Remember the day of silence, when tears filled our land.

We all encountered evil and suffered at its hand.

The light of day went dark as the dust settled in

We lost many people, who were family and friends.

But this nation came together, as we always do

We held high our flag with pride: red, white and blue.

We were community of people, with no religion, race or color.

We came together, a family, to help our sisters and our brothers.

Forget not the day of silence, we suffered as a nation

And how we came together to stand on our foundation!

Because despite our many differences we encounter day to day

We still live in the best place on earth, the good ole USA!!

Limiting access to your building whether during working hours or after hours is of utmost importance to any business.  Inventory, records, even office items can be a prime target for a burglar or a sticky fingered employees.  Some businesses choose to invest in either an access system or a commercial security system as their security solution.  Both of these systems are advantagoues in certain situations.  However, both are very different and owners should look over their goals before making a choice.

Access Systems

Our high speed society demands items and they demand them now. Facilities like warehouses, manufacturing plants and shipping facilities are going to 24 hour facilities to keep the pace. For these businesses that never close, an access system may be a good choice for them. A well planned access system, will be very helpful in running a secure facility.  How?

• Provide user entry without the use of keys – The problem with keys, is they can get lost, stolen or misplaced. And unless you have a patented locking system, any key can be duplicated even keys stamped with “Do Not Duplicate”. Non-professional key cutters in home improvement and hardware stores or mall shops will not ask any questions when they duplicate a key. If a disgruntled employee leaves without returning his keys to the facility, he will still have full access to your building allowing him to come in at his leisure to take inventory.  Even worse, he may come back to harm other employees. With an access system, users are issued key fobs or access cards. No need to re-key the building because the keys weren’t returned. These cards can be activated and deactivated in a matter of minutes.
• Limit access to sensitive areas in the building – Not all employees need access to all areas of your building. Putting some thought into where and why. Some examples include:
  • Server rooms – Because of the high cost of servers and the information they hold, only IT people and upper management should have access to this area.
  • Tool and die room – Sophisticated and expensive tools are required for die-makers.
  • Maintenance room – While it may seem small for an employee to take cleaning supplies home, this type of theft costs business millions each year.
  • Office area – Protect computers office supplies, and employee records can be secured when office personnel is .
  • IT room – High priced servers and equipment should not only be secured from theft but vandalism.

Multiple access levels can be programmed to allow the IT department to access the office area also. Time schedules can also be built to allow manufacturing personnel into the office area to see the HR department, but while the HR department is working.

School has started.

As parents, we want our children to be happy all the time.  But what if they experience or witness bullying at school?  Do they know what to do?  Many adults don’t know exactly how to stop a bully.  Imagine how much more helpless your children feel when confronting a bully? By teaching our children how to take charge of a bullying situation, we can help them defend themselves against bullies and reduce opportunities for bullies.

More bullies than we know

The experts at dosomething.org have compiled some dismaying statistics from reliable sources:

• More than 3.2 million students are bullied every year in schools and outside of school (cyber-bullying)
• Most (67 percent) of students feel their schools do not respond well to bullying
• Nearly all (90 percent) of students from fourth through eighth grade say they have been victims of bullying

While we trust our children’s teachers, perceptions of bullying differ from child to adult, and even between adults. Says veteran Pennsylvania elementary teacher Vivien Kloss, “Sometimes we teachers see something we think might be bullying, but both kids say there was no bullying, or parents defend the bully. It becomes he said-she said, and nothing happens to the bully.”

Roughly 25 percent of teachers say they see nothing wrong with some bullying, and teachers only intervene about four percent of the time. Yet the research says most students do see bullying, have to contend with a bully, and—perhaps worse—do see adults not stepping in to stop a bully.

Fortify Your Child

Being a victim of bullying is terrible and crushes the spirit of a child as few other obstacles to learning can. Yet witnessing a bully in action and feeling helpless to intervene safely can be just as debilitating as being the victim.  You send your child off to school every day hoping she or he will thrive, and feel loved and supported by peers and adults. Teach your children to step up in a safe, assertive way and make the whole school day brighter and better for them. If your child’s school has cameras, remind your child that everything is recorded and that it will not be their word against the bully’s.

