night vision?
A realistic evaluation to your pet's reaction:
A short 4 years ago, your dog may have been a formidable opponent when someone came crashing through the door. Now, maybe she doesn't even get up when someone knocks.
If possible, learn the appearance of your families silhouette's:
This is accomplished simply by hanging out with your family at night. After spending enough time with people in the dark, it becomes easy to tell who they are just by their silhouette, which may come in handy in a dark house where you are unsure of your families location.
Size of your house:
This should be obvious. A small house and everything is more compact. You need to react quicker as the baddies can get to you faster. A big house, and things are more spread out. You may have more time to react. However, if you do not have an alarm there may be the possibility that the bad guys can enter your home without you even hearing them.
Chosen personal protection weapon:
I've covered most of this in my Weapons post, but I want to reiterate that when speaking of firearms, over-penetration is your biggest concern. Do your research and pick the best weapon/ammunition for your house size and location. The only weapon I recommend for home protection is a firearm. If you are not going to use a firearm, spend the money creating a safe room, a citadel, that you and your family can retreat to until the police arrive.
These are just a few of the many things you need to think about when you throw variables (people) into your emergency plan of action.
Outside of the home, there are many scenarios that can play out. If you are serious about your families security you should be what-if'ing everywhere you go. I've said it before, but once you get it down it will become natural. I do it all the time and it doesn't interfere whatsoever. When walking through the parking garage I what-if. When my car is warming up in the drive-way I what-if. When my wife and I are walking through the streets downtown I what-if, even while we are talking.
The biggest take-away from this is to understand you have variables you need to plan as much as possible for. You need to sit down with your family and talk about the what-ifs as it relates to your home, and even outside of it. I tell my wife where she should set up and show her why. I talk to her about the probable reactions of the kids. Her running into the rooms of the kids will do the opposite of helping. It can be a hard conversation and my wife cried when I was going over all the possible what-ifs that go through my mind constantly. It scared her. But the potential benefits of having the conversation may one day far outweigh the drawbacks of not having it.
As always, any questions please let me know.
I will begin with the home environment first. Let's say that you are the husband or wife who chooses to take your families security serious. You take some self-defense courses, maybe you even send yourself to a high speed shooting school. You start what-if'ing different scenarios for the home and certain locations around the city you habitually frequent and develop some decent plans in case things go wrong...but then you have to throw the other members of your family into the equation. I am not going to go into every possible scenario that could happen, there just isn't the time or space. But you do have to plan for at least the most probable possibilities as you see them.
Some things you need to take into consideration are:
- Layout of your house and bedroom relative to entry points
- Layout of your house relative to your bedroom vs. your kids
- The age of your kids and their most probable reaction to a home invasion
- Your spouse's most probable reaction to a home invasion
- A realistic evaluation of your pet's reaction
- If possible, learn the appearance of your family members silhouette's
- Size of your house
- Chosen personal protection weapon
You need to be aware of all of your most probably entry points and how you are going to protect your family depending on which one is breached.
Layout of your house relative to your bedroom vs. your kids:
If you are lucky and all of your bedrooms are upstairs, that's an easy one. You call the police and defend the stairs. If your bedrooms are spread throughout the house, or have a kid in the basement or vice versa, you need a different plan.
The age of your kids and their most probable reaction to a home invasion:
If they are young are they going to run out to the noise to see what is going on? Are they going to scream and cry and run to your room, giving away your position as well as possibly making themselves an easy target by running through an area the intruders are already in? Are they teenagers. Did they sneak out and are now sneaking back in? Will they roam about the house causing you to hesitate if you are utilizing a firearm?
Your spouse's most probable reaction to a home invasion:
Will he/she run to the kids room. Will he/she wake up and turn on the lights, alerting the bad to your location, letting them know you are awake hence taking away your chance of surprise, and ruining your night vision?
A realistic evaluation to your pet's reaction:
A short 4 years ago, your dog may have been a formidable opponent when someone came crashing through the door. Now, maybe she doesn't even get up when someone knocks.
If possible, learn the appearance of your families silhouette's:
This is accomplished simply by hanging out with your family at night. After spending enough time with people in the dark, it becomes easy to tell who they are just by their silhouette, which may come in handy in a dark house where you are unsure of your families location.
Size of your house:
This should be obvious. A small house and everything is more compact. You need to react quicker as the baddies can get to you faster. A big house, and things are more spread out. You may have more time to react. However, if you do not have an alarm there may be the possibility that the bad guys can enter your home without you even hearing them.
Chosen personal protection weapon:
I've covered most of this in my Weapons post, but I want to reiterate that when speaking of firearms, over-penetration is your biggest concern. Do your research and pick the best weapon/ammunition for your house size and location. The only weapon I recommend for home protection is a firearm. If you are not going to use a firearm, spend the money creating a safe room, a citadel, that you and your family can retreat to until the police arrive.
