June 17th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
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Last month the former head of the powerful International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was charged with chasing a housekeep around his penthouse suite and forcing her to perform sex on him in his $3,000-a-night room at the Sofitel New York Hotel. Hotel housekeepers say they often feel a twinge of fear when they slide the keycard, turn the door handle and step into a room to clean it, not knowing what they might find?
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For Argelia Rico, it was a naked man who touched himself as he ogled her. For Kimberly Phillips, it was a pair of dogs that tore into her leg.
Labor groups and housekeepers reported at least 10 other attacks in the U.S. last year, from New York's Sofitel to remote roadside motels in Gaithersburg, Md., and Grand Island, Nebraska. Many more are hushed up because the victims are illegal immigrants, or the hotels are wary of reporting such incidents for fear of scaring off guests.
But personal attacks, sexual or otherwise, are not something exclusive to hotel housekeepers and maids. They can happen to anyone, at any time, for any number of reasons. There are many steps you can take to help safeguard yourself, but one of the easiest and cheapest ways is to carry a personal alarm with you at all times.
Personal alarms are designed to draw attention to you should you ever need help. They are small, portable, yet emit a loud sound that makes people come running. You simply activate the alarm when attacked by an assailant, or when the threat of an attack seems likely. The loud siren-like sound draws attention to your situation, and in turn scares off the assailant. The last thing an attacker wants is drawing attention to himself, and his first impulse is going to be to run.
A personal alarm should be standard in every home or apartment, especially if you're there alone at night. Keep it by the bedside. If you should be awaken by sounds of somebody breaking in, grabbing your alarm is much easier than going for your handgun, stun gun, Taser, or MACE spray and going out to confront the would-be burglar. One blast from your 130db alarm will create enough attention that he won't be able to flee the scene fast enough.
Other uses for a personal alarm are when you're…..
- Out jogging
- Walking the dog
- Traveling; especially if traveling overseas. Unlike other protection devices, there are no laws against carrying a personal alarm with you.
- Anyone whose work takes them to residential neighborhoods where they may encounter dog attacks.
- Real estate agents who are constantly showing vacant homes to prospective clients.
- Walking to your car late at night
- Security guards on night patrol
- Students away at college. Worried about your daughter walking back to her dorm at night? Campus Security may not always be in sight, but they will surely hear the 130db alarm when the trigger is pulled.
- Camping. If you have kids who like to explore the woods, give each an A MACE Personal Alarm Clip to clip on their belt or pocket. If they become lost or hurt, simply pushing the button will emit a loud 120db alarm. It's also useful at sporting events, as a location device during emergencies, refereeing, or dog training.
- Falling asleep at the wheel. All of us at one time have become drowsy while driving and then suddenly jarred awake by perhaps the horn of an oncoming car. The Nap Zapper, which is worn over the ear, has an electronic position sensor that sounds an alarm when your head nods forward.
- A person is most likely to be attacked at night while walking to or from their car or home. The Key Alert with Flashlight easily attaches to your keys so it's always within reach. Many other personal alarms can be difficult to use in a panic situation.
These are only a few uses of personal alarms. All the personal alarms we carry are small, lightweight and portable, but with loud emitting blasts that can be heard ¼ mile away. Choose between aerosol or battery. Some also come with strobes and flashlights, and can be clipped to your belt, placed in your pocket or purse, worn around the neck, or simply come as a keychain. A few of the alarms will also convert to a portable door or window alarm and can be set for motion activation. This is especially handy if you're traveling.
Below, is a small selection of the alarms we carry. I invite you to look through our category of Personal Alarms at http://www.thecoverteye.com/Personal_Alarms. I think you'll find for the price, these alarms provide the biggest measure of personal security of any other device.
Lipstick Alarm
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Keychain Alarm
With flashlight
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Dual Purpose
Personal Alarm
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Care Go
Smart Alarm
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The UFO Alarm
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June 1st, 2011 at 12:07 am
There is so much information available on the Internet, it can sometimes be overwhelming. When it comes to self-defense this is no exception. A large amount of information is available about various self-defense products, techniques and tips from experts. With all this online self-defense information, there is just no excuse for people not to invest in the product or experience necessary to guard themselves against an assailant.
