Quality Protection Products Inc.

Identity theft is a growing problem that can be completely devastating to both your reputation and your finances. According to Javelin Strategies, a prominent research firm that often reports on identity theft, incidences of the crime have increased by 11% from 2008 to 2009, and will strike one in every 20 Americans this year. The statistics rise considerably if you are a young adult, especially those who are away at college. These individuals are likely to use library computers or share computers in their dorm rooms with roommates and others who they do not know very well, or use social websites where they may innocently post personal information that can be used against them. Whether you are a young or seasoned adult, here are a few tips that could help you avoid a bad situation.

• Only Make Purchases On Trusted Sites. The best way to make sure that your information doesn’t get intercepted is by simply sticking with trusted, well-known online retailers, or smaller sites that use reputable payment processors like PayPal or Google Checkout. Regardless of which site you use, you should always make sure to look for the padlock icon on the bottom of your browser to verify that the page is safe.
• Secure Your Network. If you have a wireless network at home or work, make sure that you secure it. A hacker can gain access to anything you do over an unsecured network in a matter of seconds. If you look at the documentation for your wireless router, you’ll be able to find out how to lock your router and encrypt your information. It won’t affect the way you use your wireless network, but it will keep intruders from getting a hold of your information.
• Don’t Store Personal Information on Non-Secure Web Sites. As more and more useful Web applications start springing up (like Backpack, Facebook and Google Calendars), it’s important to make sure that you’re not storing sensitive data on non-secure Web sites. While online calendars, to-do lists and organizers are really useful, make sure that your account numbers and passwords don’t make their ways onto these sites, which often aren’t protected the same way a banking or brokerage Web site would be.
• Don’t Put Private Information on Private Computers. If you’re away from home, make sure not to save private information onto a computer used by the public. If you’re accessing a private account at the library or cyber café, make sure to log out completely from your accounts, and never choose to save login information (like your username or password) on these computers.

If you will follow these tips and a little common sense, you can greatly improve the odds of becoming a victim of this devastating crime. It is also good advice to enroll in an identity protection program like LifeLock , Trusted ID, or Identity Guard. I personally use Identity Guard for there computer security suite, but all three are reputable companies that offer a relatively inexpensive service when compared to the cost of your identity being compromised. Here are the links to free trial offers for all three if you would like to take one for a test drive.

Both stun guns and pepper spray have become extremely popular self defense tools over the last few years I am often asked about the legal restrictions on travel with these items. Even though both stun guns and pepper spray are legal in most states there are a few precautions that should be taken before you travel, especially if your travel plans include a commercial airline flight.

• First of all be sure to take a few minutes to check for restrictions on either product at your destination. Even though they are legal at you departure point, they will most likely be confiscated if your destination point does have restrictions.
• Second, all commercial airlines have restrictions concerning travel with disabling devices or chemicals. Neither pepper spray nor stun guns can be carried on your person or in your carryon luggage. You can however, place both items in your checked luggage. Pepper spray canisters cannot exceed a four ounce limit.
• Third, check to be sure that your pepper spray canister has a locking device. This will insure that it will not accidentally discharge in your baggage while on the plane.
• Fourth, be sure to tell the airlines that you have a stun gun or pepper spray canister in your checked luggage and that it is in a place where it can easily be located. They are obligated to check the pepper spray canister to be sure that it has a locking device.

The most important thing that I tell my customers when traveling with either product is not to try to conceal them. With the commercial airlines use of metal detectors and X-ray machines they are sure to be detected, even those canisters disguised as lipstick or other items. If you will follow these five basic tips you should be able to travel with both items without incident.

Here are two quick links to check for the areas with pepper spray or stun gun restrictions.

Pepper Spray Regulations and Restrictions

Stun Gun Laws and Restrictions

I know that this video is disturbing but I hope it will embed in your mind the importance of fireworks safety during your Fourth of July celebration. It just takes an instant for your holiday celebration to turn to tragedy, and it is usually the innocent that pay the price for our mistakes. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind if you are planning a fireworks display at home:

• Please treat fireworks with respect, read all of the cautions and warnings.
• Lighting fireworks indoors, throwing them from automobiles and lighting multiple devices at the same time can lead to accidents and are not how fireworks are intended to be used.
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you are, don’t use them. If drought conditions mean a ban on fireworks, follow the law.
• Only persons over 12 years of age should handle sparklers of any type. Too many young people get burned by sparklers every year. By keeping sparklers out of youngsters, we can reduce these injury rates.
• Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.
• Fireworks and alcohol do not mix. Have a designated “shooter”
• If you see someone misusing fireworks, stop them. Show them the correct way to use consumer fireworks and do not ever use professional fireworks or illegal explosives. Do your part and everyone will be safer.
• When all else fails, use common sense. Respect fireworks and sparklers as the great American tradition they are, but also respect the fact that the must be used with caution.

