Home Safe Home Inventory, LLC

The Thunder Rolls

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:40:00 +0000

Thunderstorms can cause all types of damage from lightning strikes, flooding, fires, high winds, etc. So we need to take precautionary measures to prepare and stay safe.

Purchase a weather radio with S.A.M.E. technology or tune in to your local radio station and listen for E.B.S. messages and follow their directions.

Thunderstorm Watch - possibilty of a thunderstorm in your area

Thunderstorm Warning - a storm is occuring or will occur soon. Take shelter immediately.

30/30 Rule: If you see lightning and cannot count to 30 before you hear thunder go inside. Stay inside for 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.

Myth: "it's just heat lightning" - There is no such thing as heat lightning - The fact is that lightning is seen but the storm is to far away to hear the thunder. Caution: It could be headed your way.

For more information click on this link:

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/thunderstorms.html

Hurricane Season. Be Informed

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale:

Category Sustained Wind (MPH) Damage

1 74-95 Some Damage

2 96-110 Extensive Damage

3 111-130 Devastating Damage

4 131-155 Catastrophic Damage

5 More than 155 Catastophic Damage with

most areas left uninhabitable

Hurricane Watch - possibility of a hurricane in your area

Hurricane Warning - hurricane is occuring or will occur soon

Why are Hurricanes Named? Good question. They are named because more than one hurricane could be in the same region, therefore, naming them makes it less confusing.

Go to this link for information to be prepared:

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html

Are You Prepared?

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:23:00 +0000

The first question you must ask yourself is, "Am I prepared?" The following suggestions are often overlooked, but they are very simple ways to protect your family, pets, your home and your possessions.

These are often put off onto our "when I have time" list, yet it is important to make these tasks a priority and add them to your "do NOW" list. Don't wait thinking a disaster can't happen to you. Don't wait until you are in a state of extreme stress and panic to regret not taking action and being prepared.

Do you have an alarm system? Is your alarm system monitored? There are many alarm companies in our area, and we would be more than happy to help you in your search for the best option for your needs.

Do you have an inventory, written documentation of all your possessions? Most people do not take the time to do their own home inventory, which is where our products and services come in. Schedule a consultation with us today and we can go over your options from having us take on this task for you, or show you how to do a basic inventory yourself.

Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Make sure all of your detectors are working properly. A good rule of thumb is check your detectors when Day Light Savings Time changes.

Do you have an emergency plan? Have you gone over this plan with your family, including your younger children. Would they know what to do in the event of a fire? A home invasion? A medical emergency? Periodically hold a family meeting, go over the emergency plan and practice using mock scenarios. The more you practice, the better your chances for remembering what to do during a stressful event.

Do you know what to do if you have to evacuate your home? Are you and your children prepared to evacuate quickly with necessities? Do your children know where to meet outside should they have to evacuate in the case of a fire?

Are you an active member of your community watch? If not, get involved. Get to know your neighbors. If there is not an active community watch meeting in your area, start one!

Are you signed up with www.nixle.com? Nixle provides up to the minute alerts specific to your community in the events of crime or emergency situations.

Do you have an Identakey™? IdentaKey™ is a product we offer that allows you to upload important medical and descriptive information of your family, via a USB that you can carry on your key chain that could be accessed by authorities or medical personnel in the event of an emergency (abduction, medical emergency, etc.).

Do you have an emergency "Take-Box"? Be sure to attend one of our free Safety and Security Seminars for detailed information on all the items needed for a take-box for your specific needs.

Have you talked to Steve Rogers about any safety/security questions you might have? Feel free to call Steve at 910-884-7021, or email info@homesafehomeinventory.com with any questions, to set up an appointment for a free consultation, or to schedule Steve as a speaker for your community watch group, civic group or church organization (free of charge).

5 Ways to Handle Cyber Bullying

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:05:00 +0000

Going to school can be a social minefield. Your child is there to learn but school is where they spend the majority of their day so they will have to learn to interact with other kids. Part of the social scene can include bullying. The newest element of this distasteful act is called cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying is the use of online tools to harass someone. The harassment can be in the form of pornographic material, threatening messages, hate crimes and impersonating another just to name a few. Cyber bullying is conducted through websites, emails, IM messages and chat rooms. The idea is to terrorize another person and harm them with or without laying a finger on them.

This form of torture has become a real concern. It is bad enough when kids get pushed around in school by people who don’t like them or who want to pick on them for no reason. Online, the audience is much wider. Someone who doesn’t even know your child could participate in the harassment and slander their good name.

