WHO ELSE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE AWESOME GEAR TO BRING ATTACKERS DOWN?

THE BASIC PROBLEM

It always seems to be warmer weather that brings the creeps, crooks, crack heads and attackers out of "hibernation". It's been an unusually warm year that's getting warmer fast, and a quick glance at any newspaper or broadcast will alert you to the simple reality that a startling amount of the bottom-feeders are out in force already. You need to GEAR UP to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm.



In this article I will just scratch the surface pertaining to the tools and mechanisms available to all of us that can help make us safer wherever our paths may lead. By no means is this meant to be an exhaustive list of the only ways to accomplish this goal. Every individual has their own comfort level and all of us needs to both find our own "zone" as well as checking into state and local laws that pertain to each device that we are interested in obtaining for personal protection.

MY FAVORITE "GEAR UP" SOLUTIONS

• Wildfire 18% Pepper Spray - This pepper spray is HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Wildfire Oleo Resin Capsicum (pepper) is a derivative of 3 million Scoville Heat units (SHU). Wildfire comes in five sizes from 1/2-ounce purse size to 1-pound pistol grip versions. This is a very effective formulation that will bring goon to his knees whimpering and sniveling like a baby until the police arrive. If they are too slow, give the creep another blast as necessary.

• Mace Brand "Hot Walkers" - These are one pound walking weights with a unique pepper spray deployment system built into each one. Perfect for walkers and joggers with elastic hand straps for support, a storage compartment for keys and money, and the built-in 10% pepper spray for self-defense. Pepper spray canisters are easily and inexpensively replaced.

• Electronic Pocket/Keychain Electronic Whistle - You don't even need to blow into this whistle...just press a button. It emits an ear piercing 120db whistle for as long as you push the button. Also useful at sporting events, or a lifesaver in emergencies such as earthquakes, collapsed buildings, etc. and can even be used for dog handling even though crime prevention is it's primary purpose.

• Stunmaster Stun Gun - Not truly a gun, even the sound of a 775,000-volt discharge between two electrodes will scare most attackers and goons into a fast sprint in the other direction. If they persist, three to five seconds of contact will drop them to the ground like a rock. Most have a disable pin on the wrist strap to prevent the unit from being taken and used against you. Stun guns use high voltage and low amperage to temporarily disable an attacker by disrupting muscle contraction to allow for your escape while they squirm on the ground like a maggot.

• The "Runt" - My personal favorite stun gun that will drop your assailant like a roach who has ingested a wee bit too much Black Flag! Only 3.5" tall, the Runt is available in 350,000, 650,000 or 950,000-volts. Perfect for women of all ages and can be worn as a pager would be or comes with a nylon belt holster and will keep the goon quiet until booking time.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

GEAR UP yourself and everyone you care about with a toolbox chuck full of personal safety equipment that may just save a life. Look at what is available; make a plan, and then GEAR UP all of your family. Role-play and practice with the tools until you are comfortable with their use and that your plan is workable.


Remember that you need to always practice outside, especially when trying out pepper sprays and the like. No need to actually feel just how good the product works; just know that it does. Plans change according to the situation and multiple types of scenarios will need to be discussed.


The crooks, criminals, crack heads and rapists are coming out in droves, just like roaches, spiders and snakes. Be proactive and "GEAR UP" to fight back when you need to. By doing so you may be able to get some of these lowlifes out of commission for a time and make the neighborhood a little safer.


We can all stand firm and walk tall as fine, proud citizens and do so anywhere we want to go if we are secure in the knowledge that we are taking the initiative to protect ourselves against harm. All of us are aware that crooks are getting more bold and brazen daily and are infesting our communities like a mold growing just under the surface veneer. Personal protection is a reassuring tool at our disposal to combat this infestation.


None of the GEAR UP items I have written about in this article will break the bank to acquire. Decide what you need and use coffee or movie money to outfit your protection toolbox. You will be happy you did and it may have the added benefit of a better night's sleep and a general feeling of well-being through preparedness.


As always, be aware, be safe, but remember to think about these issues and take the vital steps necessary to give you peace of mind for your future.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN SAFE IN PUBLIC?

