Typical bicycle safety guides will usually tell you little more than to wear your helmet and to follow the law. But consider this for a moment: Wearing a helmet will do absolutely nothing to prevent you from getting hit by a car. Sure, helmets might help you if you get hit, but your number one goal should be to avoid getting hit in the first place. Plenty of cyclists are killed by cars even though they were wearing helmets. Don’t fall for the myth that wearing a helmet is the first and last word in biking safety. In short, it’s better NOT to get hit.

The next most common bike safety advice after “wear a helmet” is “follow the law,” but most people are already aware that it’s stupid to race through a red light when there’s cross traffic, or to break other obvious traffic-safety rules. The other problem with the “follow the law” message is that people may think that’s all they need to do. But following the law is not enough to keep you safe.

THE MOST COMMON CAR/BIKE COLLISION AND HOW TO AVOID IT: THE RIGHT CROSS

A car is pulling out of a side street, parking lot or driveway on the right. Notice that there are actually two possible kinds of collisions here: either you’re in front of the car and the car hits you, or the car pulls out in front of you and you slam into it. There are ways to minimize this threat.

1. Get a headlight. If you’re riding at night, you absolutely should be using a front headlight. It is required by law. Even for daytime riding, a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible to motorists who might otherwise Right Cross you. Look for the new LED headlights which last ten times as long on a set of batteries as old-style lights. And headlamps (mounted on your head or helmet) are the best, because then you can look directly at the driver to make sure they see your light.
2. Wave. If you can’t make eye contact with the driver, wave your arm. It’s easier for them to see your arm going left and right than it is for them to see a bicycle coming straight towards them. You could also use a loud horn to get driver’s attention. If it looks like the driver is about to pull out without seeing you, YELL! You may feel awkward waving or yelling, but it’s better to be embarrassed than to get hit. Incidentally, many countries require bells on bicycles, but the U.S. does not.
3. Slow down. If you cannot make eye contact with the driver (especially at night), slow down so much that you will be able to stop completely if you have to. The inconvenience of stopping is nothing compared to the danger of an accident.
4. Ride further left. You’re probably used to riding very close to the curb, because you’re worried about being hit from behind. But when the oncoming driver is looking down the road for traffic, he’s not looking in the bike lane or the area closest to the curb; he’s looking in the middle of the lane, for other cars. The farther left you are the more likely the driver will see you. The added advantage is that if the motorist doesn’t see you and starts pulling out, you may be able to go even farther left, or may be able to speed up and get out of the way before impact, or easily roll onto their hood as they slam on their brakes. In short, it gives you some options. Because if you stay all the way to the right and they pull out, your only “option” may be to run right into the driver’s side door.

You might worry that moving left makes you more vulnerable to cars coming from behind. But accident statistics say you’re far more likely to get hit by a car at an intersection ahead of you that can’t see you, than from a car behind you which can see you clearly. So while both positions have risk, you generally reduce your risk by riding a little farther left. Your actual lane position depends on road conditions. On fast roadways with few cross streets (and thus fewer chances to get hit at intersections), you’ll ride farther to the right. On slow roads with many cross streets, you’ll ride farther left.

THE SECOND MOST-COMMON COLLISION: THE OPEN CAR DOOR

A driver opens his door right in front of you. You run right into it if you can’t stop in time. This kind of crash is the second-most common car-bike crash reported in many cities, and the death rates of cyclists killed in this kind of accident are significantly high. This collision can be avoided.

Ride to the left. Ride far enough to the left that you will not run into any door that’s opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can’t pass you easily, but you’re more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can see you clearly.

THE THIRD MOST-COMMON COLLISION: CROSSWALK ACCIDENT

You’re riding on the sidewalk, you cross the street at a crosswalk, and a car makes a right turn directly into you. Drivers aren’t expecting bikes in the crosswalk, and it’s hard for them to see you because of the nature of turning from one street to another, so it’s very easy for you to get hit this way. One study showed that sidewalk-riding was twice as dangerous as road riding, and statistics suggest it may be even more dangerous than that. This collision, too, can be avoided.

1. Get a headlight.
2. Slow down.
3. Don’t ride on the sidewalk in the first place. Crossing between sidewalks is a fairly dangerous maneuver. You are at risk of getting hit if you cross on the left-hand side of the street, and if you cross on the right-hand side of the street, you risk getting slammed by a car behind you that’s turning right. Sidewalk riding also makes you vulnerable to cars pulling out of parking lots or driveways. And your presence is also threatening to pedestrians on the sidewalk, who could get hurt if you hit them. These kinds of accidents are hard to avoid, which is a compelling reason not to ride on the sidewalk in the first place. In addition, riding on the sidewalk is illegal in some places.