National law enforcement statistics tell us that more than 1.3 million crimes are committed every year. Don't be a victim to a carjacking, forcible rape, aggravated assault or robbery and don't become a statistic. If you have knowledge of self-defense or carry a self-defense device, you have the additional tools to prevent an attack, or free yourself, should it happen.
A lot of people prefer buying online self-defense products, as they feel that the websites have more in-depth information about the various products. Some sites are experts in self-defense and feature blogs and discussion forums where many people can interact and ask questions, share experiences or receive additional information.
Online self-defense portals provide a variety of non-lethal self defense products, either for the home or to carry with you. The best sites also suggests books and videos, offer free articles and e-mail newsletters which will assist you in learning more and more about this vital subject.
When you are generally uncomfortable going to a local store for your personal safety devices, online self-defense websites are a good answer. These sites will carry all types of personal safety items -- stun guns, TASER™ devices and pepper sprays, for example. Today's technology allows these products to fit into a pocket or purse, and work effectively in stopping an attack.
Crime statistics show that self-defense protection is needed at home as well as away. FBI crime figures show that a burglary takes place in an apartment, condominium or a house once every 15 seconds. In many shocking cases, somebody is at home at the time but did not hear the intruder until it was too late. Numerous home safety products can help.
There is often a much more extensive collection of online self defense products than there are in traditional brick and mortar retail stores. Apart from conventional home security services such as window and door alarms and motion detectors, other methods are available to protect your home. Door braces, fake TVs, Safety Beams and electronic dog alarms are examples. An extensive selection of products for the home or to carry with you make it affordable and sensible for everyone to protect their own personal safety.
Look for a Web store, like THE COVERT EYE, that specialize when you are shopping online for self-defense devices. For example, we carry a full line of Mace, Wildfire, Tornando, Streetwise, and Pepper Shot Pepper Sprays, along with several types of animal repellents, as well as non-leathal self defense weapons from makers like Taser, Stun Master, Z-Force, Streetwise, Runt, and many others. Additionally, we will often be able to advise you which items are legal for your particular state.
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May 31st, 2011 at 11:16 pm
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A Pentagon office that helped develop microwave weapons that cause intense pain, lasers that temporarily blind people, and devices that emit intolerable levels of sound, is now working on a technology that uses electrical pulses to incapacitate people. If the research proves successful, it could lead to a new, more effective type of wireless stun gun.
Called the nanosecond electrical pulse (nsEP) project, the research focuses on using brief electrical pulses to temporarily paralyze an individual by disrupting the nervous system, similar to the way the Taser now works. But where this project differs from
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most other stun guns, according to the Pentagon, is that it could theoretically be built as a wireless system, and have a longer lasting effect
Taser International, the leader in stunning devices, makes a line of incapacitating weapons that typically work with darts attached to wires, or by placing the weapon in direct contact with a person. Though there is a wireless version of a Taser, called the eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, which works from a shotgun, nanosecond electrical pulses offer the possibility of shrinking the size of the non-lethal round further, making the weapon more portable than current stun guns.
Of the leading Taser products on the market today, the Taser Pulse is probably the most compact and popular model available, and the first choice of women. Small enough to carry in a purse, the Taser C2 can stop a threat up to 15 feet away (4.5 meters), allowing you a safe distance to protect yourself and family members from an attacker. If a close quarter defense is warranted, the C2 doubles as a contact stun device to repel someone with a powerful and unexpected backup capability.
Stepping up from the Pulse is the more menacing Taser X2 with the same unprecedented take-down power as their law enforcement-grade counterparts. The Taser X2 delivers an incapacitating pulse that overrides the sensory and motor functions of the nervous system. This powerful Neuro Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) technology can stop even the most aggressive individuals, including those under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Taser ECDs (Electronic Control Devices) use replaceable cartridges containing inert, compressed nitrogen to fire two small probes that are attached to 15 foot insulated conductive wires. Energy is sent over the wires into the probes, which can penetrate up to two inches of clothing. The charge is transmitted between the two probes, jamming sensory and motor functions, and inhibiting muscular control. This NMI effect continues in 5-10 second cycles each time you press the trigger. The X2 and Taser X1 can also be used in direct contact stun mode.
Carrying a Taser or Stun Gun is an excellent way to provide protection for yourself and your family, but it also comes with a certain amount of responsibility. Use it only in a manner consistent with the law, and take care to safeguard your device so it doesn't become lost or stolen.
