Safety Tips for Families

Here are some Safety Tips to help you think about online safety for your family. We encourage you to read the rest of the Safety Guide for more detailed information.

1- Use the Internet with your kids. While you're spending time with them, you can help them to be safe and responsible online. Learn about the technology together, ask lots of questions, and don't be intimidated if it seems like your kids have a better understanding of the technology than you. Remember, it's your family, and you have the power and responsibility to keep an eye on what your kids are doing.

2- Teach kids never to give their personal information to people they meet online, especially in chat rooms and on bulletin boards. If you have a family web site with your children's pictures up, don't include information like where they go to school, where you live, your phone number, or any other personally identifiable information -- that's giving personal information out every bit as much as sending an e-mail or talking to someone in a chat room.

3- Instruct your child never to plan a face-to-face meeting with online acquaintances, and to notify you if they are approached for an offline meeting.

4- Establish clear ground rules for Internet use for your family. Think about signing a Contract with your children that reflects those rules. Learn about the different parental control tools, protective software, and controlled access options that are available, and decide which, if any, are best for your needs.

5- Tell your children not to respond if they receive offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat requests, or other communications, and to leave if they go to a web site that makes them uncomfortable. Also tell them to show you anything they receive that makes them uncomfortable. Assuring them that you won't be angry with them and that they are not to blame can help you to develop a trusting, open relationship.

6- If you become worried that your child or another child is in danger, don't hesitate to contact the authorities.

For additional resources, check out www.SafeKids.com Parents' Guidelines and The Children's Partnership Keeping Kids Safe Online: Tips & Tools.
This safety tip is from http://kids.getnetwise.org/Please visit their site for more safety tips on children.

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Safety in crowds

With the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations coming this week, I felt a need to focus on safety in crowds.

Many of us will be looking to enjoy the festivities that come with St. Patrick’s Day. However if not enjoyed with safety, the same festivities can become a tragic experience.

When your out and having fun in the crowd, try to keep some grip on reality.
Most of the crimes (pick pocket and other forms of petty larceny) that take place in crowed events could have been avoided. By letting yourself get to carried away with the events your attending, you also become less aware of your surroundings.

Make a mental note of the nearest police or safety person as well as the nearest store that is open and not likely to be crowded. This is your key to help should you need it.

Take a moment every now and then to look around and be aware of anything that may need your attention. This does not mean to constantly look over your shoulder, just simply be aware.

If you see something of concern, go to a safe point at once. Be it the Police officer you made the mental note of or the store.

Don’t be afraid to be heard. If you feel you’re in any danger or confrontation that may become dangerous, let it be known. Yell, speak loud or what ever the situation may call for. Drawing the attention of those around you may more then likely make the difference between your becoming a victim or not.

Always travel in groups. Safety comes in numbers, and your power of not becoming a victim can also stem from the same numbers.

Don’t stray from the group. As much as you may want to see that float going by, once you part from your group, you may have a hard time finding them again.

Set up a meeting point and rules. By making sure that everyone in the group knows that when one person is missing from the group for more then 5 minutes, everyone is to meet at a predestinated point. This way if your truly in danger and do not show at the predestinated point, your group will be able to help.

Set up a calling rule. If someone gets separated from your group, there should be a calling rule in place. This would help the group to know that your alright and will meet them at the meting point.

Most of all, HAVE FUN. Being safe does not mean that you cannot have fun. So as important as safety is, keep it in proper moderation so that you can be safe and have fun too.

Written by A. Wallace

Visit my site The Weekly News for more information about/related to St. Pactrick's Day

St. Pactrick's Day head lines include "The History of St. Pactrick's Day" and "The St. Pactrick's Day Parade"

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Fire Safety

This information is from FEMA at http://www.usfa.fema.gov

After hearing about so many fires in the news this week, I felt it would be a good topic for the Weekly Public Safety Tip

Working Together for Home Fire Safety

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 25,000 are injured. An overwhelming number of fires occur in the home. There are time-tested ways to prevent and survive a fire. It's not a question of luck. It's a matter of planning ahead.

Every Home Should Have at Least One Working Smoke Alarm

Buy a smoke alarm at any hardware or discount store. It's inexpensive protection for you and your family. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. A working smoke alarm can double your chances of survival. Test it monthly, keep it free of dust and replace the battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms themselves should be replaced after ten years of service, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Prevent Electrical Fires

Never overload circuits or extension cords. Do not place cords and wires under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas. Immediately shut off and unplug appliances that sputter, spark or emit an unusual smell. Have them professionally repaired or replaced.