Only some sidewalks are safe to ride on. If the sidewalk is really long (no need to frequently cross streets), and free of driveways and people walking, then there’s little risk to you and others. Just make sure when you do cross a street or driveway that you slow down considerably and that you check the traffic in all directions, especially behind you if you’re riding with the flow of traffic.

bicycle safety, bike safety, Outdoor safety

So many parents today are in a hurry these days most households have two working parents and kids and usually some sort of after school activities. Most seem to not think about running into a store really quickly just to grab something. According to the GM Foundation President Vivian Pickard, 500 children have died since 1998 due to being left in hot cars in summer months as well as in the winter months.

Even in seemingly mild days, the temperature inside a car can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes and leaving a window cracked really makes no difference in the temperature inside the car. As tough as it is at times to take children inside a store the grief and guilt of losing a child would far supersede how tough taking them in would be!

No tags

When it comes to fire safety we all need to be diligent with our efforts. We all know that we need smoke detectors and to set up a meeting place for all family member to gather outside of the house in case of a fire. But we need to talk more to our children about what to do in case of a fire. Do drills to show young ones how to navigate in a smoke filled house. Teach them to touch a door to feel if it’s hot before they touch the door knobs and open it. Practice getting out of the house; show them how to climb out of their windows. Run practice drills. The more practice and education that they have the more prepared they will be if the unthinkable does happen.

No tags

A restraining order is a court order directing someone to follow certain conditions or to not do certain things. It is literally a piece of paper a judge signs stating the terms someone must follow or risk legal consequences. Restraining orders are often used to give legal protection to victims of domestic abuse, harassment, stalking and neighborhood disputes. Parents and guardians can seek restraining orders on behalf of children.

If a restraining order is granted, you should make numerous copies and keep one with you at all times. Also leave a copy of the order at work and your children’s school or daycare. An abuser or harasser breaks the law when they do not follow the restraining order’s terms, and the police should be called immediately.

But even after you have taken all the necessary steps to secure a restraining order, you still need to be vigilant about your safety.

Here are some important reminders about how to protect yourself:

Staying Safe At Home:

• Change the locks on the doors.
• Change your phone number and make sure it is unlisted.
• Replace any weak doors (metal doors are better than wood) and reinforce sliding glass doors by installing a lock or placing a piece of wood in the track.
• Add interior window locks so that windows cannot be opened from the outside.
• Install a security system
• Install motion-sensitive lighting outside your home
• Plan an emergency escape route from all areas of your home, including upstairs, and make sure all family members are aware of the plan.
• Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1. If possible, purchase a cordless telephone and take it with you as you travel to different rooms in your residence.
• Teach your children how to make a collect call to you or family members in case they are abducted.
• Make sure your children know not to unlock the door if the respondent tries to get into your home
• Include family pets in your safety and escape plans. Animals are often targeted (threatened with harm, cruelly injured, or killed) by a batterer or stalker as a means of controlling, terrorizing or punishing human victims. If it is not safe for you to remain at home, it is likely not safe for your animals, either.

Staying Safe at Work:

• Inform your supervisor of the existence of the restraining order and of any concerns you may have for your safety at your place of employment.
• Do not leave work by yourself; exit in the company of at least one other co-worker.
• Park in a well-lighted area and/or where there are other people around.
• Alter your route to and from work.

Staying Safe in the Community

• Shop at different grocery stores and shopping malls.
• Vary the hours you shop to avoid detection of a routine.
• Avoid alcohol and/or drugs as they can affect your ability to react quickly and make rational decisions.
• Avoid walking in unlighted or isolated areas.
• Avoid weighing yourself down with packages, bags, briefcases, etc. If you need to move swiftly, you do not want to be encumbered.
• Do not drive home if you are being followed while driving or riding in a vehicle! Proceed to the nearest police station or look for a police officer.

As in most situations where your safety may be at risk, YOUR ALERTNESS AND AWARENESS of what’s happening around you are your best allies in self-defense! Watch, look and listen: if you sense something is wrong, it probably is.

No tags

I was doing some research and thought that you may find this interesting,

According to the FBI, United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (September 2011). Crime in the United States, 2010. Retrieved (03-06-2012), from (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl23.xls), states that in 2010,

• Robbery: Commercial House (a non dwelling unit) 39,705 offences, of all robberies 13.2% consist of Commercial House’s with an average loss of property valued at $1,858.
• Burglary: Non-residence (store, office, etc.) 495,749 offences, of all burglaries 26.1% consist of non-resident locations. With an average loss of property valued at $2,070.
• Larceny-theft: Buildings, 607,927 offences, of all thefts 11.3% consist of thefts from buildings, with an average loss of property valued at $1,406.

