Personal Security Tips

Podcast - Walking and Running Safety

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Wed, 6 Apr 2011 16:23:00 -0400

Podcast Content:

Many people who walk or run outside are concerned about being attacked. Anyone can be a target. Here are some suggestions to help Protect You Now:

Walk/run indoors. Many people choose to walk or run on indoor treadmills. This is obviously the safest way to do your cardio workout.

Choose a high pedestrian traffic area for your walk/run. Bad guys do not want an audience. Running on a path or sidewalk with other people close by is always advisable.

Run/walk in an open area. Paths lined with trees and bushes are nice, but often give criminals the advantage. Try to avoid areas that are dark or out of the way.

Take a companion with you. By walking with a friend or a group greatly reduces your chance of being attacked. If a person is not available, take your dog.

Don’t blend in. Wear bright clothing that stands out. Carry a personal alarm or pepper spray that is visible to would be assailants. Bad guys do not want to attract attention.

Show your Attitude! Keep your head up a show that you are aware of your surroundings. Most attackers are looking for a target of opportunity. They do not want to attack someone who appears ready and able to take care of themselves.

I hope these tips will help you be better prepared when you go walking or running. Be sure to check out our webstore for the items you may need to help Protect You Now.

Take care!

Joseph E. McGuffey

www.protectyounow.com

Podcast - Tips to Make Your Home Safe for Your Child

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:12:00 -0400

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

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Tips to Make Your Home Safe for Your Child

Introduction

Tips:

Beware of sharp objects. Use corner protectors to help minimize risk of injury to your child.
Keep small objects out of reach of your child to avoid choking hazards.
Store chemicals and medicines out of your child's reach.
Keep poision emergency # in a visible place. 1-800-222-1222
Make your kitchen safe. (stove guards, cabinet locks, etc)
Keep upstairs windows locked. Consider window guards. Keep cords out of reach.

Conclusion

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BRAND NEW!!! Introduction to Our New Podcast. Check It Out!

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:53:00 -0400

Check out our NEW Podcast! CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

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This is an introduction to the new Personal Security Tips Podcast sponsored by ProtectYouNow.com

In this episode, Joseph McGuffey with ProtectYouNow introduces the new podcast and explains more about the new show.

**Please be sure to leave your comments and contact Joseph with topics that interest you**

We hope this podcast will give you information to help Protect You Now! Check back often for new episodes! Thank you for listening.

Be sure to check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/protectyounow .

Tips for Making Your Home Safe for Your Child

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:40:00 -0500

Every good parent wants to provide their child a save and comfortable place to learn, play and grow. I’m sure that ensuring your child’s welfare is a priority for those of you who are parents. Here are some tips that you can use to ensure your child’s safety and comfort at home:

As your child starts to crawl and then walk, injuries can happen when the child bumps into sharp objects such as the corners of tables, cabinets and shelves. To prevent this from happening remove objects at home with sharp edges and corners. You can also put cushioning, such as corner protectors, on the corners of furniture to protect the little one.

Choking and ingestion hazards are also common in most homes. Keep small objects out of reach of your child. Place small home decorations and other choking hazards elevated out of our child’s reach. Medicines and chemicals, such as cleaning products, should be stored with safety latches and locks to keep you child from getting to them. Be sure to have emergency phone numbers posted where you can quickly find them. If you have a poison emergency or a question about poisons in the United States, call: 1-800-222-1222. This toll-free number will put you in touch with the poison control center in your state.

Your kitchen is a dangerous place for your child. Be sure to do what you can to make it as safe as possible. If possible, install child safety latches on all cabinets and drawers. Keep sharp objects. like knives. stored in a place that is inaccessible to your child. Install a stove guard to protect your child from the hot stove top and control knobs.

Be sure to install outlet covers on all exposed electrical outlets to help prevent your child from being electrocuted. Keep electrical cords contained. Be sure to use a cable tie to tie up any excess cord length on your electrical devices. This will help protect your child from being entangle in the cords.

If you have your windows open at home, be sure install window guards or window stops to keep your child from falling out of the window. It is best to keep all upper story windows closed and locked when your child is upstairs. Keep your window shade cords out of the reach of your child. This will help prevent him or her from becoming entangled in the cord and being strangled or injured.

These are just a few tips on making your home safe for your child. For more personal security tips, be sure to visit our Facebook Like Page . Please be sure to FB Like this post and feel free to share it with your friends, especially those with small children. Please leave your comments and questions below and as always thank you for letting us help Protect You Now.

Presented by Joseph E. McGuffey...

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:54:00 -0500

Hello! This post is simply to show you our latest video. This video features Joseph sharing a story that happened to his mother. Ladies, check this out. These are great tips to consider when you go shopping! Please write your comments or questions below this post. Also, be sure to Facebook "Like" this blog! :) Thanks again for stopping by!

Protecting Your Child

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:43:00 -0500

Many of you reading this have children. This edition is focused more on those of you with smaller children. Through the years I have consulted people whose children have been kidnapped, abused physically, mentally and sexually. It is always a difficult discussion for parents of abused children to tell their story. So far, I have never spoken with a parent who expected their child to be hurt, except when the parent was the abuser and even some of them claim to have not realized what they had done. I think it is correct to say that most parents love their children. I know that I, as a father, consider my son to be the most precious gift that God has given me. Even though he is now a teenager and taller than me (not bigger, I still have a few pounds on him J ), I still want to make sure that he is safe. I am sure that you all feel the same way about your children. Because of the ever increasing amount of violent crime, we must take positive measures to insure their safety and prevent them from becoming victims of crime.