These are just a few of the many things you need to think about when you throw variables (people) into your emergency plan of action.
Outside of the home, there are many scenarios that can play out. If you are serious about your families security you should be what-if'ing everywhere you go. I've said it before, but once you get it down it will become natural. I do it all the time and it doesn't interfere whatsoever. When walking through the parking garage I what-if. When my car is warming up in the drive-way I what-if. When my wife and I are walking through the streets downtown I what-if, even while we are talking.
The biggest take-away from this is to understand you have variables you need to plan as much as possible for. You need to sit down with your family and talk about the what-ifs as it relates to your home, and even outside of it. I tell my wife where she should set up and show her why. I talk to her about the probable reactions of the kids. Her running into the rooms of the kids will do the opposite of helping. It can be a hard conversation and my wife cried when I was going over all the possible what-ifs that go through my mind constantly. It scared her. But the potential benefits of having the conversation may one day far outweigh the drawbacks of not having it.
As always, any questions please let me know.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Security for the Seasoned Individual
All right, getting back into it. I have some down time before I head back overseas so lets see if I can knock out a few topics!
Our next item (getting back to the agenda...sort of) deals with the seasoned individual and the challenges they may face. Now, when I say seasoned I'm talking 50 and above...and before I get a backlash I realize that 50 is not old! But late 40's and early 50's is when health problems start to manifest themselves for a lot of people so I feel this is where we should start since your health definitely effects the tools you have available with which to protect yourself. I was originally going to break this up into male and female, but as I started writing I realized there wasn't much difference between the two so I combined them.
First and foremost, be honest with yourself! What is wrong with you right now that will limit your ability to protect yourself? (Keep in mind, your answers to this question may also directly relate to your ability to use deadly force. You are justified to use deadly force when you feel that your life is in danger, and in your 20's, you may have been able to take a beating. But now, you may have a heart condition or you may be suffering from Osteoporosis which would turn a robbery into a homicide...with YOU being the victim). If you carry a firearm, are you still able to see the sights of your weapon? You may have carried it for 40 years but now, due to your need for bifocals, you may need to change the tactics with which you employ your weapon. Above we mentioned conditions of the body that may increase the effects of a violent assault or an extremely stressful situation. Some companies and agencies require that a stress test be done on any employees deploying to a high threat environment to ensure that they are not at an elevated risk of a heart attack when placed in an abnormally stressful situation. Arthritis? How effective will your struggles be? Can you manipulate a weapon such as a pistol or knife or even Mace effectively when arthritis has hampered your ability to even make a fist? Again, be honest. The tools you used to rely on (strength, weapons, reaction time, quick thinking) may not be as sharp or accessible as they once were and by not admitting it you may be setting yourself up for serious injury or even death.
Another aspect of personal safety that needs to be addressed is accidents. We spoke of Osteoporosis above. If you are home alone and fall and are unable to reach a phone, how will you get help? Joking about old people and breaking hips may seem funny, but a broken hip is no laughing matter. In the military, a pelvic strike is considered deadly force because of the potential for serious bodily harm and/or death. A major artery, the femoral, is found on the inside of your thighs about an inch or two above where your leg meets your genital area, if you follow the natural vee. Sever one of these and you have maybe a few minutes to live. Not only that, but your hips support your whole body. We train to shoot the pelvic area in order to cause death and immediate disabling, so you can imagine you won't be doing much walking or even standing with a broken hip.
Hopefully we've got you thinking by now. There are many more examples of bad things that can happen, whether it be by direct assault or by accident, but lets now focus on how to prevent, avoid, or at least mitigate the effects such an episode will have on you.
By far, the best defense you have against any crime or accident is situational awareness. Remain cognizant of what is going on around you! Secondly, have a plan. I have already gone in depth in previous posts concerning such things as mindset, principles of security, and weapons so if you think that this post is lacking please read back.
Ok, let's talk situational awareness. If you know that you are at risk for an accident, you must remain aware of your surroundings. Set yourself up for success. Make sure that the floor is clear of debris, make sure steps are clearly marked and hand railings have been installed. Do you have a small dog or cat that runs beneath your feet? Over time, you may have amassed a little wealth and enjoy nice cars and jewelry. Realize that a thief may identify you as a soft (easy) target because of your age or your inability to fight back, and giving off the appearance of having money may not be such a wise choice depending upon your environment. Also, be aware of possible scams. Door-to-door salesman should be immediately and firmly sent on their way, bearing in mind that you do NOT have to open the door to talk to them. At best they are selling needless products, at worst, they are criminals casing your house. This is in no way a complete list, but the point is to get you thinking. The internet is another area in which you need to be aware. I strongly suggest you do some major reading, talk to a family member or friend who is active on the internet, or take an internet course (go through a reputable source, such as a tech college or some other accredited organization) because you could compromise a lot of your personal information, as well as others, if you do not adhere to good internet practices and have at least some idea of the threats out there, including internet scams.