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May 31st, 2011 at 10:55 pm
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One of the most dangerous places for children is the backyard swimming pool. Do not consider putting in a pool until they are at least six years or older, if possible. Make sure you practice pool safety year-round. Pool and spa submersions and drowning happen quickly, especially when they involve children. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a telephone. Learn the simple steps you need to know to keep your children and family safe in and around pools and spas. One of the most effective means of safety is having constant adult supervision when children are in, or near the pool. It also means installing the first measure of safety in the form of a pool alarm.
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The pool alarm is an electronic monitoring system that automatically sounds an alarm when children or pets fall into your unsupervised pool. It's portable, self-contained, and lightweight. More than 900 children between 1 and 14 years old die each year in drowning accidents. In California, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children between 1 and 4. A pool alarm is your first line of defense, and can be the difference between life and death.
Here are some other tips as set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help safe-guard your children from accidental drowning this summer.
· Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
· Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.
· You must put up a fence to separate your house from the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into
the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play
area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your children's reach.
· Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.
· Do not use air-filled “swimming aids” as a substitute for approved life vests.
· Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
· After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.
· A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool. Even fencing around your pool and using a power safety cover will not prevent all drowning.
Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water.
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May 31st, 2011 at 10:41 pm
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The best way to prevent a child from drowning is to be vigilant. But can you be vigilant 100% of the time? Last year more than 300 children in the U.S. under the age of 5 drowned in backyard swimming pools. Six-hundred more between the ages of 6 and 14 also died due to accidental drowning. There are times when even the best parents take their eyes off their children for a minute or two. At any moment, without any warning, a tragedy can occur. Most pool accidents happen in less than five minutes; about the time it takes to grab a sandwich or a cold bottle of soda. But there are tips and tools that can help reduce water mishaps and promote pool safety. Pool safety alarms are one item that every pool owner should |
have. The added protection they provide could keep your children from becoming another statistic.
The Pool Alarm is an electronic monitoring system that automatically sounds an alarm when children or pets fall into your unsupervised pool. It's portable, self-contained, and lightweight. The unit is simple to operate. Entry into the pool will be detected by the pool alarm's electronic sensor, triggering a loud pulsating alarm at the unit and inside your house from the remote receiver.
Installation of the pool alarm is easy. It sits on the pool deck as in the picture. After you install the alarm, it can't be deactivated. It is always in the alarm ready mode until you put it in sleep mode. If someone who does not know how to put the pool alarm in sleep mode attempts to remove the alarm, it will sound an alarm. The pool alarm comes with a remote receiver which can be mounted in your house up to 200 feet from the main unit. It also comes with a 12 volt power supply, and the unit itself uses one 9-volt battery, which should last approximately one year.
Installing a pool alarm is only one safety measure, though, when it comes to safe-guarding your children around the backyard pool. You need to be aware of the other nationally recognized water safety steps to ensure your children, or any child who enters your pool area, is protected as much as possible. Review these tips below and learn them. Don't let your child become another statistic. Practice pool safety.
Step 1. For starters, never allow children to swim without adult supervision, even if they know how to swim. And always keep children under five within your reach while at the pool.
Step 2. Enclose the pool with a fence that is at least five feet high. Keep the fence clear of chairs or other objects that children can use to climb over the fence. Make sure the gate stays locked and closes automatically.
Step 3. Always keep a life saving ring near the pool. Don't use inflatable swimming aids as a substitute for adult supervision or approved life vests. They give children and parents a false sense of security.
Step 4. When you are at the pool, be sure to keep a cell phone or a home phone line with you. You would never want to have to leave the pool area to use the phone. In the short amount of time that you are gone, a child can get injured or drown.
Step 5. Install pool security devices like infrared motion detectors, underwater wave sensors, and pool alarms that will alert you if someone is in the pool.
Step 6. When you're not using it, keep the pool completely covered. Never partially open the pool cover.
Step 7. Finally, take the time to learn CPR. Utilizing these guidelines will help you keep your pool a fun, safe area.
