BLJ's Self Defense.Com Blog provides free self defense information for your family's personal protection. We give you the Heads up on the new up-coming self defense products, Sales,and specials. http://bljsselfdefense.com/bljs-self-defense-com-blog-t15.html http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 16 May 2008 05:42:51 -0400 Fri, 16 May 2008 05:40:50 -0400 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com Children & Smoke Alarms

Did you know that despite a piercing 70-85 decibel signal, children often sleep through the sound of a home smoke alarm? A quick response is essential in a fire emergency, so if children don't waken to the signal, parents and caregivers must wake them. Interconnected smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference. Interconnected smoke alarms are hard-wired into a home's electrical system and each alarm is connected together so that when one alarm signals, they all signal, no matter where the fire starts.
With interconnected smoke alarms, you'll have early warning of the fire wherever you are, because the smoke alarm in your room will sound at the same time as the alarm in the room with the fire. If your children or someone else in the household isn't aroused by the smoke alarm, you'll be able to waken them, hastening their safe escape.
Danger: Even with interconnected alarms, emerging research has demonstrated that sleeping children may be able to tune out the blaring sound. Make sure your children wake and properly respond when the smoke alarms signal. Empowering children with basic fire escape skills is a very good idea - everyone should know to react immediately to the sound of the alarm and how to get outside quickly. But before assuming children will react appropriately to a late-night fire, parents must learn if their children will be roused immediately or sleep through the smoke alarm. Even those who awaken to the sound of the alarm may be groggy or move with indecision.
Learn if your children will awaken
To find out for certain, the Home Safety Council urges parents to hold regular family fire drills. Children can participate in the drills by helping to draw the fire escape plan. Once kids have mastered fire escape skills, hold a drill when children are sleeping to learn how they will respond to the sound of the smoke alarm. Push the "test" button on the closest alarm during the drill. If children don't readily waken and demonstrate the ability to move with decision, parents must make a contingency plan for awakening them in family drills and in a fire emergency.
Important: Children aren't the only ones who sleep through smoke alarms. Research shows that teenagers and even adults can tune out the loud sound while they sleep. Additionally, people with hearing impairments may not be able to hear conventional alarms; special smoke alarms with strobes and/or vibration are available for purchase online and through local fire equipment distributors. Make sure everyone in your family is protected by the early warning that smoke alarms provide.
Every-level fire protection
Every home should have working smoke alarms on each level, and protecting each sleeping area. The Home Safety Council recommends installing smoke alarms inside bedrooms as well. For the best detection and notification protection, install both ionization- and photoelectric-type smoke alarms. Some models provide dual coverage. The type will be printed on the box or package. For additional protection from fire, consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your new or remodeled home.
]]> http://bljsselfdefense.com/index.php?target=topics&topic_id=66 033F024C-B176-4915-9E6D-F84C57564C50 Fri, 16 May 2008 05:40:50 -0400 According to the Home Safety Council’s State of Home Safety in America™ Report, fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths. Fire safety and survival begin with everyone in your household being prepared. Follow these safety measures from the Home Safety Council to reduce the chance of fire in your home:
Prevent Fires Caused by Cooking:

	Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
	Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the range top.
	Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot burner and catch on fire.
	Never leave barbecue grills unattended while in use. Keep grills at least three feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.

Prevent Fires Caused by Heating:

	Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
	Keep space heaters at least three feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
*	Have a service person inspect chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Have them cleaned when necessary.
	Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.

Prevent Fires Caused by Smoking:

	Use “fire-safe” cigarettes and smoke outside.
	Use large, deep ashtrays on sturdy surfaces like a table.
	Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.

Prevent Fires Caused by Candles:

	Never leave burning candles unattended. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms. Always use stable, candle holders made of material that won’t catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc.
	Blow out candles when adults leave the room.

Prevent Fires Caused by Gasoline and Other Products:

	Store gasoline in a garage or shed in a container approved for gasoline storage. Never bring or use gasoline indoors; and use it as a motor fuel only.
	Close the lid on all dangerous products and put them away after using them.
	Store them away from the home and in a safe place with a lock.
	Don’t plug in too many appliances at once.