As a parent, you are not powerless. You know your child better than anyone so use that to your advantage when it comes to cyber bullying.

Here are some tips to help:

1. Talk to your child often. Staying in constant communication with your child alerts you when something changes in their behavior. A happy outgoing child who is now withdrawn has something going on. Talk to them about cyber bullying and let them know they can confide in you about anything.

2. Keep threatening messages. If your child does become a victim of cyber bullying, a record of the messages is evidence for future use. Your ISP can trace the messages to see where they originated. For most ISPs, explicit or threatening messages are against their operating policies and they either don’t allow them to be sent in the first place or keep very close watch for them.

3. Teach your child how to deal with the situation. First of all, don’t respond to the messages. It will only provoke the bully. Getting into a fight is not going to solve the problem either. Ask your child if they know what started the situation. A counselor could help your child to deal with the harassment. Don’t forget to be there for your child because as you know a parent’s love and support does make a huge difference in any situation, especially a negative one.

4. Call the police. When the harassment takes on a threatening tone or involves pornography, get the police involved. They can use their resources to find the offending person. Even if they can’t nail down the person who originated the messages, they can trace them to a household and investigate.

5. Don’t let your child become a part of the problem. Kids think that talking bad about someone online is all in good fun and harmless but there is always someone on the receiving end who isn’t having a good time. Discuss the effects of cyber bullying and the consequences if you are caught doing it.

Cyber bullying is a very real threat to kids. It can destroy lives. Learn to handle the situation with your child and take precautions to prevent it as much as possible.

5 Things Kids Should Know about Social Sites

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:59:00 +0000

Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter. These are just a few of the social networking sites where kids can meet other peers and create their own page to highlight who they are. Before letting your kids interact on these or any other teen sites, fill them in on a few precautions in order to help them stay safe.

No one wants to rob their child of the joy of being a child. But, the world is a dangerous place. Even though your children are not yet adults, they need to be aware of what is going on around them. Child predators are counting on their innocence as a way to trap them. You don’t have to scare your kids, but keep them informed as a safety measure.

1. Don’t give out any personal information to anyone. It’s exciting to meet new people online, but it could be that your child’s new “friend” is a sexual predator. They will coax information out of your child over time. With a name and address or even a name and a high school, a predator can locate and stalk a child.

2. Don’t agree to meet with any online friends without parents present. Luring is the term used for online predators who use social sites to meet and talk kids into leaving their homes. It is harder to catch them if a child one day walks out to meet them instead of the predator showing up on your doorstep. When a friend wants to meet with your child, use your best judgment and always go along should you decide to let them meet someone they’ve met online.

3. Avoid sexual conversations. A sexual predator won’t come right out and ask your child sexually explicit questions. They start by gaining their trust and then easing into such conversations. The rule of thumb should be not to discuss sex at all or what your child looks like.

4. Always be honest. Pretending to be someone they are not can get your child into trouble. Acting older will attract the wrong type of person and situations. Talking bad about someone could backfire on them as well. Teach your children to remain respectful and honest at all times.

5. Never give out passwords. A friend could use your password and log in pretending to be you in a chat room. It might seem like a harmless prank but could lead to major problems for your child. Someone who is mad at your child could use their profile and say or do bad things.

You want to protect your child’s right to be a child. To that end, teach them to be safe in online situations so they don’t become a victim.

Carjacking: Avoid Becoming a Victim

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Carjackers are some of the most violent criminals around today. Instead of stealing parked cars, these criminals are paid more money to steal yours while you are still in it. Even if you voluntarily give up your vehicle, the situation could turn ugly. Take a few precautions to keep yourself from being the next target.

Carjacking has something in common with other crimes – criminals look for easy prey. Men and women are both victims of carjacking. Gender is not necessarily the issue, but instead it’s all about body language. As long as the victim has a gun, they aren’t even scared of male drivers. Here are six precautions everyone should know and take to avoid being easy prey for carjackers

1. Know Your Surroundings – This point can’t be stressed enough. In this world today, you don’t know who may be watching you. With carjackers, they are always looking for victims who aren’t paying attention. When you go to the mall, avoid parking next to vans with sliding doors or parking in parking decks. Keep your doors locked at all times when you are in the car. As you exit the car, do so quickly without fumbling for keys or talking on the cell phone.