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May 31st, 2011 at 9:32 pm
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Not long ago I spoke on the phone with a friend of mine, John, who teaches high school in central California. He'd been at the school now for about eight years, but had been teaching English for close to 20. Since he came to his present position I would often hear stories of his frustration in trying to maintain a level of discipline and learning in the classroom, while often being at odds with the administration office. Actually, it was a frustration felt by many teachers in the school. It was a school run amok, or as John put it, one where the students were running the asylum. Without getting into the whole educational debate and the lack of funding for many of our schools in this country, the basic complaint that was heard here was the lack of support given to teachers from the District Office on down. Teachers were not only questioned if they handed out “D's” and “F's”, but if a student was sent to the principal's office for violation of school policy or for disrupting the class, they were sent back to class almost immediately with hardly a reprimand. Over time this only usurped the teacher's authority, and gave the upper hand to the students. Teaching at the school was hard enough. It ranked in the lower third, academically, and the socio-economic background of the student population was lower middle-class, with many parents out of work or on welfare. Theft and drugs were two other growing issues, and then there began a more serious one where many students started becoming confrontational. A student threatening a teacher wasn't unheard of, and when that threat was brought to the school principal it was usually shrugged off, or the teacher was made to feel they had aggravated the situation with the student. It wasn't surprising that teacher turnover was also becoming a growing concern. John said he, too, would have left last year, but with two more years to go before he could retire with his pension he elected to stick it out.
“A lot of the problem stems from the parents,” John said. “Very few show up on parent/teacher nights, and fewer still take a hand in instructing their kids at home or seeing that their homework is done on time. But catch a kid cheating on a test, or smoking a joint in the bathroom, or try suspending a student for stealing, fighting or verbally abusing a teacher, and the next day you have the parents in the administration office threatening the school with lawsuits. The school backs down, the district office backs down, and everything gets swept under the rug. It's too messy and costly, and administrators don't want to jeopardize their jobs, let alone the possibility of losing federal education dollars.”
This year, though, a new high school principal came onboard. He had been a Vice-Principal at a high school in west L.A. This one seemed different, and while he made it known that one of his goals was to raise academic achievement, he was also a no non-sense type of person. One of his first agendas was to meet with the entire teaching staff before the start of the semester and get their feedback on where improvements can be made, and what the problems were they faced in the classroom and in the hallways. He listened for over two hours as incident after incident was recited, and heard the frustration they were feeling. With that, he promised to try and institute some changes, and then a few days later met with the district superintendent about the problems his staff and school were facing. One of the suggestions he proposed was to install hidden cameras in strategic locations throughout the school. He related how they had used them in his old school, and how they were both effective and inexpensive. It would also aid him in enforcing school more forcefully. Letters would be sent out to all parents informing them of the new security procedures in place, and a list of what was expected of each student and of the guidelines and rules that would be in place. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, his suggestion was approved, and since he was simply expanding the few security cameras they had outside the school already, he got the backing of the school board as well.
One of the first things they did was to replace all the wall clocks with new ones, but ones with tiny cameras and built-in DVRs for recording. Video is captured on a small SD card that can be easily removed for later playback on any PC. He also added two spy cameras to the library; a desk lamp on one of the back reading tables, and a book camera that sat on the librarian's reference shelf. Both, recording onto internal DVRs. They could also be set to motion detect mode for after school hours.
Also functioning as surveillance cameras were the exits signs at the end of the hallways. Looking just like the ones they replaced, the pinhole cameras inside of these could record video even in low light conditions. In addition to the cameras, the principal also installed PIR motion sensors in rooms and areas not already covered by video. These would trigger an alarm if anyone were to enter a room they shouldn't be in, or enter after hours.
The principal then met with his staff once again and explained the monitoring systems that had been put in place. He also encouraged them to help in the school's goal to reduce and minimize student's misbehavior and to enforce a code of conduct in the classroom, including how assignments were to be done and turned in on time. He then showed them a pen camera that he took from his shirt pocket and the watch camera he had on his wrist. Working just like the hidden cameras that had been placed around the school, these two everyday items could also record video as well as audio. He suggested that these, and many other similar type objects, might be something they'd want to consider investing in. Inexpensive as well, they could be carried around easily and provide a measure of security when in the classroom or when outside the range of the security cameras. This was not only for the school's and the student's safety, but for that of the teachers as well.