Keep Your Family Safe At Home

	Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
	Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. For the best detection and notification protection, install both ionization- and photoelectric-type smoke alarms. Some models provide dual coverage. The type will be printed on the box or package. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries once a year.
	Know how to put out a small pan fire by sliding a lid over the flames.
	Teach every family member to “Stop, Drop and Roll” if clothes catch fire.
	Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home, or when you remodel.
	Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
	If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out. Do not go back inside for any reason.

]]> http://bljsselfdefense.com/index.php?target=topics&topic_id=65 96A39972-2C65-4E56-A786-B322B78EF3FD Fri, 9 May 2008 07:36:44 -0400 Nicolle Kidman has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) for over 2 years now. She is the spokesman for the "Say NO to Violence against women" a global internet campaign initiated by UNIFEM. This particular campaign fund is to help women around the world by strategically investing in areas that make women safer and prevent gender-based violence. "The Say NO campaign provides people all over the world with an opportunity to add their names to an ever-growing movement of people demanding that ending violence against women be made a top priority for governments around the world," stated Nicolle Kidman. You can show your support by posting your signature on the campaign's website: www.saynotoviolence.org. The UN Foundation issued a challenge grant that it would donate $1 to each of the first 100,000 signatures posted on the "Say NO to Violence against women" internet site. Mr. Tim Wirth, President of the UN Foundation, followed up on his challenge recently and presented to UNIFEM a $100,000 check contribution to the Trust Fund. The UNIFEM's Say NO internet campaign will continue thru November 25, 2008, which is the globally recognized date to end violence against women. http://bljsselfdefense.com/index.php?target=topics&topic_id=64 5EC864D9-2C93-4931-8F59-B5CF288E91D5 Sat, 3 May 2008 05:32:08 -0400 Information Provided Below is for your family safety Prevent Drowning • Drowning can happen very fast. • Most of the time you will not hear someone drowning. • a ditch. Drowning can happen in any standing water, such as a swimming pool, a pond or • A swimming pool should have a fence that goes all the way around it. • The fence should have a gate that closes by itself. • When children are in the water, stay close enough to touch them. • Adults should keep their eyes on children every second they are near water. • Stay awake and sober when watching children in or near water. • Only adults can safely take care of children in or near water. • Don’t ask children to baby-sit younger children around water. • Store large buckets upside down, so water cannot fill them up. omesafetycouncil.org Prevent Falls • Put bright lights over all porches and walkways. • Have handrails on both sides of the stairs. • garage so children cannot climb on them. Put ladders away after using them. Store ladders on their sides; in a shed or • Keep stairs clear of things that you can trip over. • Fix broken or chipped steps and walkways as soon as possible. • decks. If you have young children, use a safety gate to prevent falls from porches or • mulch, wood chips or other safety material. Cover the ground under playground equipment with a thick layer (9-12 inches) of esafetycouncil.org Prevent Poisoning • (such as bug killers), and lawn and garden products (such as fertilizer) are poison. Chemicals, fuels (such as gasoline), car fluids (such as anti-freeze), pesticidesesafetycouncil.org • Close the lid on all dangerous products and put them away after using them. • Store them in a safe place with a lock. • Know to call 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. • Keep the number by every phone. mesafetycouncil.org Prevent Burn Injuries • Use gasoline only as a fuel for motors. • a lock. Store gasoline in a container designed just for gasoline in a shed or garage with • Gasoline can catch fire with only a tiny spark. • Gasoline must never be brought indoors, even in small amounts. • gasoline inside a building. Use gasoline only outside. The vapors (fumes) are very dangerous if you bring • Fill gas tanks away from smokers. • Fill mowers and gasoline-powered tools outside, before starting the job. • Re-fuel only after the tool has completely cooled down. council.org Keep Children Safe • Keep children indoors while mowing or using other dangerous outdoor tools. • Keep children far away from barbecue grills when cooking. • them. Store all sharp tools pointing downward. All garden equipment and tools should be kept where children cannot reachStore them where children cannot see or touch them. http://bljsselfdefense.com/index.php?target=topics&topic_id=63 02D62BE7-264D-459C-A461-0F19C43917EF Thu, 1 May 2008 13:49:12 -0400