For questions on the legality of fireworks in you area or a more in depth look at fireworks safety, please visit the National Council On Fireworks Safety.

Fourth of July Celebrations are an American Tradition. Take a minute and remember the men and women of our armed forces that sacrifice daily to make our nation the greatest nation in the world. If you would like to do more to show your support, the Disabled Americans Veterans Charitable Service Trust does amazing work to help our returning soldiers and there families.
Have a great and safe holiday.

Well here it is Memorial Day weekend, and for most of us the first big summer get together. Millions of people all headed out for a three day weekend at the park, beach, lake, or maybe just a backyard BBQ. Time to get away and shed those wintertime blues with friends and family. Unfortunately for many it will turn into a weekend of tragedy. Traffic and boating accidents this weekend seem to set new records every year. So please, don’t become a statistic. Take a moment and think about safety. Your loved ones need you. Have a great time but remember , drinking and boating is just as deadly as drinking and driving. Life pre­servers and seat belts WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE, so buckle up! Here are a few more simple tips to keep in mind.

BOAT SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets. Don’t make yourself a victim. Always follow these simple steps.
· Never leave anything valuable on display, however small and insignificant it may seem. Thieves steal first and think about value later.
· Don’t leave anything lose in the cockpit or on deck
· Don’t leave the key in the ignition. Always take it with you
· Keep your boat keys separate from your engine keys
· Always keep your boat locked when no one is on board. Even for a short time
· Use strong padlocks or rim locks on all your hatches, entry points and cockpit lockers
· Constantly check and improve the security on your boat. It is a good idea to fit an alarm and have visible stickers saying one is fitted.

With all this being said, have a safe and wonderful weekend. Be sure to take a moment to re­member the men and women of our armed forces who have sacrificed so much to insure our way of life. That’s what this weekend is really all about.

Hundreds of small children die or are seriously injured every year as a result of drowning or being injured in a residential or public pool. In 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a report stating that the majority of pool and spa related injuries and deaths involved children between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. The report also revealed that drowning deaths involving children under the age of 5 had increased from an annual average of 267 to 283. Lastly, the report stated that drowning is the primary cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. These sad statistics are proof that hundreds of children are dying or suffering serious injuries, despite the fact that both are highly preventable.

Many adults falsely believe that, as long as they are nearby, even if they are distracted, they will be alerted to a possible drowning emergency by a child’s screams or by the child flailing in the water. This simply is not true. Many serious and fatal pool accidents have occurred while adults are sitting poolside talking to one another or simply reading a book. When drowning occurs, children are submerged under water and unable to scream for help. Often, in cases of entrapment, children are held down by a powerful suction or a drain as one of their limbs, part of their bathing suit, or even their hair is stuck in the suction. When this happens, nearby adults may not immediately realize that the child is stuck and, in only a few short minutes, the child can die or suffer severe, irreversible brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation. The CPSC reports that between 1999 and 2007, 74 cases of entrapment were reported and, of that number, 9 victims died and 63 were injured.

The federal government currently requires public pools and spas to have safety drain covers and some are even required to have anti-entrapment systems installed. Although the law is targeted specifically at public pools and spas, such as those found in apartment buildings or hotels, private residential owners are also encouraged to strive for the same safety standards.

Pool safety should always be approached with multiple layers of protection in mind. Therefore, if one malfunctions or fails, another layer of protection is in place to alert adults of a possible emergency. One such highly recommended safety measure is the Pool Protector. This self-contained, fully portable, electronic monitoring system sounds a piercing alarm, both from the unit and from a remote receiver installed in the home up to 200 feet away from the unit, whenever a child or a pet tumbles into a pool monitored by the system.

The affordable and easy to install Pool Protector can be put in sleep mode, but it is never deactivated. If ever someone inexperienced in putting it into sleep mode tries to remove the Pool Protector from the swimming pool or spa, the alarm is automatically triggered.

The Pool Protector uses a 9-volt battery that needs to be replaced, on average, every year and it comes with a 12-volt power supply. Should the battery ever run low, the Pool Protector also includes a low battery indicator that sounds an alert on the receiver, as well as on the actual unit.

Other possible layers of protection include pool owners regularly checking for missing or broken drain covers and not allowing children in pools or spas where either is the case. It’s also advisable to remove ladders when an above ground pool is not in use. When children are missing, always search a pool or spa first as every precious second counts. All adults should also be trained in CPR in case resuscitation is needed, and emergency rescue equipment should always be nearby a pool and all adults aware of its exact location.

