Easy methods for kids to escape zip ties or duct tape if they are ever kidnapped

It is a parents worst nightmare.  You are sitting at home waiting for your child to walk through the door from school and they never arrive.  Or perhaps you get a call from your child's school saying they never arrived.  What do you do?  What would your child do if faced with the scenario of someone grabbing them and using zip ties or duct tape to detain them?  What would you do if someone broke into your home and used zip ties to bind you and your family while they burglarized your home?  Would you be able to escape?

Here are a couple of quick videos that show methods to escape zip ties duct tape. Why zip ties and duct tape?  These two items are easy to conceal and transport for criminals.  Handcuffs are bulky, suspicious to others and make noise.  I mean think about it...If you saw a man walking around with handcuffs (especially around children) and they were not in law enforcement, wouldn't that raise red flags with you.  Zip ties can be thrown in a pants pocket out of sight, are quiet but effective.  Criminals are counting on parents not knowing how to escape from the ties themselves, much less teaching their kids how it's done.

The first video posted by Trendy World, shows a little girl using just her shoe laces to escape from her zip ties in less than 60 seconds.  This would be a good video to show your child so they have this information stored away in the back of their mind.  Most children wear sneakers so this method will be very easy for them.  Have them show you and try it themselves so they are familiar with the steps to take in the event of an emergency.  Maybe make it competition between you and your child.  As the parent, you should be familiar with these methods also.  How to escape from a zip tie in less than a minute

The second video posted by Unboxedchild.com, shows three little boys escaping from zip ties in the front of their body and the behind them.  They also escape from duct tape after watching their Mom demonstrate how it's done.  This is a good video for Mom and kids to watch.  In this video the boys use just their strength and positioning to break the tie holds which may come in handy if the child isn't wearing sneakers.  How to escape from zip ties and duct tape for kids

There are several other videos available on Youtube about escaping from various ties.  It is a good idea to be familiar with different methods because you never know if you will be faced with this type of scenario.

Remember - If you fail to prepare, Prepare to fail!

Fire Safety Tips For Families

It's 3 o'clock in the morning and your fire alarm starts to beep.  You wake up and smell smoke.  What is the first thing you should do?  Is your family prepared? When is the last time you held a family fire drill?  Have you ever held a fire drill?  Have you planned your escape route in the event of a fire?  Why not?

Fires tend to peak during the months of December, January and February which are usually the coldest months of the year.  Home structure fires are reported about every 85 seconds nationally.  Did you know that approximately 3,500 people are killed in fires each year?  How many of these deaths could have been prevented had they practiced a fire drill or had a prepared fire escape route?  If you and your family practice drills ahead of time, your family's reaction time will decrease exponentially and every second counts!

When planning a fire escape route for your family, keep the following checklist in mind:

• One of the most important things you can do, is to make sure there are working smoke alarms in each room, and working carbon monoxide detectors on each level of a home.
• Make sure all smoke alarms are less than 10 years old, and are tested on a regular basis.
• Test the alarms during the night and see if your child responds.  Some children do not react to the beeping of a smoke alarm.  If this is your child, invest in a talking alarm that says something like, "Fire! Get up!".
• Draw a floor plan of your dwelling and mark at least two exits out of every room.
• Gather the family and review the floor plan and physically walk through the escape route with each child.  Make sure each child has a thorough understanding of what to do in the case of a fire.
• If you have multiple children sharing a room, assign partners to insure each other's safety.
• Teach everyone to touch the door and knob before opening it, to see if they feel hot to the touch.  If they feel warm, use the alternate exit route if possible.
• Ensure that everyone knows how to stuff blankets, sheets or clothes into the cracks of the doors and vents, if trapped in a room.  Also, make sure that they have a flashlight in each room to signal for help if trapped.
• Do not linger in a burning building trying to collect photos, jewelry or family heirlooms. NOTHING is more precious than your life!
• Designate an outside meeting place that everyone is familiar with.  Each family member should stay at the meeting place until everyone has escaped.  Some examples of meeting places might be a mailbox, the neighbor's house, a nearby corner, etc.
• Make sure that all of the designated exit routes are easily accessible.
• Make sure that your dwelling number is clearly visible for firefighters and all first responders.
• No one should ever try to re-enter a burning building for any reason.  Stay outside and alert the first responders where you think a trapped person or animal may be.  

Finally, it is crucial that home fire escape drills are practiced at least twice a year. The more you practice, the less panicked everyone will be when faced with a fire.