Here are some tips to help Protect You Now:

Never leave your children alone. Do not leave them at home, in a vehicle, at play, or anywhere. Just because a child is old enough to call for help does not mean they will get the chance. I have spoken to many parents whose children were either abducted or assaulted while alone. Please, never leave your children alone.

Teach your children their full name, your full name, their address and phone number, including the area code. As soon as your child is old enough to understand, please teach them this information. Also, make sure they know how to use a phone to dial emergency services.

Play the “What If Game” with your children. Make up different dangerous situations that they might encounter and help them play out what they would do in that situation. This will help develop “habits of safety”.

Always be aware of the location of your child. Many children are abducted in public places. Shopping Centers, department stores, amusement parks and playgrounds are all dangerous places for children. Predators frequent these locations. Consider purchasing a child monitor to be used when taking children out in public.

Take the time to talk to your children. This is important on many levels, but talking often with your children will make you more aware when something is just not right. Be alert to any noticeable changes in their behavior or attitude towards an adult or teenager. These can be signs of sexual abuse.

Set up procedures with your child’s school or day care center. Make sure the facility only releases the child to you or someone on an approved list. Make sure they have a procedure to follow if the child does not show up on time.

Teach your children that their body is private. Make sure they understand that no one has the right to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. If anyone touches them in a wrong way, they should say NO, GET AWAY and tell you or someone else they trust.

I know these tips may seem like common sense to most of you. I agree. My concern is that we do not always use common sense. J As I stated earlier, parents of children who are victims did not expect their children to be harmed. It is so important that we, as parents, take positive measures to insure the safety of our children. They truly are one of

God’s greatest gifts.

If you would like to purchase a child monitor, visit: protectyounow.com. If you purchase the Child Guard Panda, use the coupon code: BLOG at checkout and you will receive free shipping.

If you have any questions or comments, please use the comment section below. Be sure to Facebook "Like" this article (if you do) and share it with your friends. Check back often for more tips to help Protect You Now.

Welcome to the new blog!

joseph@protectyounow.com (Joseph E. McGuffey/Protect You Now) — Sat, 5 Feb 2011 18:12:00 -0500

Welcome to the new "Personal Security Tips" blog sponsored by PROTECT YOU NOW. Check this blog often to find excellent information on ways to help reduce your risk of becoming a victim of crime. My goal is to give you quality information that you can use to protect you now. I will continually strive to make this blog pertinent to your everyday personal security. Thanks for checking us out. Now for the first installment.....

Everyday many people receive suspicious phone calls or visitors to their homes. They may say that their car has broken down and they need to phone someone for help. They may pretend to be a workman and say that they need to check your electricity or water. They might even claim to be from the city council and that they are carrying out a local survey. Whatever the reason a caller gives, you need to be sure that they are not just trying to get into your home to steal something.

There are around 12,000 incidents of “distraction burglary” each year, where callers get into homes and then steal cash or valuables while their occupier is distracted in some way. Sometimes they even work in pairs, with one doing the talking while the other is stealing. They often target the elderly.

Here are some tips to help Protect You Now:

Never give personal information (SS#, age, names of family members, etc) to anyone over the phone unless you have called them or know them. If someone asks for this information, ask them to mail you a request and you will consider giving the information. Do research on anyone who calls you. Do a web search to see what you can find. Call the Better Business Bureau. Find all you can about the people who are trying to get your information. If it is suspicious, contact your local authorities.

Be on your guard every time the doorbell rings or there is a knock at your door. Look out of your window to see who’s there first. If you do not know who the person is, open the window slightly and talk to them that way, rather than opening the door. Alternatively, have a viewer fitted in your front door so that you can take a good look at who’s there first. If your eyesight is not good be sure to get the wide-angle type viewer installed.

Put the door chain or door bar on before opening the door and talk thru the gap. You could even fit a small mirror to the wall next to the door so that you can easily see the person you are talking to.

Make sure the back door is locked if someone knocks on your front door. Sometimes thieves work together with one coming in the back way, while the other keeps you talking at the front.

Ask for identification. If you need your glasses to check this do not think it is rude to close the door and go get them. A genuine caller will not mind. If you are still not sure, ask the caller to leave and tell them to write and make an appointment so that someone else can be with you the next time they call. The basic rule is if you do not know the person at your door; DO NOT let them into your home.

In conclusion, your home should be the place where you can feel safe. In today’s world, many people are not safe at home. Home break-ins and burglaries are common all over the country. Even people who live in small towns or "out in the country" are frequently burglarized. Homes in rural areas are prime targets for burglars. Everyone needs to be aware that they are a potential target. Do not wait to be a victim. Prepare yourself now. Feel free to respond with any questions. You can email me at: joseph@protectyounow.com. We want to help PROTECT YOU NOW. If you need door chains, viewers or mirrors, you can click the links for the best prices or you can find them at your local retailer such as Lowe’s or ACE Hardware. To find inexpensive personal and home alarms, visit http://www.protectyounow.com/ .