Gaylord Security is one of the largest authorized dealers for ADT in the world today. ADT has been providing business security for over 130 years and presently monitors more businesses than all other security companies combined. ADT helps protect you through 5 channels of protection, and these include:

• Burglary and Crime Prevention- The first layer of prevention is your exterior perimeter. By placing signs and stickers outside your business helps to prevent criminals from targeting you.
• Police- There is a button on your keypad that is designed for emergency response. Note: you do not have to wait for a break in to occur to alert the police. If there are situations of people loitering or suspicious activity, that could be enough to trigger you to summon the police.
• Medical- There is also a button on your key pad that will alert a medical response in cases of a medical emergency.
• Fire- Also on the key pad is a button for your local fire department. Even if you cannot get to your key pad in the event of a fire, as soon as our smoke detectors go off a signal will be sent from ADT to your local fire department and help is on the way.
• Ambush- The only way to get around your security system is if someone forcibly has you turn off the system. If someone is waiting for you when you arrive at your door and orders you to disarm the security system, no one will know your situation. However, ADT is going to provide you with a simple code that visibly turns off the system while in reality it is signaling ADT that you are in a hostage situation. At this point, you are priority one and ADT is alerting all proper authorities to come to your rescue.

No tags

Although most people try to be careful in their use of appliances that are obvious potential fire hazards—stoves, range tops, irons—a surprising number of home fires are caused by faulty appliances of every kind.

According to research reported in Consumer Reports, millions of dishwashers, refrigerators and more are on recall lists.  Alarmingly, more than 15 million appliances have been recalled in the past five years for defects that could cause a fire.  From 2002 through 2009, the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) determined that a defective appliance was the primary cause of more than 69,000 fires.  Of those, 23% are clearly related to mechanical, electrical or design problems in the household objects.

Here are eight ways to protect yourself and your home from appliance fires:

1. Install fire detection equipment:  Almost 2/3 of home-fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.  You should have one in each level of your home.  Also, consider installing an automatic security system that will alert you to a fire even when you are away from home.
2. Register new appliances:  Fill out the registration card that comes with your purchase and mail it to the company, or complete registration on the company’s website.  This will ensure that you’re notified in case of a recall.
3. Check for recalls:  Go to www.recalls.gov to find out about recalls.  If you move into a place with existing appliances, check for their make and model on the list.  Also, you can review customer experiences and report a problem at www.saferproducts.gov.
4. Inspect power cords regularly:  Look for frayed cords and replace them.  Never run power cords under carpets or furniture that may cause damage, including over-heating.
5. Check your home’s wiring:  Have a qualified electrician examine your wiring and get professional advice about what needs to be corrected and how.  An upgrade might be expensive, but it could save your family’s lives.
6. Practice kitchen safety:  Never leave cooking unattended!  If there are small children at home, make a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet from the stove and use back burners whenever possible.  Always unplug small appliances (even coffee-makers) when they are not in use.
7. Clear range hoods:  Grease build-up in range hoods is a common fire hazard, so be sure to clean vents regularly.
8. Keep dryer vents clear:  Lint fires are another common cause of house fires.  Clean your dryer’s lint screen after EVERY use.  Use rigid metal dryer ducts instead of flexible ones (foil or plastic) that can sag and trap lint.  Check them regularly for lint build-up.

New Safeguards Are Now in Place

Since the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) March 2011 launch of its consumer reporting website (www.saferproducts.gov) more than 850 consumer-generated reports about appliance fires have been posted.  The majority of safety standards for appliances are voluntary, but if the CPSC feels these measures are not adequate, it can work to set tougher standards.  Where compliance becomes an issue, even stronger measures can be adopted.  The CPSC has authority to work with companies on recalls, but its power is limited and does not extend, for example, to setting safety standards for certain imported products.

Consumers Need to Be Involved

With 130 million households in this country filled with multiple appliances, the Consumer Reports’ analysis of 15 million appliances represents only a fraction of what is really happening.  As a consumer, you need to protect yourself.  In a 2010 consumer survey, a majority of people said they never or rarely mailed in product registration cards.  And almost a third of people who owned a recalled product took no action at all!  The CPSC website, through posting real consumer experiences, provides vivid detail about what people are experiencing.