No one plans for a fire, but the better prepared you are when one occurs, the better your chances are of getting out alive.

Remember - "If You Fail to Prepare, then Prepare to Fail!"

Safety Tips for Worry-Free Apartment Living

In this day and age, more adults are choosing to live in apartments for a variety of reasons.  These reasons range from convenience, affordability versus home ownership, downsizing because of an empty nest, and location.  Whatever the reason may be, here are a few safety tips to make your apartment stay as worry-free as possible.

While you are conducting your initial search and before moving in, here are a few tips to consider:

• What is the local crime rate in the area?  Use a website like SpotCrime.com to check out the area's history.
• If you have friends, co-workers or family that live in that area, ask what their general impression is about the complex you are considering moving to.
• Drive by at different times of the day/night and see what it looks like.  After hours, are there shady characters hanging out on balconies, in the parking lot etc.?
• If the building includes fire escapes, do they keep them pulled up and limit access from the ground level?
• Do the managers or maintenance personnel live on property?  Is there a contingency plan for after hour emergencies?
• Is there adequate parking provided for the residents and their guests?
• Is it gated? Do they provide a roving security guard? Are the entrances, hallways or breezeways adequately lit at night?
• Always visit the model of the apartment you are considering beforehand, and check if there are peepholes in the doors, adequate bolt locks and whether window coverings are provided.  Are kitchen and laundry appliances provided and maintained by the complex?

Once you have moved in, here a few things to consider:

• First, get renter's insurance!  This will protect your valuables in the event of a fire, theft or severe weather.  Most apartment complexes have insurance, but it's usually to cover their losses only, like the rebuilding cost of the building.  You can find adequate coverage for approximately $20 per month.
• A personal fire safe would be a very good investment.  This safe could be used to protect valuable papers, jewelry, cash and firearms.
• Insist that the property manager change the locks to ensure the previous tenants cannot re-enter when you are away.
• Keep your blinds or curtains closed at night to avoid prying eyes from seeing your belongings.
• Get to know your neighbors.  You don't have to become best friends, but break the ice so you are aware of who belongs in your general area and who doesn't.
• Park in well-lit areas and hide your valuables.  Don't leave cell phones, important papers, sunglasses, etc., exposed to entice a would be burglar.
• Use your peep hole, keep your door closed and talk through your door when someone you don't know knocks on your door.  Don't worry about being perceived as rude, as your safety is more important!
• If you work different shifts, and regularly come home in the wee hours, invest in a hand held pepper spray that you can hold while walking to your door from the car.  Better to be safe than sorry, especially if someone is monitoring your coming and going.

Just remember, living in an apartment is similar to living in a house and the same precautions you would take with a residential home are the same for living in an apartment in most cases.

Be aware and be vigilant whenever you are entering and leaving, and stay cognizant of the people living around you and their activities.  If something or someone makes you uneasy, report your concerns to the management company and let them investigate further.  There is no such thing, in this day and age, as being too careful when it comes to your personal safety!  If you see something, SAY something!!

#safeandunafraid

What can a dollar buy you? A safer home!

Every year police investigate countless home invasions and burglaries. Sometimes, the homeowners are hurt or even killed.  Other times, valuable items and family heirlooms are stolen and lost forever.

In either case, how many of these scenarios could have been avoided, if the homeowner had just invested $1 to buy new screws for the door plates to their front and back doors? I would venture to say at least half.  Why?  Because, burglars are opportunists.  They like crimes of convenience and a quick entry and exit, making as little noise as possible.  If the door is too hard to kick in, or there are obvious cameras and home security measures, they most likely will move on to the next house.

So let’s talk about this inexpensive item, that will probably take you less than 15 minutes to install.  First, go to your local hardware store and buy (4) 3-inch wood screws.  These screws are going to replace the standard 1/2 inch screws your builder originally used.  You may need a drill to get the screws in because you will be screwing these into the frame and attach to the 2×4 studs.

Once these screws are installed, and in combination with a good deadbolt, you have just increased your chances that a burglar will become frustrated trying to kick in your door, if you are ever targeted.  Also, if the burglar is stubborn and determined to break in, this will definitely slow them down, draw attention to them, and give you time to call for help, get a weapon, hide or escape through another exit.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t see why anyone won’t run out today and install these screws.  Anything I can do to increase my odds of staying safe in my home, is money well spent!

Remember, as my good friend Frank, a retired NYPD policeman once told me, “If you fail to plan, then plan to fail!”

#SafeandUnafraid