Five Fingers

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers parents five tips to help their children stand up to a bully. The tips are easy to teach, and, few in number, are easy for children to remember:

1. Friend—Be a friend to the person being bullied, not necessarily at the moment a bully is at work, but at other times. Bullying victims feel better knowing they are not alone.
2. Speak—Tell a trusted adult—not necessarily a teacher—about the bully. An adult (coach, custodian, lunch lady or family member) can intervene while bullying is going on, prevent it in the first place, or just give the person being bullied a little TLC.
3. Distract—Help the bullying victim to get away from the bully, using any handy excuse (“Mrs. Smith needs to see you,” “We need you for our game right now.”)
4. Model—Set a good example for your friends by not bullying classmates, being part of anti-bullying campaigns, and encouraging others to work against bullying.
5. Deny—By avoiding laughing, shouting or supporting the bully when she or he is terrorizing classmates, you deprive bullies of their audience.

Rehearse

Teaching your children the five fortifying fingers to oppose a bully is not enough. Keep the lines of communication open with your child.  For a captive audience, dinnertime is the best time to get updates on your children’s day.  If your child is a victim or witnesses a bullying situation, walk through the incident and set the scene at home.  If he is the witness, encourage your child to intervene safely, to avoid shifting the bully’s focus from a classmate to them. Make certain they know not to have physical contact with the bully.

Warehouse Safety

Today we introduce our so-called smart burglar.  He cased the warehouse and knows it has a security system.  He decided that popping the rivets off of the back of the metal building would allow him a safe entry point.  He avoided the doors.  He chose a building with no windows or other visible entry points.

With a conventional motion detector system, his plan would have allowed him to get away with the high dollar electronics that were inside.  Why?  Because these systems would only put alarm points on the three doors and maybe a motion detector in the front.  However, because this customer had a Sonitrol system, his warehouse was 100% covered.

The customer’s only loss was the damage to the back of the building.

Sonitrol systems have helped in apprehending over 172,000 criminals.  20% of apprehensions are made BEFORE the burglar enters the building.  For ways to provide your building with 100% protection and a $5000 guarantee, contact us for a free assessment.

Whether your children come home to an empty house after school or they will be spending the summer at home while you work, their safety is always your first concern. Once you have decided that your children are mature and old enough to handle the responsibility that comes with staying home alone, you likely want to do everything in your power to ensure their safety..  Here are some tips to prepare your children for this big responsibility:

1 – Set safety rules about using the kitchen.

You should limit the use of the stove or oven.  Having sandwich fixings or items that can be heated in a microwave should hold a child over until you can come home and make dinner. Make sure your child knows how to operate each appliance as necessary.  ALWAYS invest in a good smoke alarm or heat detector just in case.

2 – Establish rules about friends coming over while parents are gone.

While your child may be perfectly mature and able to stay home safely, even well mannered children can get into trouble when they are together.  Know your child’s friends and their friend’s parents.  Have their phone numbers.  If your child doesn’t answer their phone, call their friend.  If you have any questions about the maturity of your child’s friends, ensure that you make rules accordingly.

3 – Create a list of emergency contacts.

Even if your child has a cell phone, nothing beats a paper list. Your emergency contacts should include 9-1-1 (or another local emergency number), your place of work, your cell phone and the numbers of nearby friends or family members you can trust.

4 – Stock a first-aid kit and ensure your child knows how to use it.

First-aid kits should include band-aids, gauze pads, antibacterial cream and other safety essentials.  The kit should also include other emergency supplies, including flashlights and fresh batteries. Make sure that your child knows where they are located and how to use the items.

5 – Lock up or remove dangerous items.

These include guns, knives, power tools, ammunition, lighters, matches and other items that could compromise your child’s safety. This is especially important if your child has friends who might be coming over. This will prevent the possibility of a safety accident.  Stress the importance of never showing these items to anyone!

6 – Enforce a policy about strangers.