Since most drowning accidents can be prevented, the goal of every responsible pool or spa owner must be to do just that. Even in homes without small children, owners should consider pool safety a priority as in many of the drowning deaths that have occurred a child was visiting the pool owner’s home. As pool and spa owners are always liable in cases of a pool accident, it is prudent for all to take steps to protect, not only their guests, but also their assets that can be severely jeopardized in the event of a drowning accident occurring on their property. The Pool Protector, along with sufficient drain, pool, and spa coverings can go a long way to prevent such accidents and could mean the difference between the life and death of a child.

With the times that we live in to getting tougher, it seems that the evening news is filled a little more everyday with good people becoming victims to the preditors and the lawless. So here are a few simple precautions that could help to keep you from becoming a statistic.

Sexual Assault

1. Use initials instead of first names on mail boxes and phone listings.
2. Avoid remaining alone in an apartment laundry room or parking garage.
3. Never admit on the telephone or at the door that you are alone.
4. It is risky to accept a ride home from someone you have just met.
5. If you decide to physically resist assault, remember that your goal is to incapacitate the attacker long enough to run to safety and get help.
6. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, call police immediately. Do not bathe or change clothes or you may destroy evidence.

Robbery

1. Avoid carrying valuable items or large amounts of money.
2. Always think ahead. For example, when traveling at night, have your keys ready to enter the house or to start the car.
3. If you are confronted by a robber, the best advice is to cooperate.
4. If you resist, there is a greater chance that you may be hurt.

Bank Machines

1.When using an automatic bank teller, always be watchful of any suspicious people around you.
2. The chances of being robbed at night are much greater, especially if you are alone.
3. If you find someone waiting and watching outside in the area of an ATM machine, do not use it. Leave the area and report the incident to the police immediately. You could save someone else from being a victim of crime.

Street Safety – Use Common Sense

1. Stay in well lighted, busy areas. Avoid walking alone and avoid known trouble spots.
2. When you carry a purse, hold it close to your body rather than by the handles. Do not wrap purse straps around your wrist, because you can get hurt in a struggle.
3. Carry only what you need in a purse or wallet, not everything you have.
4. Avoid using shortcuts through dark alleys, fields, or vacant lots.
5. If you think you’re being followed, cross the street and change directions a few times. Go quickly to a well-lighted place with lots of people. Do not go home. You don’t want an attacket to know where you live.

Remember, stay alert on guard. The simple rule “Stranger, Danger” that we teach our children applies to all. A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to personal safety.

One of the key elements to burgulary prevention is to avoid hanging the “Burgulars Welcome” sign out at the end of the drive. Experience has shown us that burgulars like many things, but two conditions are preferred by most thieves.

1) an easy invitation
2) a fast, easy, undetected entry and exit

Burgulary invitations are not stuffed into envelopes as are party invitations, however our actions are sometimes invatations that are equaly effective. Have you ever observed a pile of newspaper at the end of the drive or mail overflowing from the mailbox. Other invites you might recognize are

* A non-maintained yard
* Keys left in your vehicle while you run into the store
* Dark or concealed hiding places
* Windows left open when you are away
* Notes left on the door when you are gone
* The spare house key left above the door (Did you think that no one knew it was there?)
* Messages on your answering machine stating that you are away
* An open garage door
* Sliding glass door without auxiiary locks
* A house unlit night after night
* Flimsy door latches and locks
* Basement windows

After receiving his invitation the burgular will look for a quick, undetected entry and exit. He will choose the path of least resistance, which affords him the best chance of getting away without being caught. For this reason most burgulars work under the cover of darkness. This is an opportunity afforded them by nature; other access and escape routes which we provide often include:

* A large shrub in front of a window
* A dark alley behind the residence
* A privacy fence around the yard
* An unlocked door or window
* A sliding glass door
* An exterior door without a deadbolt lock

By staying aware and taking a few minor precautions you can easily make your home less likely to be a target. So please, take the time to look around and do your part. You can make your home a safer place.

ATM cash machines have been incorporated in our way of life. They offer a real convenience to those on the run but at the same time offer an element of risk. Using an ATM machine safely requires awareness and a little planning. Just because an ATM machine is open and available 24-hours a day doesn’t mean it is safe to use it. Most ATM robberies occur at night between 8:00 PM and midnight. ATM robbers are usually males under 25 years of age and most work alone. ATM robbers usually position themselves nearby waiting for a victim to approach and withdraw cash. Most ATM robbery victims are women and were alone when robbed. Most claim that they never saw the robber coming. Most ATM robbers used a gun or claimed to have a concealed weapon when confronting the victim and demanding their cash.
If you or your family members use ATM cash machines on a regular basis, here are some tips that can make the process a little safer:

• Use only ATM machines in well-lighted, high-traffic areas.
Don’t use ATM machinesthat are remote or hidden such as being located behind buildings, behind pillars, walls, or away from public view.
Beware of obvious hiding places like shrubbery or overgrown trees. ATM robbers like to have the element of surprise and no witnesses.
Robbers like good escape routes like nearby freeway on-ramps or high speed thoroughfares.