2. Keep Your Arms Free – Carjackers look for people carrying many bags on their arms or talking on the cell phone. Both will distract you from seeing if someone is following you or waiting by your car. When you approach your car have your keys in hand. Actually, place your key between your fingers with the end of the key pointing out. This is a defensive action that MIGHT deter a criminal but don’t count on it to be a sure bet. Walk tall and look all around as you approach your car.

3. Don’t Be a Hero – If you are approached by one or more people and they ask for your keys, drop them on the ground and run away. A car is just property and not worth your life.

4. Stay in Well Lit Areas – Like all criminals, carjackers operate best in the dark or in isolated areas where no one is about. Avoid dimly lit streets at night. Stay in places where there is a crowd of people. When walking back to your car, wait to continue any conversations until you are safely in the car. Talking to friends can create enough of a distraction for an attack to take place.

5. Keep Your Distance – Many carjackers attack at stop lights. Make sure you keep plenty of distance between you and the car in front of or behind you at traffic lights. If you are too close to the car in front of you, it will be hard to maneuver to get away. Also, some carjackers use their car to block you in and then jump out and steal your car. Stay at least a car length away from another car.

6. Drive Away Right Away – When you get into your car, don’t dawdle. Lock the door as soon as you get in and start the car. It helps to back into parking spaces so you can make a quick escape if needed. Backing out of a space slows you down and can give a carjacker time to approach you.

Carjackers don’t discriminate. Anyone could be a victim. Use these above tips to avoid being their next victim.

Travel Safety Tips

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Your personal security is just as important away from home as at home. When you travel, stay alert for situations that can compromise the safety of you and your family.

Here are a few travel tips to review.

1. Make copies of all your information. You never know when luggage will get lost or stolen. Have a second copy of passports, birth certificates, travel tickets, hotel confirmations and credit cards on your person just in case. Keep current photos of everyone in the family.

2. Stay together. It seems like a good idea to split up and meet back up later but it’s not especially if one person goes alone. You are safer in large numbers against “snatch and grab” attacks or other criminals.

3. Don’t give out personal information about yourself to strangers. It is nice to ask for directions from native people when you are a tourist, but don’t tell them too much.

4. Don’t let purses dangle. A dangling handbag is easier to grab off your arm or off the arm of a chair. Also, carrying too many bags means you are not paying attention to your purse and it can be easily stolen.

5. Avoid the elevator if you are alone. Maybe you are tired and meeting the rest of the group later for dinner. Getting into the elevator alone, especially if you are a woman could make you an easy target for thieves or rapists.

6. Lock up personal items. Leaving credit cards and valuables lying around your room is a recipe for disaster. Lock them up in the hotel safe or keep them on your person when leaving the room.

7. Use valet parking with a car. This is especially helpful when coming back from dinner or sightseeing at night. You might have to park far from the hotel entrance in a dimly lit area. If valet service is offered, use it. It is safer for you.

8. Stick to popular tourist attractions. Many tourists have been mugged or killed by going down back alleys or trying to “soak up the local atmosphere.” Stay on the beaten path to be safe.

The key here is not to be afraid to travel. Traveling is fun. Remember to be as street smart away from home as you are at home.

5 Guidelines for Safe Computer Use at Home

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:53:00 +0000

There once was a time when computers took up an entire room. Now, every household has at least one. If you have computers (desktops and laptops) in your home and the kids have access to them implement a few guidelines to keep them safe while on the Internet.

Everyone in your household values their privacy. If you have teenagers this is most likely a big issue for you now. When it comes to online communication, their privacy will always take a back seat to their safety when they are in control. You lock your home’s door against predators, but unfortunately these slimy thieves have found another way to get in – your computer.

How can you protect your kids when they are online just like you do inside your home? Here are 5 ways to make computer time for your children safe and give you some much needed peace of mind too.

1. Communicate with your children. This is one of the main lines of defense against child predators. Open communication creates an atmosphere of trust in the home. You explain that the Internet can be dangerous and that certain safeguards are set up for your child’s protection. This doesn’t mean overreacting if they slip up. Kids are curious and these times are to be expected and dealt with appropriately.

2. Keep computers in a common area. When a child is using the computer behind bedroom doors it is harder to monitor what they are seeing and doing. In the family room or den, you can walk by or be in the same room while they are online. If a computer is allowed in the bedroom for school work, the door must remain open while they are using it. Usually this little nugget keeps most kids from viewing explicit pages out of curiosity since they know their parents might be watching.