At the beginning of the school year it became a bit amusing to watch many of the students as they walked the halls and went from one class to another. Knowing that the school was taking a stricter stance on behavior and had added new surveillance cameras throughout the building, they seemed puzzled when looking around to find where exactly the new cameras were placed. Expecting the typical surveillance camera mounted on a corner wall, as seen in most office buildings, they failed to see anything out of the ordinary. During the first few weeks the students had a feeling of caution and there was not one incident of misconduct reported. However, after a while a few began to suspect whether the new system actually existed or not. When the first student was called into the principal's office for fighting another student by the lockers, and a second was called in for sneaking a periodical out of the library, they had but few words and even more astonished faces when presented with the video evidence as it played on the principal's laptop. Word quickly spread from there, and while the majority of the student body never caught on to where the cameras actually were, the number of incidents involving thefts, fighting, vandalism, and classroom disruptions were severely reduced.
There was one other incident that did occur later in the semester, and this one set the tone that the school was serious in its new policies. A math teacher was accosted in the parking lot one day by a student of his, whom he had given a failing grade to on a test a day earlier, and then told to leave the classroom when he became verbally abusive. Seeking his retribution outside the eyes of any cameras, he waited for the teacher as he was leaving, and then pushed him against his car. In no uncertain words, he swore and threatened to physically injure him if he ever again failed him on a test or embarrassed him by sending him to the office during class. Shaken, but otherwise ok, the teacher reported the incident to the new principal. Fortunately, he had heeded his administrator's advice earlier in the year and had purchased a pen camera that he used mostly for grading papers. He really hadn't used it for much else. When he saw the student approach him, though, his reflex was to push the clicker on the pen which was in his shirt pocket. By doing so it had recorded the entire confrontation. When a call was made to the parents later that evening informing them of the incident and that their son was being suspended from school, it triggered an outburst from the other end of the line. As expected, the next morning saw both parents at the school demanding to see the principal. How dare he suspend their son. And what kind of teachers were they hiring in this school? According to their son, it was the teacher who had it in for him and purposely failed him on the test. More than likely because their son was Latino. Furthermore, they had it from their son that he only approached his math teacher as he was leaving to ask him a question, and inquire how he might pick up his grade by doing extra credit. By their account, it was the teacher who became physically and verbally abusive. The father again brought up racial bias as being at the root of all this, and vowed that they would be meeting with their lawyer that afternoon to file charges against the school. He was not about to let it rest.
The principal listened patiently as the parents unleashed their anger, and then calmly informed them that the whole incident had been caught and recorded on video. He brought up the clip on his laptop, hit play, and turned the monitor around so they could watch and listen. It lasted less than a minute, but the silence that filled the room was deafening. The father swallowed hard while the mother turned her head to look away. The words came hard, but the father acknowledged that a mistake had been made. Their son hadn't been truthful with them, and this seem to hurt just as much as witnessing their son's grievous actions. With humility, the father apologized for their outburst and then for their son's behavior. He accepted the suspension, and promised the principal that he would come down with his own form of punishment at home. He thought he had raised his son better than that, but apparently he took too much at face value and missed many of the warning signs. He vowed that if his son was allowed back, he would return with a new attitude.
That was the last major incident to have happened at the school, and while there continued to be some rumblings from parents about legalities and privacy issues, there were no violations of the law. What was seen, though, at the end of the school year was a dramatic reduction in theft, vandalism, and misbehavior, and a marked improvement in overall grades and test scores. Admittedly, even many of the students agreed that the cameras had made an improvement and provided a sense of security in the school that they hadn't felt before. Do we need more surveillance measures in our lives, and should all schools adopt this same policy? I don't think so. Hidden cameras do serve a purpose and when used judiciously can be an effective tool to alleviate a growing problem or concern. In this instance, and quite possibly for many other similar schools in our cities across the country, a system of hidden cameras may be the answer to creating a safer learning environment, and allowing our teachers to do more teaching and less policing in the classroom.
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May 31st, 2011 at 8:17 pm
The city of London has one of the highest numbers of video surveillance cameras in use in the world today. With over 10,000 cameras, by some estimates, mounted throughout the metropolitan area, perhaps the largest concentration of surveillance monitoring can be found along Oxford Street, in one of the city's busiest shopping districts. It has been estimated that in just a single day, approximately 500,000 shoppers can be found along its rows of retail stores looking for bargains.
It's not only big stores or corporate offices that need video surveillance, but small retailers, too. It's an unfortunately fact of life that businesses of all sizes are affected by theft. According to National Retail Security Survey figures, released last June, merchandise loss cost retailers in the U.S. $33.5 billion. The majority of that (43%) was due to employee theft, which cost business owners $14.4 billion. And 35 percent ($11.7 billion) was due to shoplifting.