Not only is it never safe for a child to open the door to strangers, but children should also know that they shouldn’t tell people on the phone that their parents are not at home.

7 – Investing in a security system

Security systems are no longer for users when they aren’t at home.  Parents can be instantly notified on their cell phone when child is home and disarms the system.  They can be notified when a door is opened and view cameras to see who is at the door.  With a monitored fire system, parents can have peace of mind that if a fire were to occur, emergency help would be on the way.  These systems are simple to use and can send emergency help with just the push of a button.

Ultimately, you are facing a difficult decision that every parent experiences. Leaving your child home alone can be stressful, but putting a plan of action into place can ensure their safety. Ignoring the risks of leaving a child unsupervised is dangerous, but taking action to minimize these risks is the best thing you can do to foster a sense of independence and safety.

In light of recent events, there have been thousands if not millions of comments via social media on how to keep the multitudes safe from active mass shooters.  Whether you believe in open carry gun laws or in taking measures to strengthen the premises to protect those inside, the next step in planning is making sure law enforcement is notified.

Cell phones

Things are different in society than they were 20 years ago.  Now, everyone has a cell phone.  However, placing a 911 call from a cell phone is handled differently than a land line.  When a 911 call is placed on a land line, most law enforcement dispatchers can pinpoint your exact location.  When a call is placed on a cell phone, the police dispatcher MAY be able to see the tower your phone is using to communicate.  Directions to your exact location will be necessary to get them to you.  In a high stress situation, this may be a challenge. Be prepared when you call, to give the dispatcher a clear and concise address.

Where are you at?

If you do work at a large facility, calling from either a landline or cell phone may still delay law enforcement response time.  Why?  Say you work in a large warehouse.  You call 911 and tell the dispatcher you have a situation at ABC warehouse.  You might even tell the dispatcher the name of the building or a letter that might be on the side of that building.  But just because you know the name of the building doesn’t mean that law enforcement does.  While markings on your building may help, it will still take time to find the correct building. Be prepared to give the dispatchers clear and concise directions, like “the north side of the building” or “the door off of ABC Street”.  This will help law enforcement find you.

No Line Available

The other factor in a high stress situation is access to your phone. Because of costs, land lines are being disconnected and used only when necessary. Many sales people, especially those that travel are only issued a cell phone and don’t even have a land line on their desk. So there are few options to reach a phone in one of these offices. If you work in a manufacturing plant, a school or a retail outlet, you may be required by your employer to keep your phone in a locker or away from your person during work hours. If an emergency like a mass shooter exists, it may be impossible for anyone to call for help immediately. So, getting everyone to safety is, of course, the main concern!

Panic Buttons

A panic button is a small device that, when pushed, immediately notifies a monitoring station to send law enforcement. Panic buttons are usually incorporated into a security system for a minimal cost. They can be mounted in an inconspicuous location such as under a desk. Unfortunately, panic buttons that are placed in or around high traffic areas are pushed often. Whether it is the occasional hamburger placed on it, or the bank papers that were accidentally pushed up into it, false alarms are high where these devices are concerned. Calling “wolf”, to many times, will discount the importance of a panic alarm and possibly cause a slower law enforcement response time. Proper placement is key to not having to bother law enforcement unnecessarily.

There are also wireless panic buttons available that can be carried with in the building.  Wireless devices should be tested regularly with your security provider to ensure they are in proper working order. This can be done by calling the monitoring center to let them know you want to test the device. Because these are life safety devices, changing the batteries at least once a year is also recommended.

Helping your local law enforcement

Having a panic button connected to audio will also help law enforcement. To help you understand, first listen to this real audio at a high school:

Adding audio to a pressed panic buttons allows a monitoring operator to tell law enforcement dispatchers exactly what they hear inside the building. Many camera systems now offer the ability to view them offsite. In a mass shooter situation, this footage would be invaluable to law enforcement. It gives them the opportunity to have a plan instead of entering a building totally blind.

If you are interested on how this cutting edge technology can work for you, click here to contact us.

