keeping your self safe

"Luck favors the prepared, darling." Edna Mode in The Incredibles, originally from Louis Pasteur.

This article is the culmination of speaking to countless people who have been attacked and survived. While most of what is written below may sound like common sense, most people seem to throw common sense out the window as soon as they walk out the door.

First off, have you locked your front door? I mean really locked. do you have a quality dead bolt lock or the cheap piece of crap basic lock that came with the house? Invest in a quality lock and have it installed by a reputable locksmith. Also invest in a good quality security gate and I don't mean the run of the mill, off the shelf budget gate from the local hardware store. You want a gate that is custom built to your door frame and have a "slam-lock" style lock. These locks don't need a key to lock closed in an emergancy.

While we are at the door, is your alarm on? You do have an alarm right? Many alarm companies offer alarm installations at great prices. However talk to some of their other clients in your area to find out what their response time is like? If their response time is worse than the lock pizzaria, keep looking. They are your backup when the paw-paw hits the fan, so don't skimp or choose the first "fly by night" that comes along with a great deal. I am not knocking the security industry ( I worked for years for a large security firm myself), however there are many "mickey-mouse" companies that hire poorly trained security officers give them a torch and handcuffs, put them in a budget car with some stickers on the side and disco lights on the top and call it "armed response" Please do your homework before you sign the contract.

Will you be coming home late? Do you have lights on in the garden? One of the most common mistakes i see people make is putting massive gazzilion watt floodlights facing straight down the driveway. What's wrong with this you may ask? Nothing.........for the guys about to attack you while you are getting out your car, beat you up, drag you and your family into house, steal everything of value and leave ( best case scenario).

The reason? They can see you, clearly lit up by those expensive, amp guzzling "security lights", all the while waiting in the dark garden. Here is a quick experiment. Get hold of you better half/ neighbor/ friend, as strong torch and a dark room. ready? switch off the lights and get your better hlaf/ neighbor/ friend to shine the torch straight into your eyes. Can you see them? In fact, can you see anything behind the light. chances are not. The better route is to put a regular light above your garage and install several low watt lights in and around your garden. This will give the "bad guys" no where to hide.

To be continued..................

Top 10 myths about stun guns

Top Ten Myths About Stun Guns

Author: Jim Wilkinson

1/ You can cause a heart attack if you use a stun gun on someone.
A/ False "The frequency and the shape of the pulses generated by stun guns are designed to incapacitate the target by electrically overwhelming his or her control of the skeletal muscles," according to a leading researcher. "In principle, these pulses are designed to act only on skeletal muscles and to not affect internal organs such as the heart." The evidence that stun guns do not stimulate the heart is based on "...theoretical studies [that] suggest that stun guns cannot deliver the amount of energy required to stimulate the heart or cause ventricular fibrillation."

2/ You will get shocked if you are touching the person that is receiving a jolt from a stun gun.
A/ Not true. The current passing through the attackers body will not transfer back to you.

3/ Stun guns are offensive weapons.
A/ Realistically, not true. Technically and legally, ANYTHING can be construed to be an offensive weapon. A 2’ X 4” piece of lumber if used to crack somebody over the head during an attack can be considered an offensive weapon. Stun guns are marketed and sold as personal protection devices.

4/ Stun guns are lethal.
A/ Not true. Stun guns send voltages ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 volts into an attacker. This is more than enough voltage to go through a jacket or thick clothing. However, only 3 milliamps are used which is why there are no long term harmful effects. Remember the old electrician’s saying, “It’s not the volts that will kill you, it’s the amps”.

5/ Stun guns are illegal.
A/ Not entirely true. In the United States the majority of States and municipalities permit owning a stun gun. There are a few states and jurisdictions where they are considered illegal. Check your local laws before you buy a stun gun.

6/ It is difficult to use a stun gun.
A/ Phooey! So untrue. Stun guns are designed to be safe and easy to use. They do not require a great deal of practice or training. It is wise to make sure you have it readily available at all times in a high risk situation.

7/ Stun guns are big and bulky.
A/ Not so. Maybe 10 years or so ago that might have been true, but not anymore. Stun guns are small, easy to fit in the palm of your hand and some are disguised as cell phones!

8/ Stun guns really can’t stop someone.
A/ Not true. Stun guns will have a serious effect in stopping an attacker. What usually happens if the attacker is not affected is that the stun gun was not activated long enough. A 3 to 5 second jolt from a 1,000,000volt stun gun will stop most any attacker.

9/ Stun guns are hard to buy.
A/ They use to be, but no more. Stun guns are readily available in most gun stores, ammunition stores and on personal protection product websites on the internet.

10/ David Letterman has a stun gun.
A/ We do not know if this is true but any “Top Ten List” HAS to include David Letterman!

About the Author:

Jim Wilkinson is the Vice President of www.YourGreatestProtection.com.