Thanksgiving Time Safety

It’s Thanksgiving, a time when many of us take to the road to see family and friends. For many travelers, this time is one of the most special of the year; and drivers and passengers alike look forward to spending some time on the highways, enjoying the lovely fall weather and heading towards a great holiday meal. Before you pack up the car and begin your annual Turkey Day trek, however, be sure to pay attention to the following personal safety suggestions:

• Know your exact route. Whether this is the first time you have driven to your destination, or you have been traveling the same roads since you were a child, make sure to have a firm idea of how you will drive to where you are going. Keep in mind that you should also have a contingency plan in case your usual route is under construction or there has been an accident.

• Keep some personal security products in the vehicle. Smart Thanksgiving travelers know that experts suggest ever car have blankets, a flashlight and some non-perishable food—especially during cold months. Other safety items to keep on hand include a personal alarm, flares and perhaps a pepper spray device.

• Lock all doors and windows. Of course, most people already know to lock all of their doors and windows when they are not in their vehicle; but are you also careful to lock your doors while you are driving? Some newer models lock the doors automatically, but if you have a care that does not do this, make sure to do it manually. Also, it’s best for your personal safety if you will keep your windows up while driving slowly through cities. Catch that nice fall breeze once you get to your destination.

• Never tell other drivers your destination. If you stop at a gas station or rest stop, keep your travel plans to yourself. It’s fine, of course, to be friendly to other travelers and make light talk. Just make sure you don’t tell anyone where you are headed or how you are getting there.

For additional travel personal security tips or to learn more about personal safety product such as personal alarms, pen knives, mace sprayers and others, visit us online at www.promarksafety.com.

To sign up for Promark Safety’s monthly enewsletter, filled with more product tips, safety information and fun facts, click here.

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Protect Your Faithful Friends

Trying to combine taking care of pets with keeping up with our tight schedules means that there are many nights that we walk our dogs after it is dark outside. While we may take the time to outfit ourselves with bright clothing or carry a flashlight for personal safety, how many of us take the time to make sure our beloved dogs are visible to others?

We can keep our faithful dogs safe by attaching a light called a pet blinkie to their collars, leashes or harnesses. This light is a vibrant safety product that features blinking multi-colored lights that are visible up to half a mile away.

Another way to keep family dogs safe is to be sure to walk your pet along sidewalks whenever possible. It may be more convenient for you to walk or jog along the quiet residential street outside your door, but it is better for you and your dog’s personal security if you can find a block that has safe sidewalk that provides space and protection from traffic.

Finally, remember to always keep your dog on a leash of reasonable length. You really should never take allow dog, no matter how well-trained, a leash of more than three feet. The closer you can keep your pet, the faster you can pull them to safety should an oncoming car become erratic.

You can find a wide range of pet blinkie lights, personal safety lights and alarms by visiting our extensive product selection at www.promarksafety.com. If you are looking for other security items such as house alarms, pool alarm, pen knives or mace sprayer devices, we have those items, as well. We can help you find the products you need to keep your family, your home and your pet safe at all times of the day.

To sign up for Promark Safety’s monthly enewsletter, filled with more product tips, safety information and fun facts, click here.

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Hotel and Motel Protection Techniques

People who travel frequently for either business or pleasure understand the importance of safety while staying at a hotel or motel. While we all try to choose lodging that appears safe, it is nevertheless important to take the following personal safety precautions prior to tucking yourself and your loved ones in for the evening:

• Choose a location that is near a population hub, but off of interstate access roads. You want to stay at a hotel that is near all of your events—as well as one that is not isolated from others—however, it is best to try and find one that is not right on the interstate. A location too close to the interstate allows for quick on-and-off crime and is a real danger to your personal security.

• Make sure to do your research. Use web sites that offer safety ratings for hotels and motels, and be sure to read the entries of people who have stayed at the hotel. Find out if the area is known for crime, and remember it may be best to pay a bit more for your hotel if that means you get to stay at a safer location.

• Keep door locked at all times. Many parents with younger children fall into the trap of engaging the bolt lock while the door is open to make it easier for their kids to travel to and from the pool, vending machines, restaurant or other on-site venue. Don’t do this! Whether you are in the room or not, keep the door closed and all locks engaged. Make sure that older kids and adults keep their keys well hidden and with them at all times—and never tell any other hotel guests which room you are staying in to maintain your personal safety.

• Use portable door alarms. Personal safety in a hotel or motel room is greatly enhanced by using a portable mini alert alarm. This type of equipment uses a passive infrared technology that protects your room from intruders. The door alarm produces an infrared triangle that is virtually impossible to penetrate without setting off this alarm. It is battery operated and needs no wiring, so it is easy to move from hotel room to hotel room, with or without the included brackets. For more information on this product or many other personal safety products on the market, visit www.promarksafety.com.