In recent years, manufacturers have made significant design improvements to improve product safety.  For instance—automatic shut-off on coffee-makers and anti-jamming mechanics on toasters.  Such features are built in to avoid damage both to the appliance and to its users.  However, consumer participation can make the difference between safety and danger when people come forward in public to report their complaints where they will be seen and heard by appropriate agencies, manufacturing companies and other consumers.

No tags

How safe is your neighborhood? Do you feel that you can let your children play in front of the house? Do you always lock your doors when you leave or at night? What about your car? There is a surprising number of car break-in do to people having a false sense of security within their neighborhood. A lot more people than you may think leave not only their cars unlock in their drive-ways but also their homes.

People need to keep in mind that no matter how safe you feel within your neighborhood, thieves are opportunistic. They are looking for the easy target. All they have to do late at night is walk by to see if your car is unlock or test the handle of your car or home. In the end it is always best to lock the doors to your home and car. Do not leave personal items like keys or a wallet in your car or right in your front door on an entry table. Keep them in a drawer in your bedroom or kitchen just make sure that it isn’t right out in the open for the taking.

No tags

The majority of break-in occurs during the middle of the day when it is expected that most people are at work. With this in mind and after reading my usual articles for this blog I had to give a real scenario to think about. What happens when parents work and a teenage kid is sick? Without giving it too much thought the kid stays home…..

Well recently a 14 year-old stayed home from school because he was feeling ill while his parents went to work. The police report stated that the young boy observed a red truck circle the block 3 times before pulling into his drive way. The young boy said a man went to the back and a man went to the front and when the man in the front saw the young boy in the front window trying to write down the license plate of the truck the man yelled and both men ran to the truck and sped away.

So with that you have to think about what else you can do to protect your home, the people and things that matter the most to you. A security system allows you to be monitored 24/7 whether your home or not. So when your children need to stay home due to illness or an adult date night, you can feel more at ease with the knowledge that your home is protected!

No tags

Parenting wired kids can be difficult—especially if you didn’t grow up with the same technologies. The Internet is an increasingly important place for children to learn, work and play. But it also presents challenges for parents, teens and younger children, especially considering the anonymity that can disguise users in cyberspace. You can help your child avoid online pornography and encounters with predators, hackers and others who would exploit children by establishing rules for Internet use, and making sure the rules are enforced.

General tips for parents:

• Learn everything you can about the Internet. Have your children show you the sites they visit, learn chat room lingo and acronyms that chatters use (see list below). Know what other Internet functionality your child may have access to like instant messaging, chat, e-mail and other text messaging. (Visit www.cybertipline.com for a quick lesson.)
• Establish approved Internet time and territory. Make it clear to children what sites they can and cannot visit, what hours they may use Internet, and with whom they may communicate.
• Keep the computer in a common area of the home, such as a living room or family room, where adults can easily monitor online activity.
• Discuss the importance of telling you or a trusted adult if something ever makes your child or teen feel scared, uncomfortable or confused while online.
• Consider safeguarding options like site blocking, filtering and monitoring. Enter these keywords into any search engine to learn more about software and browser settings that can help you control where children and teens go online. Know how to set parental controls and check the browser’s history files.
• Show your children how to turn off the monitor when something makes them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.
• Make sure you are aware of any other places your child may be using the Internet, such as a friend’s house or the library.
• Talk to your children about what personal information is and why they should never give it out.

 E-mail safety: 

• Check the e-mail your children receive for appropriate content. All too often, e-mail addresses are “harvested” by unscrupulous marketers; the resulting “spam” messages frequently contain adult content.
• NEVER post your child’s e-mail address in any directory.
• Don’t “unsubscribe” on unwanted, un-requested or unsolicited e-mail. Don’t sign up for free offers (remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is!).
• Don’t forward e-mails to everyone in your address book.
• Make sure children only exchange email with people they know and only use chat areas you supervise.

 Tips for children and teens:

Print these requirements and post them near the computer in your home after discussing them with your family: 

• Don’t give out personal information: name, age, address, telephone number, parent/guardian’s name, and school name/address.
• Do not respond to mean, offensive, threatening or unwanted email or instant messaging.
• Choose a screen name that doesn’t identify you as a young boy or girl.
• Don’t share your password with anyone (except a parent/guardian)-not even your best friend.
• NEVER agree to meet with someone you don’t know. Remember, people online MAY NOT be who they say they are.
• Tell your parents, a teacher or trusted adult if you read or see something online that makes you uncomfortable or if someone threatens you or suggests you meet.

Here is an excellent resource that offers free, multimedia Internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences – parents and communities, tweens, teens, and younger children. www.netsmartz.org

Internet Chat Acronyms:

AFAIK As far as I know

AFK Away from keyboard

ASL Age? Sex? Location?