Having a plan is essential in order to effectively deal with situations that will inevitably arise. Earlier, we asked the question of how you would get help if you fell. There are such tools out there like LifeAlert and ADT's Personal Emergency Response System that you should consider. Keep in mind that these tools are not confined to medical emergencies. If you feel threatened, whether inside or outside of your home, you may utilize these tools. It may not be the most effective response but at least somebody will be on the way to help you. Cell phones. Cell phones these days are almost a necessity. You don't have to have some fancy phone, just something that you can use anywhere to call for help. A home security system is always a good idea. If you can't move very quickly and you have a fire in your house, how will you get out? Are you on the first or second floor? Should you install more smoke detectors? A sprinkler system? Modify your bedroom window in order to make it easier to get out of?
The above should be a good start to an effective plan. I'm going to keep stressing that this post is intended to get you thinking as opposed to cover all contingencies. As we get older, our bodies do become weaker and we have to accept that and plan for it, regardless of how much it hurts our pride.
I hope this has helped in some way, and as always, if you have any questions do not hesitate!
Our next item (getting back to the agenda...sort of) deals with the seasoned individual and the challenges they may face. Now, when I say seasoned I'm talking 50 and above...and before I get a backlash I realize that 50 is not old! But late 40's and early 50's is when health problems start to manifest themselves for a lot of people so I feel this is where we should start since your health definitely effects the tools you have available with which to protect yourself. I was originally going to break this up into male and female, but as I started writing I realized there wasn't much difference between the two so I combined them.
First and foremost, be honest with yourself! What is wrong with you right now that will limit your ability to protect yourself? (Keep in mind, your answers to this question may also directly relate to your ability to use deadly force. You are justified to use deadly force when you feel that your life is in danger, and in your 20's, you may have been able to take a beating. But now, you may have a heart condition or you may be suffering from Osteoporosis which would turn a robbery into a homicide...with YOU being the victim). If you carry a firearm, are you still able to see the sights of your weapon? You may have carried it for 40 years but now, due to your need for bifocals, you may need to change the tactics with which you employ your weapon. Above we mentioned conditions of the body that may increase the effects of a violent assault or an extremely stressful situation. Some companies and agencies require that a stress test be done on any employees deploying to a high threat environment to ensure that they are not at an elevated risk of a heart attack when placed in an abnormally stressful situation. Arthritis? How effective will your struggles be? Can you manipulate a weapon such as a pistol or knife or even Mace effectively when arthritis has hampered your ability to even make a fist? Again, be honest. The tools you used to rely on (strength, weapons, reaction time, quick thinking) may not be as sharp or accessible as they once were and by not admitting it you may be setting yourself up for serious injury or even death.
Another aspect of personal safety that needs to be addressed is accidents. We spoke of Osteoporosis above. If you are home alone and fall and are unable to reach a phone, how will you get help? Joking about old people and breaking hips may seem funny, but a broken hip is no laughing matter. In the military, a pelvic strike is considered deadly force because of the potential for serious bodily harm and/or death. A major artery, the femoral, is found on the inside of your thighs about an inch or two above where your leg meets your genital area, if you follow the natural vee. Sever one of these and you have maybe a few minutes to live. Not only that, but your hips support your whole body. We train to shoot the pelvic area in order to cause death and immediate disabling, so you can imagine you won't be doing much walking or even standing with a broken hip.
Hopefully we've got you thinking by now. There are many more examples of bad things that can happen, whether it be by direct assault or by accident, but lets now focus on how to prevent, avoid, or at least mitigate the effects such an episode will have on you.
By far, the best defense you have against any crime or accident is situational awareness. Remain cognizant of what is going on around you! Secondly, have a plan. I have already gone in depth in previous posts concerning such things as mindset, principles of security, and weapons so if you think that this post is lacking please read back.