The home invasion scenario is a perilous proposition. It involves criminals who are willing to forcibly enter a residence and threaten your family’s safety.  They place themselves at higher risk for arrest, injury, or even death than in more anonymous, stealthy crimes.

This being the case, it makes sense to establish if one’s residence or habits advertise “weak spots,” or vulnerabilities that home invaders typically exploit.  By determing methods to prevent anyone gaining forcible entry into your home, you can stop an intruder before he gets in!  Today, we identify precautions that can be taken to minimize your risk for home invasion.

Safety Vulnerabilities

• Lighting – Poor outdoor lighting can effectively obscure the activities of individuals “casing” a property or initiating a break-in. At least one floodlight on a motion sensor that is triggered when people approach the property is a great idea.
• Door chains and bars – Experts advise that these can be easily broken. Don’t depend on them.
• Open windows – A few years ago in Colorado, a serial rapist gained access to several victims who had left their windows open at night due to the summer heat. Need we say more?
• Unlocked doors – It may seem like a no-brainer, but some people in single-family residences still don’t lock the front door when they’re at home, believing they live in a safe neighborhood.
• Overgrown vegetation – This provides similar “cover” for criminals as poor outdoor lighting. Make sure that bushes and trees – particularly near windows and doors – are regularly trimmed.
• General visibility – If neighbors can see what’s going on in your home when they stroll by in the evening, so can criminals. Shades, drapes, and blinds are inexpensive methods of risk mitigation.
• Broadcasting status – Do family members typically yell their goodbyes on their way out the front door, thereby announcing who is and is not home to the entire neighborhood? If this habit has been acquired, now is the time to break it.

Prevention

• Craft a plan for your family or roommates to follow in the event of a home invasion.
• Get a security alarm with sensors on the doors and windows. Activate these while you are home in case a perpetrator attempts entry somewhere other than the front door.
• Consider purchasing a closed circuit video security system. This can provide the means toward identifying perpetrators whether they get in or not.
• Keep the alarm on your vehicle armed, even when it’s in the garage. Keep your car keys easily accessible while sleeping so you can activate the car alarm remotely if a break-in occurs.
• Change the code on your garage door opener and entry codes on your home alarm system periodically.

Precautions

• Never discuss your home security strategies with anyone outside those who live with you.
• Never presume that the party at the door is who they say they are. The identity of salesmen and repairmen can be verified by phone, and your stranded motorist or drunk sorority sister can wait for you to call the police to aid them.
• Never enter your home if, upon arriving, there are any signs of doors, locks, or windows having been tampered with.
• Never let people know when you’re away from your residence; some home invaders break into empty homes, then lay in wait for residents to return.
• Never give information regarding who is at home or who lives with you to a telephone caller whom you don’t know.

These are just some of the key areas that are often neglected when residents consider home security. Incorporating what we’ve covered here can go a long way toward minimizing the risk of your residence being the target of a home invasion.

Summer is a time for vacations and getaways.  But nothing can be more devastating than to come home and find your home ransacked by burglars.  Even if the damage and stolen goods amount to a small monetary amount, the emotional toll can be very expensive.

Burglary is usually a crime of convenience.  Preparing your home in advance to make it look less enticing to burglars can make him/her move on.  Look over these home safety tips to see if you are prepared:

Lock everything

Lock your residence securely. Do not leave a spare key in the flower pot, under a rock or on a nail above the door. This is an invitation to a burglar. Keep garage side doors, sliding doors and all possible entry points securely locked, including second story windows. If you have access through the garage, make sure that door is locked also.

Control hedges and trees

Nice hedges under windows or anywhere along the side of the house provide hiding places for burglars who plan to enter when you leave. The beautiful old shade tree with hanging branches also provides a great hiding place. Low hanging limbs with access to your second story roof a lovely trellis next to the home or condo can be a welcome ladder for burglars.

Good home safety includes keeping gates locked if you have a fenced yard. Don’t make it easy for someone to climb over the fence using a tree or trellis.

Safety lighting

Keep motion sensing lights near driveways, the garage and the front door. Keep back and side yards lighted or use motion sensing lights in these areas as a safety measure.