Non-retailers can also benefit from video surveillance. Any business concern that operates warehouses, storage lockers, offices, and even parking lots can protect their interest from continuous monitoring to safe-guard against theft and vandalism. Video surveillance can also help to reduce the risk of liability from workplace accidents.
What should small business owners look for in a video surveillance system? Here are three questions to help you determine the best solution for your company:
1. How many locations do you have?
IP enabled network video surveillance systems enable you to view live video from a multitude of sites across different geographical locations. You can view live camera feeds on your PC or mobile phone, or be alerted on those devices to unusual activities based on the programming you set on the camera's software.
2. Do you need to monitor your business during off-hours, or when you can't be there in person?
You don't have to be tied to your computers in order to view your security cameras. Choose a video surveillance system that allows you to view camera feeds from any device that has an Internet browser. You could keep an eye on your assets from your dining table in a restaurant via your smartphone, or from your laptop when on the road.
3. Do you have other security technologies, such as door sensors, motion sensors, and alarms?
Your video surveillance system should be able to link to a variety of technologies, including other security controls, to give you a comprehensive view of your protected assets. The system should also be able to alert you via e-mail or phone messages to any unusual activities it detects.
Other capabilities that you should consider in a video surveillance system include video monitoring software that comes as part of the package. For example, both our IP-Camera-Pro and IP-Camera Cloud network cameras comes with monitoring system software that includes support for up to 4 cameras, remote view and playback, and set-up for email notification anytime motion is detected by the camera's sensors. Also, choose cameras with pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities so you can view images from any angle. This is a cost-effective alternative to deploying multiple fixed cameras.
Has a video surveillance system helped your business? Tell us how!
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May 31st, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I think the first thing that comes to mind when people hear the term "Security Alarm Systems" is an all-encompassing setup from ADT or Brinks Security. These companies offer fine security service, to be sure, especially if you're wiring for a large corporate or business office. But what if you can't afford the high cost, the installation charges, the monthly fees, and don't want to be tied down with lengthy service contracts? One of our affordable DIY home security alarm systems may be your answer.
Theft from home break-ins is on the rise and it is highly imperative that you take the steps to ensure your home, property and family are protected. One of the easiest and most efficient means of safe-guarding your house is by adding a home security system.
Generally there are two types of home security systems; wired and wireless. A hard-wired system is traditionally the type found in shops, office buildings and in some homes that are monitored by either a security staff or remotely by a security agency, such as ADT or Brinks. Wired systems provide good reliability, are continually connected, and are excellent is supporting a number of CCTV cameras going back to a single monitor. On the other side, they also require several feet of cable and wiring, and if you're looking to run it internally with your existing electrical system, it will add in installation time, cost, and more than likely the services of a certified electrician.
A wireless system, on the other hand, offers an excellent opportunity for the actual DIY'er to install their own alarm system, along with saving money and time. Installation is way more simple and easier for a wireless security system compared to a hard-wired system.
Your first step with a wireless security system is deciding where the control panel will be placed. This will usually be in an easily accessible spot, like near the front door. Then establish where you want to install the sensors. Focus on high traffic areas such as hallways and landings, and make them your first priority. You'll also want to use PIR (passive infrared motion detector) sensors for this and all other areas. Subsequently, start looking at the main parts of your house that could be accessed externally. Always be sure to set up PIR motion detection sensors inside these areas also.
Your exterior doors definitely will need to be safeguarded by way of door contact sensors. There are commonly two types of doorway sensors – delayed, as well as immediate. The delay sensor will enable anyone to go into the home and provide a set amount of time to key in the code to disable the alarm system. An instantaneous type sensor will send the actual system into alarm mode as soon as the threshold contacts are broken.
So, what kind of wireless systems are out there on the market that you can install yourself, won't break the budget, and still provide the safety and security you need to protect your home and property? Let me suggest three systems right here.