Some things just need fixing. I have always loved to repair things. Some people might call me a "Gear Head" or a "Mr. Fix-it". Well, lately I have seen a lot of things critically wrong in our neighborhoods that need some fixing. Let me explain...

All you need to do is read any daily newspaper or watch the news and you will rapidly become aware of horror stories that none of us thinks will ever directly affect us as individuals or as a family. Not true! Get that kind of thinking out of your mind. Criminals, rapists, murderers, crack heads, thieves and every other kind of crackpots are out there in higher numbers than EVER BEFORE.

As families, we all need to have a PLAN OF ACTION incorporated as a part of our daily routine for immediate use if and when something bad happens to any of us in the general happenings of our daily lives. We really need a couple of plans to fall back on if the first one doesn't protect our loved ones and us. I have offered some plans in past articles and will continue to keep gearing you up to provide pro-active plans (rather than re-active) so you can also be a Mr./Ms. Fix-it for yourself and your families.


One of the most gut-wrenching and horrible feelings any parent can experience often happens in the blink of an eye. You turn around and your CHILD IS NOT THERE! It can happen at the park, the mall, and the zoo or anywhere in a matter of seconds. Let me first explain the problem and then some super fixes from the Mr. Fix-it Toolkit.

SOME QUICK WAYS THAT KIDS GO MISSING

1. They can simply wander away without saying anything to anyone. They might just get distracted. However, some creep, crack head, jerk, pervert or geek might just grab them and run. This is a bad, bad, REALLY BAD scene no matter what.
2. Another child can pull your child away to show them something interesting and before you know it the crowd swallows them up. They're short and you can lose them quickly. Rotten seeds in our population are aware of this.
3. Kids love animals, in particular small animals. Creeps and goons that may want to abduct your kids know this and exploit the children's natural instinct that draws them to fuzzy little cute animals.
4. Cell phones, discussions with other people we are with, sales clerks, waiters, etc. all represent things that can serve as distractions to us as parents just long enough to allow awful things to happen. Always be extra alert in these everyday situations.
   
5. There are desperate, despicable, horrible criminal goons that will just try and swoop in and grab and run away with your child. As a parent you must be vigilant and aware that these creeps are out there in our neighborhoods, malls, parks and schoolyards.

POWERFUL KID SAVING COMBAT METHODS FROM THE "MR. FIX-IT" TOOLKIT

• I never like to see a child on a leash. There are ways that you can save your child by better, less distasteful methods. Alarms that look like a KITTY or a PANDA can be worn by the children that transmit to a receiver that is held by an adult. The signal is adjustable from a distance of 6 to 30 feet. As soon as the child is further than the set distance the adults' alarm starts beeping to alert them that the child has wandered off.

• Battery operated BLINKIES can be attached to the child's hat or coat that can be seen for up to 1/2 mile away. These come in seven vibrant colors. They are waterproof and shock resistant so they are perfect for bicycles also.

• Plan with your child and GEAR THEM UP with a personal alarm that they can activate by pulling out a pin to let you know where they are if you get separated. Let them know that they will never get in trouble for making a little noise, as it is far better than any alternative!

• There is even a pocket whistle that you don't need to blow. At the push of a button, this small, but powerful, device lets out a 120db whistle for as long as the button is depressed. This can also be very useful in emergency situations like earthquakes, etc as a location device for rescue.

• Many of these items and more can be used as part of a key chain, necklace or an article of clothing. They should be part of a comprehensive set of plans that every family needs to have in place to GEAR UP for any eventuality that could happen.

There are an alarming number of bad people out there that prey upon our children and loved ones in a variety of different ways. We all need to become GEARED UP and prepared to defend ourselves against these horrible excuses for human beings. They are usually little more than escaped animals from a zoo and need to be re-caged.


If you run into one of these perverts, I hope you have read some of my prior articles that describe easy methods of protection. I particularly like the 18% OC pepper spray that will completely render even the largest attacker to a sniveling, crying and temporarily blind thug until the authorities arrive. Let him cry and wine and inhale some more spray to further enhance his coughing fit! He deserves it.


Remember to plan your protection and work your plan to be safe. GEAR UP WITH GOOD TOOLS AND KNOW HOW TO USE THEM! As always, be aware, be safe but remember to think about these issues and take the necessary steps to give you peace of mind for your future.

WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY... WHAT DO THE MICE DO?

Our lives are busy. We work hard for the things we want and need for our family. Often times there are people around us who we trust a lot. Yet we have never really investigated who and what they are.

We need to become significantly more vigilant in our efforts to protect ourselves by utilizing some simple techniques that are available to all of us. This article will describe easy methods to achieve this goal. All of us can and should do this.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS TO DETERMINE HOW SAFE YOUR ENVIRONMENT IS

• You and your loved ones - are you all properly safeguarded? There are many ways to do this in today's electronic world but I am specifically speaking about yourself and family while in your own home. You need to really give this some serious consideration. Even if you pay for a monthly security service many municipalities may not respond because of excessive false alarms and lack of police personnel.

• Are your locks and entry points adequate to deter home invasion (the most popular new sport amongst thieves)? Several new, non-lethal, technical innovations are now affordable and easily obtained that will provide the peace of mind that we all want and deserve. I will describe some later in this article and also in future articles.

• Have you had family discussions concerning what to do in the case of different emergency scenarios? This is a high priority and should be done on a fairly regular basis. Home invasion, fire, terrorism, and weather related situations, blackouts, etc. All of these common situations, and many less frequent, need to be addressed.

• After planning out your strategy you will need to find all the necessary resources to make your personal world a safer place. It is probably unrealistic to think that you will achieve %100. However, with increased awareness and a few high quality deterrents implemented into your home, you will make for a less than desirable target for a criminal and they will seek out an easier target.

• Do some simple investigating regarding how much criminal activity is occurring in your neighborhood. You may be well advised to install a surveillance camera system to monitor activity around your residence and street. Increasing your level of presence near your home is one of the keys that thieves and criminal types are very attuned to. You do it and they go elsewhere.

As I have stated in my previous PERSONAL SAFETY articles, awareness is a critical key to the prevention of becoming a victim or being a survivor. With increases in technology and decreases in cost of equipment, we can all benefit by staying alert of changes and incorporating some easily implemented protection for ourselves, our families and our businesses.

What happens at home while you are at work? What happens at work after you leave? Who is at the front door? All these and many more questions are becoming ever more difficult to answer and may represent danger to each and every aspect of our lives. What follows are five ways you can provide answers and proof of what is happening while you are not around.

FIVE WAYS TO QUICKLY PROTECT YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS

1. Covert video recording cameras are now affordable, tiny, easily installed and hidden. NannyCams and hidden camera resolution is more than adequate to provide the necessary proof to authorities or yourself to take appropriate action to remedy the negative situation. This is true for HOME and OFFICE situations.

2. Hidden cameras are available for automobile installation, which will protect both your car as well as giving you a view and record of your home or office entry areas and parking locations. They are not costly and anyone can do the setup.

3. There is NASA developed computer programming available that will allow you to monitor any of your cameras from ANY computer and if you have Internet capability, anywhere in the world! This includes work, home, and even using your laptop while on vacation to see what is happening at home. DVR systems with up to sixteen channel capability are available that will record endlessly until the hard drive is full. Each camera will only use approximately 1GB per day.

4. While we have become immune to car alarm systems, there are EXTREMELY loud alarms available for your home and office that will deter any intruder. Coupled with personal safety devices like stun guns, tasers mace, etc. this is a very affordable way to provide some peace of mind to us as individuals.

5. Without proof there is no way to involve the Police to investigate and apprehend the criminal who is responsible. If you are hit once, the criminal then knows you are an easy target in the future. Prevention begins with protection.

What does all this mean for you? Technological advances are evolving at a literally screaming pace. Criminal types are also evolving at a screaming pace. Each of us needs to protect our personal space with whatever technology is available to put ourselves and our work and home environments a "STEP ABOVE" the rest of the crowd. In doing so, we take away our appeal to the average (but intelligent) criminal.

Do your own investigation concerning what is available. Visit my websites and others. Ask hard questions. Keep asking until you are satisfied. In my prior articles I have dealt with personal protection issues and while this is certainly of paramount concern to us all, so is the protection of all our accomplishments and possessions. We all need to be proactive in this regard. If we do this we will have less need to be reactive after something happens.

As always, be aware, be safe but remember to think about these issues and take the necessary steps to give you peace of mind for your future.