Author John Yonitch

To apply for Certification as a Personal Protection Specialist

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An Important Choice to Make

 

Even in the United States of America, in the world, and society as it is today, you have a choice you need to make. FBI and Justice Department studies show that crime has increased over 500% since 1960. A violent crime occurs every 22 seconds in this country; a rape every 5.8 minutes; a murder every 34 minutes.  Half of all Americans will be robbed or burglarized in their lifetimes. It is not a question of IF you and your family will come in contact with a violent criminal, but rather WHEN. Then, we need to factor in tornadoes, wildfires, food safety, terroristic activity, earthquakes, riots, etc. The chips really do seem to be stacked against you! Shouldn't you and your family be trained and prepared in advance?

 

By taking the time to visit the website Protection Matters, you have possibly made your choice already! Don’t be the deer in the headlights!  Take advantage of this remarkable site to assist you in all your protection matters today! Place it in your ‘Favorites’ folder and visit often.

 

DID YOU KNOW? Grocery cart handles are dirtier than bathrooms, and half of them carry E. coli, says a new University of Arizona study.

 

Planning is your best defense for dangerous weather. It's what you do before storms are on the horizon. It can make the difference between life and death. Follow these important checklists to keep your family safe:

 

Family Preparedness Checklist:

 

• Remove dead or rotting trees that could fall on your house or property if struck

      by lightning.

• Move inside your house or garage anything on your property that could become flying debris.

• Unplug any appliances or electronic equipment.

• Inventory all valuables in the home with pictures or video. Note the approximate value of each item and date of purchase.

• Make sure important documents, such as an insurance policy or mortgage papers, are stored in a safe-deposit or safe box.

• Read and understand your insurance policy, especially disclosures.

• Examine your homeowners' coverage, as well as auto policies.

• Be sure you have adequate coverage and deductibles reasonable for your needs.

• If you have expensive or specialty items (e.g. jewelry, furs, silverware, cameras, collectibles, etc.), speak with your agent about broader coverage, as limits do apply under a homeowners' policy.

• Sign up for The Weather Channel's severe weather mobile alerts.

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for important updates.

• Consider buying a whole-house surge protector. Whole-house surge protection can protect against lightning strikes or damaged power lines that could cause a fire.

• Protect mementos in waterproof containers and/or take the items with you if you evacuate.

• Take care of your pets. Doghouses aren't lightning-safe, and dogs that are tied to trees or other tall objects can also be hit by lightning.

 

If you're inside when severe weather strikes:

 

• Avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment and plumbing.

• Don't use your cell phone during a thunderstorm.

• Don't wash your hands, take a shower, wash dishes or do laundry.

• Stay away from windows, doors and concrete items.

 

If you're outdoors when severe weather strikes:

 

• Seek shelter when you first see dark clouds, lightning or hear thunder.

• Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible.

• Get out of water and avoid metal. They both can carry an electrical current.

• Get inside a completely enclosed building immediately if one is accessible.

• Don't go into a carport, open garage or covered patio.

• If you can't find a completely enclosed building, find a hard-topped, all-metal vehicle.

• Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.

• If you're in a group of people, spread out.

• Stay away from tall, isolated objects.

• If you're driving during a thunderstorm, get off the road. A lightning bolt could strike your car and temporarily blind you. See driving safety tips for every weather situation.

• If you're boating or swimming, get to shore immediately.

• Make sure your emergency supply kit has all the essentials for surviving a disaster.

 

Fire deaths in the United States have, on average, been around 4,000 per year. This is the highest of any industrial nation in the world! Think about this - As of August 2, 2010 4,683 American military persons have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) on October 7, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began with the invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003. Of the total deaths, 3,708 were due to hostile fire, and the remainder due to non-hostile actions (such as accident, suicide, or illness). So, in almost ten years of combat we lost a little over what we lose in a year due to fire at home! Where’s the outrage? Most all fires are preventable, and certainly the overwhelming majority of fire deaths. Read and follow any and all product and item warnings, instructions, directions, etc. that pertain to fire or flammability. If it says flammable - it is! Keep heat/open flame away. Become familiar with basic fire codes - there's a reason for them (they have been written in someone's blood and tears). Learn and know how to use a fire extinguisher. Have working smoke detectors. Make and practice fire drills for your home - include the kids if you have any. When somewhere else, take note of the nearest fire/emergency exits - a room or building can become untenable is 2 minutes or less. Check the Home Safety website at: www.homesafety.org for excellent fire safety info and resources - most all free.

 

 

Avoiding Car Emergencies With Common Sense

 

An alert driver is the best gauge. In response to the demise of the neighborhood service station, the car companies have installed some systems to ensure that drivers stay off the side of the road. Tire pressure monitoring is one system meant as an early warning indicator of an impending emergency. The rest of the instrumentation on your dashboard (coolant temp, oil pressure, for example) adds to the feedback available to the motorist.

 

However, some potential problem areas are not monitored by your car and are best detected by alert drivers who employ all of their senses to stay out of trouble. These are the sensual warning signs:

The smell of gas - an unwritten rule at gas stations that did repairs was to never send a car on its way if it was leaking gas. The garage either resolved it or suggested that the vehicle be towed to someone who could fix it within the expectations of the customer. The threat of fire is imminent due the myriad of ignition sources under the hood of a car, which includes various electrical connections and also superheated components. An aware driver should always respond to the smell of “raw” gasoline and seek out its source with the help of a professional if needed.

The noise of an axle - it is not unusual for drivers to complain about noises emanating from the axles of their cars. A clicking or clunking noise when making turns is usually the marker for a failed CV or axle shaft. A roar from the area of the wheels can be a bad wheel bearing or hub unit. The roar is sometimes accompanied a slapping or whoop sound that is uniform to the speed of the wheel.

The feel of a front-end shake - the front end that shakes badly and commands the attention of the driver to the degree that he is hesitant to drive the vehicle may be traced to a failed tire. When the belt shifts in a tire it becomes egg shaped and at any speed will create fierce shaking. There are many other suspension and steering issues that can cause the front end of a car to shake, but usually not as bad as a tire that is out of round.

The sight of leaking fluid - before a car runs hot, loses its brakes, or has a transmission that slips, due to fluid loss there is a window of time that the fluids involved are visible around the car. This would be prior to your car’s instrumentation detecting a problem. This is why we suggest a walk around of your vehicle. Antifreeze will show up in the extreme front of the car, while transmission fluid is usually further back, and brake fluid will be found around the perimeter.

Not all problems can be detected by your car’s early warning system, but with an awareness of your vehicle and the use of your senses to detect problems, you can avert an emergency.

 

Be Creative

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One of my mentors, who I will not name here (he has a nation-wide syndicated radio show broadcast on Saturday mornings) relayed in his autobiography about when he was in high school. He was picked on frequently by older, larger bullies. His solution? One morning prior to school, he took duct tape and placed a large amount of thumb tacks through the tape with the head of the tacks on the sticky side. He then wrapped the tape around his biceps and placed his loose fitting uniform shirt on. The first time one of the bullies grabbed his upper arm, as they invariably did every school day; he abruptly turned his body as soon as the tacks did their work. From that point on, the bullying stopped (I strongly recommend this not be done today in a school setting. However, I can foresee other scenarios where this may prove useful).