The DIY Smart Home Kit Security System ($225.00) is a new and inexpensive way to protect you, your family, and your home. It needs no wiring of any kind, and can easily be installed by anyone. Forget the high bills and frequent visits by the installation man, you've got all you need with this entire package. If a window or door is broken into or disturbed once the system is set, an alarm will sound and the HomeSafe system will dial up to 5 telephone numbers that you program into it. Any kind of movement that the motion detector picks up will be detected and the alarm will sound off as well. If you are planning to relocate, the HomeSafe system can go with you, making it a good long-term investment. A big positive feature about this unit is that it allows you to uninstall and reinstall it anywhere at your leisure. It will save you money in the long run and keep your home safe. The system comes with one base unit with a/c adapter, one window/door sensor, one motion detector, and one remote control to arm and disarm the unit. You can also add up to 14 additional wireless sensors to guard every room in the house.
Another good unit is the Voice Alert Home Protection System with Zone Covrage ($149.95). If you are concerned about intruders, unexpected visitors, theft, mail tampering, or even dangerous areas for your children around the house, look no further. This system notifies you of any intruder with your own voice. Would you like to be alerted when....cars are coming up the driveway...children go inside inside your tool shed...intruders approach the front or backyard...someone enters your garage...visitors are walking to your front door...your parked boat or motorhome has been boarded...or small children are near the pool? If so, the new Wireless Voice Alert Protection and Notification System is the answer you're looking for. The Voice Alert System-6 allows a maximum of six user recorded messages. Each message is specific to one zone. For instance, zone one could be for a driveway alarm -“Car coming up the driveway” while zone two could be for a sensor monitoring the back yard- “Alert! Child by the pool!” Perhaps a third sensor guards a side entrance against intruders. However, when this PIR detects movement, the base unit plays “Intruder on patio” and triggers a floodlight using one of four relays included on the base unit. System-6 can monitor all three zones simultaneously and still have three additional zones available when needed. Users can alter their messages and place the wireless sensors wherever they wish.
One last clever and reliable home system is the Telespy ($79.95). The TeleSpy is an ordinary telephone that doubles as a monitoring system. Simply enter any phone number you want the unit to call and turn the motion sensor switch to on. Should motion be detected the phone will dial the number entered and upon answering you will be able to listen in via the amplified microphone on the unit. The TeleSpy allows you to decide from a safe location if it is a friend or foe before you call the police. The listening period is about 30 seconds, then the TeleSpy disconnects and instantly re-arms to detect again and again. TeleSpy operates from any phone line, requires no installation, and is completely portable. No monitoring fees, No false alarms. The TeleSpy's motion sensor is PIR, or Passive Infrared Technology. The passive infrared sensor detects changes in the room's heat signature due to occupant motion. The range is in excess of 30 feet at which point the width is about 20 feet, creating about a 45 degree wedge beyond the sensor origin. The hidden condenser microphone is strategically placed for maximum efficiency. It is amplified to insure that the slightest of sounds are heard, producing a high quality listening experience. The TeleSpy is an ideal solution for smaller homes and apartments. About 30% of TeleSpys sold go into small businesses, garages or apartments and condos. So, what happens if Telespy should call and you hear a burglar? First, be grateful you're not there but are listening from a remote location. Never attempt to apprehend criminals. Call 911 or your local law enforcement emergency phone number immediately.
These are only three of the home or office security alarm systems we carry. There are many others, including individual door and window alarms, motion detectors, security lights, safety lights, emergency help lights, electrical timers, wireless doorbells, safety beams, peep hole door cameras, wireless security cameras, security stickers and signs, personal alarms, pool alarms, and even barking dog alarms to scare away intruders. We welcome you to come in and browse our wide selection of personal safety and security inventory.
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April 2nd, 2011 at 8:06 pm
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Oscar winner NICOLE KIDMAN is trying to raise awareness of violence against women. The actress, who is the goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) - helped launch the Say No to Violence against Women campaign. She says, "One in three women will encounter violence in some way, shape or form against them in their lifetime. So much of it is shrouded in silence. What we are trying to do is say this is something that needs to be addressed.
A lot of it is taking away the stigma, creating awareness and not making it a silent pandemic. I want to encourage people of all nations to unite behind our call to end violence against women." Despite the advances of our society and the changing view we take of women's rights, abuse continues to be a huge problem in this country, as it does in India, South Africa, Pakistan and Asia.