3. Set up parental controls on your computer. Kids of all ages know how to use the Internet now. Parental controls stop them from accessing pages that have potential adult content on them. You can also use install software that such as McGruff Safeguard, ContentBarrier X4, and KaZipster to monitor their time online and prevent the sending, and/or receiving, of explicit material and personal information.

4. Teach kids not to send personal information to others. Some websites ask kids to enter personal information to sign up for contests or just to use the website like social sites. Giving out any information about yourself can lead a predator to your front door. It could be a setup to gain access to your child. Your kids should ask you before filling out any questionnaires or forms online that require such information.

5. Filter email accounts. Email is a common way for sending pornographic or other non-kid friendly messages. Let your kids add their friends’ email addresses to their address book, but block all others. This will keep them from opening emails from people they don’t know and seeing things that they shouldn’t.

Online safety begins at home. What your kids learn from you will help to keep them safe and online savvy even when away from home.

What to include in your first aid kit

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Environment plays an important role in identifying the kind of kit you need - its material and size. But the basics you should keep in mind are -

Size - Is it roomy enough to carry all the items, keep it organized, not interchanging them?

Durability - Is it strong enough to carry all the contents? Can it stand through harsh conditions?

Handiness - Can it be carried anywhere without the hassles?

Accessibility - Can it easily be opened?

Second to consider is the contents of the kit. Try to think of the most common accidents that may occur anywhere - at home, in night outs, roads and accident prone missions. The most common to occur is wounds and splinters. Your kits should include items that can attend to cuts, wounds and blisters of varying degrees -

Wound care and cleansing materials - bandages, dressing (for traumas, those that would keep wound dry in wet environments), gauze pads, bandage strips, tapes and other kinds of tapes. Pre- soak pads should be well kept in appropriate containers. You also need to be familiar or review medical history before applying such first aid methods.

Blister care - this can be prevented by administering care immediately. At the first sign of a hot spot, items such as molefoam, moleskin, first aid tapes should be within reach as these can prevent blisters from forming.

First aid kits also carry protection for those administering first aid like gloves, CPR masks and airways. Hardware too should be present such as -

Thermometer

Stethoscope

Survival gear

Tweezers

Shears

Whistle

Mirror signal device

Pins

Plastic bags

Lighterwaterproof matches

Flashlight headlamp

Survival blanket

Heat/cold packs

Parachute cord

Flagging tapes

Medications, as well, should not leave the kits as these are important to help wounds subside or treat other conditions -

Antihistamine

Glucose

Antidiarrheal

Antifungalyeast

Dental medications

Dental filing materials

Antibiotic creams/ointments

Anticonstipation

Antacid

Other special needs and medications

If you are simply starting to organize your first aid kit at home, you will need the 10 basic or essential contents such as -

First- aid manual

Gauze pads

Bandages

Butterfly bandages

Medical adhesive tape

Alcohol prep pads

Iodine or similar prep pads

Antibiotic ointment

Aspirin and/or non- aspirin pain relievers

Tweezers and pins

After collecting all these items for your very own home- made first aid kit, organizing them in the container will be the next step. Ziplocks or other dividers that are waterproof will be a great help in organizing them. It would not hurt also if you can label them properly or color- code them so that they can be easily retrieved in case of emergency to lessen mistakes. If you have successfully done all these, here are some additional precautionary steps you should take

Review your medical history so that you will know what other items you can include in your kits.

Read thoroughly your first- aid manual to understand the functions of all the items inside your kit and how to use them.

First aid kits should be kept in an accessible place for adults to retrieve it as soon as an emergency arises but out of childrens reach.

Periodically check the kits and be cautious of missing items that need to be replaced or expired medicines that need to be changed and purchased.

After learning all these, you are now ready to get started with your life- saving journey with the help of your first aid kit. You will see how you make life much easier and with a little less pain. About the Author For more great first aid kit related articles and resources check out http//firstaidkithq.info

Fayetteville NC Community Watch Meeting Information

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:56:00 +0000

For a list of Community Watch meeting dates, times, and locations for the Fayetteville area, click here.

Important information from the Be the Badge website about Fayetteville's Community Watch Program:

This program is designed to coordinate the Community Watch Programs located throughout the City. An opportunity to work side by side to solve crime and any other problem that needs to be addressed by other City agencies is offered to the Community Watch members. Zone Officers visit with the Community Watch Coordinators at least once a month in the community. The information exchanged aids both the police and the community.

For more information on Community Watch Groups in Fayetteville or to learn how to start your own, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at (910) 433-1033.