• Choose an ATM that looks and ‘feels’ safer, even if it is a couple of miles out of the way.
Try and limit your use to daylight hours.
Take someone with you after hours, if you can.
When you drive up to an ATM location, scan the area for any suspicious persons. If you see anyone suspicious standing nearby or sitting in a car, drive away.
When you approach an ATM on foot be prepared and have your access card ready.
Memorize your personal PIN number to prevent loss and speed the transaction. After inserting your card and your PIN number keep an eye out behind you.
Never accept an offer to help or request for help from a suspicious male ahead of you at the machine.
If anyone suspicious or seemingly dangerous approaches terminate your transaction and leave immediately, even if it means running away and leaving your ATM card in the machine.
First, tell the suspicious male in a loud, firm voice to “back-off” and leave you alone. This is designed to startle the person and give you time to flee, if appropriate.
When you receive cash from the machine put it away immediately, extracts your card, and walk away.

• If you use your car at a drive-thru ATM machine the same rules apply. Keep the car in gear, with your foot firmly on the brake, while using the ATM machine.
Keep a close eye on your rear and side view mirrors during the transaction. Robbers almost always approach from the rear on the driver’s side.
If you see anyone approaching, drive off even if it means leaving your ATM card behind.
If you are confronted by an armed robber, just give up your money without argument. The cash is not worth serious injury or death.
Get to a safe place and call the police immediately.

• If lights around the ATM are not working, don’t use that machine
• Avoid ATM machines adjacent to obvious hiding places
• Have your card ready and leave quickly, not counting your cash in public
• Beware of offers for help from strangers during an ATM transaction
• Don’t fight with or attempt to follow the robber
• Drive or walk to a safe place and immediately call the police

This is traditionally the time of year for for friends and giving, but unfortunately it also seems to really bring out the preditors among us. With all the hustle bustle and last minute gift search we sometimes tend to let our gaurd down and forget the darker element that is lerking just around the corner, waiting for a chance to strike. So here are a few simple things you can do to make this holiday season a little safer for you and your family.

Even though you are rushing and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
If possible, park your car in an area of high pedestrian activity. Avoid remote areas.

Lock your car and close the windows, even if you are only gone for a few minutes.

Loose change is a meal for a street person; they will break you window for small change.

Your cell phone can be sold and reprogrammed and is a sought item of theft.

A laptop computer will keep a drug user in a high state, at your expense

Lock your packages out-of-sight in the trunk.
Place your valuables in the trunk before you get to your destination, not after, the thief may be watching.

Be sure and lock your car, many opportunists simply look for unlocked cars.

If waiting for a ride from a friend or public transportation, do so in busy, well-lit places

Consider security film for automobile’s windows.

Always report a theft to the police.

Teach your children to go to the store clerk and ask for help if you become separated while shopping. They should never go to the parking lot or the car alone.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible; and if the credit card receipt has carbons, ask for these too. Notify issuers immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.

Be extra careful with purses and wallets.
They may become targets for crime in crowded shopping areas, at bus stops, and on public transportation.

Avoid overloading yourself with packages.
It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

At home, be extra cautious about locking doors and windows
when you leave the house, even for a few minutes. Leave lights and a radio or television on so the house looks occupied. Do not put large displays of holiday gifts in view of your windows or
doors.

If you go away for the holidays, try to keep your home appearing “lived in”: Get an automatic timer for your lights. Have a neighbor watch your home and pick-up your newspapers and mail.

If you use lights on your tree, make sure that they are in good working order.

Immediately mark your new gifts with your driver’s license number, and note all serial numbers, keeping records in a safe place.

Remember to be a good friend and neighbor this holiday season: Share these tips with others in your family and neighborhood. Also, why not get your neighborhood together and go caroling. Do not forget the elderly and other people who might be especially lonely during the holidays. Soon, you may wish to form a neighborhood watch group. People helping people, that’s what it is all about!

And lastly, when hosting a party, find alternative transportation for intoxicated guests; and when going out drinking, please remember: Don’t Drink and Drive.

Remember the old saying “Prevention is 90% of the cure”. A little precaution could prevent a time of celebration from turning to tragedy. Please Stay Safe!!!