Ok, let's talk situational awareness. If you know that you are at risk for an accident, you must remain aware of your surroundings. Set yourself up for success. Make sure that the floor is clear of debris, make sure steps are clearly marked and hand railings have been installed. Do you have a small dog or cat that runs beneath your feet? Over time, you may have amassed a little wealth and enjoy nice cars and jewelry. Realize that a thief may identify you as a soft (easy) target because of your age or your inability to fight back, and giving off the appearance of having money may not be such a wise choice depending upon your environment. Also, be aware of possible scams. Door-to-door salesman should be immediately and firmly sent on their way, bearing in mind that you do NOT have to open the door to talk to them. At best they are selling needless products, at worst, they are criminals casing your house. This is in no way a complete list, but the point is to get you thinking. The internet is another area in which you need to be aware. I strongly suggest you do some major reading, talk to a family member or friend who is active on the internet, or take an internet course (go through a reputable source, such as a tech college or some other accredited organization) because you could compromise a lot of your personal information, as well as others, if you do not adhere to good internet practices and have at least some idea of the threats out there, including internet scams.
Having a plan is essential in order to effectively deal with situations that will inevitably arise. Earlier, we asked the question of how you would get help if you fell. There are such tools out there like LifeAlert and ADT's Personal Emergency Response System that you should consider. Keep in mind that these tools are not confined to medical emergencies. If you feel threatened, whether inside or outside of your home, you may utilize these tools. It may not be the most effective response but at least somebody will be on the way to help you. Cell phones. Cell phones these days are almost a necessity. You don't have to have some fancy phone, just something that you can use anywhere to call for help. A home security system is always a good idea. If you can't move very quickly and you have a fire in your house, how will you get out? Are you on the first or second floor? Should you install more smoke detectors? A sprinkler system? Modify your bedroom window in order to make it easier to get out of?
The above should be a good start to an effective plan. I'm going to keep stressing that this post is intended to get you thinking as opposed to cover all contingencies. As we get older, our bodies do become weaker and we have to accept that and plan for it, regardless of how much it hurts our pride.
I hope this has helped in some way, and as always, if you have any questions do not hesitate!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Child Safety
Sorry for the long delay...life!
It has recently come to my attention that a friend of mine is having issues with an ex-wife and her new boyfriend and the interaction between her new beau and his little girl. That story is neither here nor there, but it brought up a situation I'm sure a lot of divorced parents with children have unfortunately experienced. Picture yourself with kids, boys or girls, it doesn't matter. Your ex takes the kids for the weekend and takes them to her new boyfriend/girlfriends house. Being a nasty divorce, the ex is less then forthcoming on any information concerning anything, especially contact information on his/her new fling. So off they go, your kids going into the unknown. Are they safe? Who is this guy? Where does he live? Then, to make it worse, your little girl/boy comes home and tells you that mommy/daddy's new boyfriend/girlfriend gives them the creeps. Unless the new friend has actually done something to the child, there is, unfortunately, little anyone can do. (I know laws are different in some states concerning who children can spend the night with if they aren't relatives but I'm generalizing.)
One legal thing that you as the parent can do that is totally legal and will also make your child feel a little safer is the Amber Alert GPS. It does cost a monthly fee, but I believe it is well worth it. Some of its features are Predator Alert, alerting you when the child is within 500ft of a sex offenders residence. There is a panic button, speed alert if your child is going too fast, a safe zone you can establish that will alert you if your child leaves the virtual boundary, and also Smart phone tracking among other things. This is not a cheap piece of gear, but considering what the alternative could be, it may be the best thing you ever bought.
This isn't going to be a long post, I just wanted to throw that out there while I was thinking about it. I will try to get back on task in a few weeks but we shall see...
It has recently come to my attention that a friend of mine is having issues with an ex-wife and her new boyfriend and the interaction between her new beau and his little girl. That story is neither here nor there, but it brought up a situation I'm sure a lot of divorced parents with children have unfortunately experienced. Picture yourself with kids, boys or girls, it doesn't matter. Your ex takes the kids for the weekend and takes them to her new boyfriend/girlfriends house. Being a nasty divorce, the ex is less then forthcoming on any information concerning anything, especially contact information on his/her new fling. So off they go, your kids going into the unknown. Are they safe? Who is this guy? Where does he live? Then, to make it worse, your little girl/boy comes home and tells you that mommy/daddy's new boyfriend/girlfriend gives them the creeps. Unless the new friend has actually done something to the child, there is, unfortunately, little anyone can do. (I know laws are different in some states concerning who children can spend the night with if they aren't relatives but I'm generalizing.)
One legal thing that you as the parent can do that is totally legal and will also make your child feel a little safer is the Amber Alert GPS. It does cost a monthly fee, but I believe it is well worth it. Some of its features are Predator Alert, alerting you when the child is within 500ft of a sex offenders residence. There is a panic button, speed alert if your child is going too fast, a safe zone you can establish that will alert you if your child leaves the virtual boundary, and also Smart phone tracking among other things. This is not a cheap piece of gear, but considering what the alternative could be, it may be the best thing you ever bought.
This isn't going to be a long post, I just wanted to throw that out there while I was thinking about it. I will try to get back on task in a few weeks but we shall see...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
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