Use Appliances Wisely

When using appliances follow the manufacturer's safety precautions. Overheating, unusual smells, shorts and sparks are all warning signs that appliances need to be shut off, then replaced or repaired. Unplug appliances when not in use. Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets, especially if there are small children in the home.

Alternate Heaters

·Portable heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least three feet away.
·Keep fire in the fireplace. Use fire screens and have your chimney cleaned annually. The creosote buildup can ignite a chimney fire that could easily spread.
·Kerosene heaters should be used only where approved by authorities. Never use gasoline or camp-stove fuel. Refuel outside and only after the heater has cooled.

Affordable Home Fire Safety Sprinklers

When home fire sprinklers are used with working smoke alarms, your chances of surviving a fire are greatly increased. Sprinklers are affordable - they can increase property value and lower insurance rates.

Plan Your Escape

Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.

Caring for Children

Children under five are naturally curious about fire. Many play with matches and lighters. Tragically, children set over 20,000 house fires every year. Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching your children that fire is a tool, not a toy.

Caring for Older People

Every year over 1,200 senior citizens die in fires. Many of these fire deaths could have been prevented. Seniors are especially vulnerable because many live alone and can't respond quickly.

Posted by A.Wallace

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On-line Safety

What should you know and why:

·Is someone in your house assessing illegal material online? The account holder of any Internet service can be held accountable for information accessed through that account, no matter who accessed it.

·Is your personal information or situations being made available online? It is not uncommon for someone that you had a few words with to make a post referring to it online. With online diaries and blogs, it is even more common now then ever. Once this information is online, it is available to the world (including your neighbors and co-workers).

·Are your kids posting your phone number address or other information online? Kids post all kinds of things that are unsafe to make available on line all the time. Most of the time it is intended for a friend only, but who knows where that information can end up.


What can you do to protect yourself and your kids?

Most experts tell you to talk to your kids and ask them for their screen names and passwords. I wonder if these experts were ever kids themselves. Just think how you would react when you were a kid, and apply it to today's technology.

Even if you children give you access to everything they have online. It only takes a few minutes to create another e-mail address, blog free website, etc.

Facing reality you need to check the internet and find out what is out there pertaining to you, your kids and/or your family. To check properly takes a little more knowledge then the average internet user would have. If you really want to know if there is anything floating around on line, you may need to use a service like Find Out Now (http://findoutnow.yourdesign2.com).

There are also a lot of computer monitoring programs that you can buy to keep you up to date on anything going on through your computer. Keep in mind that any program can be turned off with only a few clicks of a mouse. Also if your kids find out there is a monitoring program on your computer and your kids are doing something that they don't want you to see, they can simply do it from a friends computer or the local library. So it is important to check the internet also.

Here are a few tips on being safe on-line:

1- Keep all personal information privet, including pictures, passwords full name, etc.

2- Talk with your kids in a friendly manner about if they have blogs, home pages, etc. and make mental notes of the information thy give you.

3- Research the internet using your information and/or the information provided by your kids.

4- Take action when needed. Report any improper postings, websites, etc. to the server that host it (and the police when needed).

5- Think before you click. Thinking first will prevent you from giving out information that you would otherwise not give.

6- Take a 5 minute break! If someone is bothering you online or you find something posted about you online, take a break and walk away for 5 min. You will deal with it a lot better on a clear head.If you feel there should be anything else add to the list.

Please let me know. I will gladly repost with additional at a later date.

Written by A. Wallace

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If you feel a potential threat is near

What should you do if you feel there is a potential threat near?

·First thing to do is assess the situation and prepare to take action
·First course of action should be to move away from the potential threat
·Decide how immediate the threat is and how drastic your action should be
·Join a nearby group of people (any group of people is better then being alone in a bad situation).
·If no one is around, cross the street and increase your pace in the oppisit direction.
·Go to a store or well-lighted public place
·Make notes of every detail that you can recall (written notes are best when you can)
·Call the police immediately
·If you believe a threat is imminent and you see people nearby you, yell, scream, or create a commotion in any way you can.
·If you see someone else in trouble, call the police right away
·After you have avoided a threatening situation, call the police immediately and report incident

What things should you take note of?

1.The persons hight
2.Skin color
3.Hair color and style
4.Clothes
5.Any items the person may have been carring
6.The direction the person came from
7.The direction the person left
8.Any additional information that may be helpful such as tattoos, scars, a limp, etc.

Written by A. Wallace

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