Safes and lock boxes

A burglar entering your home is looking for quick cash, jewelry and other valuables. The thief may take expensive tools and small items from the garage.  Many burglars are looking for money for drugs or they may be searching your home for prescription drugs.

Keep medicines in locked drawers or cabinets if possible. Lock up valuable jewelry in a safe of safe deposit box at a bank. A home safe should be securely bolted to a floor or wall. The safe can connect to your home alarm system.

Keep the home occupied

Make the home look occupied even if you are on vacation. Interior lights can be adjusted with timer switches. Your alarm system can also be programmed to turn lights on and off.  The radio or TV can be set to a timer switch as an extra safety feature to make the house appear occupied. Let a trusted neighbor know when you are on vacation. Have the post office hold your mail or ask a neighbor to take it in. A neighbor can put out your trash can as well. You may also find a qualified house sitter who will keep your home occupied and take care of your pets.  If you are gone for more than a week, have a teenager or a lawn company mow your lawn.

A casual burglar looking for quick drug money may not continually check a home to see if it is occupied. This person will use visual means to determine if it is safe to break in. Most homes are robbed when no one is home. Burglars do not want to confront people. They want a quick way in and out.

Security System

Having cameras on the outside of the home, can not only provide video footage of criminal activity, but they also let a burglar know that you are serious about your security. While having these cameras available for viewing on your phone is a good idea, missed notifications are possible.  Cell phones can lose signal or require WiFi to see your cameras. If you are on vacation, you may have your phone on silent or leave it in the hotel room. Having a professional security system monitored by a reputable company, will give you the peace of mind to walk away from your phone and enjoy your vacation. No delayed or missed notifications if there is a problem at your home. Your security company will dispatch police immediately if necessary.

Preparing your home is the best way to deter theft.  Before you go anywhere, take a moment to prepare the safety of your property.

Natural disasters are unpredictable and can occur without warning. Does your family have a PRACTICED safety plan? It is very important to be prepared, to ensure the safety of your family.

Make a family safety plan

When preparing a natural disaster safety plan, you want to include your whole family.

• Children – Children need to know what to do if there is a tornado or flood.  Drawing pictures for younger children to show them where to gather is a great way to help them.  Practice tornado drills and flood drills with them. It is a good idea to have an out-of-town contact person that each member can call if they can’t get a hold of you.
• Elderly Roommates – Make sure that they know the family’s gathering spot.  If they have trouble walking, and they spend time at home alone, make sure they have a safe place on the first floor of the home. If they can’t walk down the stairs alone, it’s not a good idea to send them there in an emergency. You may have to reinforce an interior room for their safety. Have extra medicines or medical equipment in the safe room.
• For Pets – find a place you can take them and have crates on hand.  Natural disasters scare animals, and they may run for safety.  Be sure your animals have GPS tracking devices so you can find them.  Also, have extra food in a Ziploc bag or some other waterproof container.

Each family member should have an emergency backpack and good tennis shoes. Always keep a first aid kit available with medical supplies like band aids, gauze, antiseptic, aspirin or ibuprofen and water.  Also keep a flashlight, batteries and a battery operated radio in an easy to find place.

Tornado safety tips – Make sure your family knows the warning signs for tornadoes:

• Hail
• dark and greenish skies
• low-lying clouds that are dark and may be rotating
• Loud sounds similar to a large freight train
• Find out if your community has any public warning signs like sirens or a local radio station.

If a tornado hits when you are inside:

• Stay low.
• Go to an interior room like a closet or hallway on the first floor or in a basement.
• Stay away from windows.

If you are outside:

• Drive to the nearest sturdy building or shelter.
• Avoid bridges and overpasses.
• If you can’t locate a safety shelter, these are your last resort options:
  • Find a noticeable lower than roadway level point, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
  • If it’s flat terrain, stay in your car with your seat belt on.  Put your head lower than the windows and cover yourself with a blanket if possible.

Families who practice good safety advice, are more likely to be safe in a natural disaster.  For the safety of your family, please take some time to prepare and practice.

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