To sign up for Promark Safety’s monthly enewsletter, filled with more product tips, safety information and fun facts, click here.

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How to Spy Effectively: Research and Plan!

Surveillance cameras are ideal for all homes!

There may be times when you need to use surveillance techniques and equipment to find out information about people in your life. While it is never a good idea to spy on friends or family out of personal curiosity or personal vendetta, using surveillance equipment such as a nanny came or pen video recorder may be a great way to keep your family safe when you cannot be personally with them.

Since the goal is to spy on a target without letting them know you are doing so, it takes research and planning to carry out this surveillance. If you don’t take the time to plan effectively, you may simply be wasting your efforts. To plan your approach effectively, you will need to consider the following:

• Location: Conducting your surveillance starts with knowing the location of your targets. If you are spying on your babysitter, then you most likely know your home very well. Choose to set up your spying equipment in the room where the sitter and your children will be spending the majority of their time; or, on the other hand, you could target an area that has been designated as off-limits.

• Habits: Some people want to watch the behavior of a certain person, rather than a particular location, which means they will need to know the daily habits of that person. If you plan to use a pen video recorder to capture a person’s behavior during a business meeting, for example, you will need to have some idea of where they are likely to sit and how they tend to move around physically during that time. Nanny cam equipment that allows you to watch the video over your computer is ideal for parents who have some idea of the schedule of their babysitter and when they are most likely to be engaged in questionable behavior.

• Placement and function of equipment: No spying project will work if you do not understand how to place the equipment in an optimum location and set the equipment to work well. Make sure that lenses are not blocked or placed in a location that will end up being blocked by someone who is sitting or standing. If you do not understand how to set your surveillance equipment so that it records properly, either ask the retailer or read the manufacturer’s instructions.

For additional information about surveillance equipment such as babysitter surveillance equipment or pen video recorders, visit us online at www.promarksafety.com.

To sign up for Promark Safety’s monthly enewsletter, filled with more product tips, safety information and fun facts, click here.

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Fall Safety Tips

Fall is a beautiful time of year, and it’s also a great time to take a second look at your family’s personal safety and reassess areas that could use some reinforcement. Think of it this way: just like the leaves are taking time to change, it may be time to change some of your own personal security habits!

You should already be changing the batteries on your smoke alarm whenever you reset your clocks at the end of daylight savings time; why not go a step farther this year? Check the backup batteries on your home alarm system, and double check the functioning of your carbon monoxide detectors. It’s also a good idea to inspect your furnace and chimney to make sure they are safe to use during the cooler weather. Be sure to also create a new or practice your existing fire escape plan—including reminding all family members to never return to a burning building for any reason!

With school swinging into full gear and family calendars filling up, it is a great time to go over your family’s rules about how kids should behave when they are home alone. Up to 40% of kids spend a substantial amount of time alone, so parents should be very explicit about the need for these kids to stay aware of their personal safety. Establish a regular personal security routine for your kids, including calling you once they are made it home safely, turning off the home alarm system, and locking all doors and windows. If you do not already have a door alarm or other home security product, consider investing in one this fall.

Finally, autumn means back to school time, and parents should firmly establish personal security rules for traveling back and forth to school. Children who walk to school, and who are old enough and responsible enough, may want to carry a personal safety product such as a personal alarm or pepper spray device in order to protect themselves from a surprise attack.

For more advice about how to approach fall safety in your home, visit the security professionals online at www.promarksafety.com.

To sign up for Promark Safety’s monthly enewsletter, filled with more product tips, safety information and fun facts, click here.

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Benefits of a Handheld Metal Detector

Are you the owner of a security company that is tasked with screening attendees at large events or venues in order to improve the personal safety of participants? If so, then you already understand how difficult and time-consuming it can be to shepherd large numbers of people through standing metal detectors. Trying to shuffle individuals through these areas quickly, while continuing to scan every person for weapons, is not only time-consuming, but it is also irritating for others in line who have to move forward so slowly.

One way to help move this screening process along is to use a handheld metal detector such as the Pro-Scan model. Even though this personal security product is small, it meets the exact requirements of the security industry and is capable of detecting weapons for crowd control, border security and even package checks. Basically, the Pro-Scan Handheld Metal Detector can find hidden metal in any location.

Security professionals will learn of the hidden metal by an audio warning tone that is accompanied by a red light; however, the sensitivity of this metal detector may be adjusted to meet the specifications of any situation. For example, a .38 caliber gun will be found at 7.75 inches using low sensitivity, and at 11 inches at the highest sensitivity. It is easy to switch between sensitivity modes, and the scanning area of the detector is large.

For more information about other personal safety products, including personal alarms, pen knives, pen video recorders, mace devices and more, visit our website at www.promarksafety.com. We will help you choose products that can keep you and your family safe, and our experts are available to give you the knowledge you need to make well-informed personal security and home security decisions.