BB Bathroom break

BF Boyfriend

BRB Be right back

CUL8R or CULR See you later

HW Homework

IDC I don’t care

KOTC Kiss on the cheek

LOL Laugh out loud

LYL Love you lots

LYLAS or LYLAB Love you like a sister (or brother)

OMG Oh, my God

POS Parent over shoulder

SN Screen name

TMI Too much information

Vigilance is your most important defense against Internet danger—pay attention to what your children are doing online and make sure they know you’re there!

No tags

Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault, and it is the kind of violation that causes after-effects nearly as devastating as the assault itself. Without drastic changes to your personal habits, you can be mindful of ways to help protect yourself from this insidious crime. Although you probably feel safest in your home, it is always a good idea to install a reliable security system with 24-hour monitoring capability to add to your peace of mind and to warn off would-be predators.

Sadly, the statistics about sexual assault are devastating:

• 50% of all women will be physically or sexually abused during their lifetimes. (U.S. Department of Justice)
• 1 in 4 college women will be sexually assaulted during their student tenures. (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics)
• Every 35 seconds a woman is raped. (U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Rape costs America between 110 and 127 BILLION dollars per year. (In comparison robbery costs approximately 4 billion.) And these are merely the economic costs.

• Women experiencing rape are 26 times more likely to have a drug problem and 13 times more likely to have an alcohol problem.
• 31% of rape victims will experience post-traumatic stress syndrome.
• Rape victims are 13 times more likely to contemplate suicide than non-victims; 1 in 8 will actually attempt suicide.

BASIC PREVENTION GUIDELINES

• Whenever possible, park in a well-lighted area
• Always keep your car locked while driving and after parking
• Since rapists look for women who appear vulnerable and inattentive to their surroundings, always walk purposefully and stay alert, EVEN IN FAMILIAR AREAS.
• Avoid walking alone, especially if you are depressed, exhausted, intoxicated or otherwise distracted.
• If you sense someone following you, walk slower, faster, change your route and head for a place like an open store or a well-lighted private residence and draw attention to yourself.
• Never hitchhike, pick up hitchhikers or accept rides from strangers. You have lost control once you become trapped in a closed vehicle.
• In high-risk areas, like laundromats and basement laundry rooms in apartment buildings, bring a friend with you.
• If you are approached or observe something suspicious, take note of as much detail as possible so that you can furnish police with specific information about the culprit.
• Never accept open drinks or food from a stranger. Be especially alert about this when you are in a crowded or public situation where disabling drugs can easily be manipulated.
• In situations with friends, acquaintances or dates, be sure to say NO loudly and clearly when you mean it. Do not be concerned about politeness when your safety may be at stake.

DEFENDING YOURSELF
Although no one defense works in every situation, here are some recommendations:

• EMPLOY PASSIVE RESISTANCE
• Calm the attacker, trying to persuade them out of the attack by gaining their confidence.
• Claim to be ill, menstruating or pregnant; if possible, cause yourself to urinate or vomit.
• Act insane, be loudly hysterical.
• Fake a faint or seizure. In all cases, make your act unexpected, dramatic and convincing.

EMPLOY ACTIVE RESISTANCE

• Ranging from a simple whistle or scream to fighting tactics, the intention of active resistance is to discourage or forcefully stop the attacker. Realize, however, that you risk reprisal from the attacker and could possibly drive them to more violence if you are unable to follow through with any aggressive act you employ.
• A diverting noise, such as a whistle, scream, shout of “FIRE!” or “POLICE!” may frighten your assailant away but these noises are only useful if there is someone around to hear you.
• If you carry a whistle, keep it on a key chain or in your pocket, NOT on a chain around your neck as it could be used to strangle you.
• Running can be effective, but only if you are reasonably certain that you can get a good lead and can reach safety before the attacker reaches you.
• If you decide to fight your attacker, you must be willing and able to inflict serious injury without hesitation. Apply force to vulnerable areas: kick or hard squeeze to the testicles, hard strike to the throat, hard stomp on the instep or damaging jab into the eyes. It is wise to take a thorough self-defense course before trying to defend yourself physically. Also, get instruction on how to use pepper spray or other defensive legal weapons in order to employ them without risking your own injury.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ATTACKED…

Whether you fight or submit, remember that you are the victim, you are NOT RESPONSIBLE for the situation and you should ALWAYS report the incident, in as much detail and as soon as possible, to authorities, and seek qualified medical attention. Don’t let your attacker hurt you twice by refusing to report him and carrying unmerited shame or guilt on yourself.

No tags