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In 2009, there were over 270,000 reported cases of rape or sexual assault against women in the U.S. Unlike our stereotype image of these victims, abuse against women happens to the wealthy, educated, and even soccer moms. In the United States, every twelve to eight seconds a woman is beaten by a man; four women each day are reported beaten to death; 1 in 6 women will be sexually assulted in their lifetime; and college-age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assulted than any other demographic. Violence against women knows nothing about socio-economic, educational, racial or religious boundaries. While we have certainly made great strides towards a more equitable, just society for everyone, we still have a long way to go before we can say we have truly overcome our violent behavior.
So, what measures can be taken to reduce these numbers? If we remember our medieval history of the world, there were valiant knights who saved damsels in distress. Remember King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table? In today's world a woman gets molested and harassed domestically as well as in the workplace, and these issues go without any notice. Abuse against women even takes place right in public places. We feel sorry for the poor lady, but we just go on with our lives. Where have all those knights gone?
Over the past few years, as various support groups for battered and abused women have grown, so, too, have self-defense classes for women. Women today are choosing to fight back! In nearly every community you can now find instructional training for women that promotes security, safety, and self confidence from knowing how to defend yourself from the threat of attack. But what if you're a Senior living alone, or weigh all of 98 pounds soaking wet? There are several personal security alarms and non-lethal personal protection devices on the market today that can offer you that same level of safety and security, while providing you the self defense weapon that will turn the table against any attacker. Do not become another statistic! Below, are some of the items available that you can carry with you to turn the odds in your favor.
Personal Alarms – These are small devices that can fit easily on a keychain so they are always at your fingertips. They produce a loud 130 db screeching alarm that immediately draws the attention of any passerby. When some unsavory character approaches you, simply press the button and the alarm sounds. They come in various decibel levels and can prove to be the first line of defense against an attack. The last thing most assailants want is to draw attention to themselves. These handy alarms do just that. They're great when you're alone, convenient to carry when you're out and about, and portable enough to pack in a suitcase.
Pepper Spray – Pepper Spray comes in many shapes and sizes. The smallest are the size of a tube of lipstick and the largest are about the size of a small fire extinguisher. There are models designed for joggers; others designed to attach to the visor of your car; models that attach to your keyring; and sprays that are cleverly concealed in small everyday objects. Designed to temporarily disable your attacker, they can shoot as far as 12 feet, and when shot into the face of the perpetrator will cause pain and swelling in the eyes and throat. Made from a formula of 10% Oleoresin Capsicum with 2 million Scoville Heat Units, a direct shot will leave your attacker temporarily blinded and gasping for air, giving you time to get to safety. Many pepper sprays are also include a dye that leaves its mark on the attacker, giving the police an easy method to identify them. Pepper sprays are also useful on aggressive animals. One shot in the face will turn the most ferocious dog whimpering off in the other direction.
StunGuns – Stun Guns also come in all shapes and sizes. There are standard models designed to intimidate on sight and more subtle models disguised as cell phones. They all come with a safety to prevent accidental discharge and most of the newer models have an alarm that sounds if for some reason you lose control of the device. Stun guns are an aggressive way to stop any attack. They disrupt the flow of electricity in the body leaving the assailant disabled and lying on the ground, while you run to safety. Though the effects are temporary, they will provide you with more than enough time to escape and find help. Because of their design, the disabling effect of the stun gun can't be transferred from one person to another, even if your assailant is touching you. Along with a built in alarm most models also come with a flashlight. Using the flashlight on your way to the car keeps the stun gun in your hand when you need it most.
Tasers – Taser devices are commonly seen on TV or in the news where a police officer has to subdue someone who is not complying with verbal commands. The subject is often seen posing a danger to himself, or others, and has to be incapacitated for the safety of the officers or of others in the vicinity. Taser devices have been shown to be extremely effective in taking down even the most aggressive person. The Advanced Taser brand non-lethal weapon is a conducted energy weapon that utilizes compressed nitrogen to shoot two small probes up to 15 feet. These probes are connected to the weapon by high-voltage insulated wire. When the probes make contact with the target, the weapon transmits powerful electrical pulses along the wires and into the body of the target, through up to two inches of clothing. The new Taser series has an almost 100% effectiveness rating.
No matter your choice, arming yourself against personal attack is a fundamental right in our free society. You have the right to feel safe. You have the right to protect yourself. And you have the responsibility to do the same for your family. Personal safety technology is a great solution to non-lethal defense. Feel Safe Again!
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