Security World News » Shipali Sharma

Safety Resolution for this Year

Shipali Sharma — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:25:49 +0000

2012 is already here, but how many of us have made meaningful resolution for the New Year? Why not this year, we come out of the usual boring old New Year resolutions which are generally related to mundane things such as eating habits, management of finance and so on. In this article we discuss Resolutions which can turn out to be extremely beneficial for you and your family. This year let us take a Resolution that we will make our surrounding and environment a safer place to live in. And fulfilling this Resolution is not as difficult as it may seem. The Safety Resolution is quite simple and can easily be kept. All you need to do is just make these important things a part of your daily life and believe me, this is very easy. So just give them a try

1) Health is wealth. Always keep your Health the top most on your priority list. Stay away from all kinds of health hazards which can be in the form of bad eating habits or substance abuse such as excessive smoking or drinking. Refrain from sleeping late night.

2) Keep office work for office. Many people get so busy with their projects and targets that they bring their office to their homes. This way they not just excessively stress themselves but also sometimes fall into depression at times. Always remember, work only that much which your body permits. And give your body and mind good amount of sleep and rest.

3) Avoid using cell phones while driving. Many people use cell phones while driving. This can be dangerous as this diverts your attention from driving and may cause serious accidents. A call, no matter how important it is, is not more important than your life. It can always wait till you finish driving.

4) Don’t drive when drunk. This is a very basic safety rule and by now you must be very mush familiar with the hazards associated to it by reading other related articles on this topic on our website. A drunken person can never control car’s steering.

5) Install Smoke detectors and Fire alarm at your home. Fire can occur anytime anywhere. So do not put your house and family at risk.

6) Keep all the emergency services numbers handy. Do not panic in case of any emergency. Be a smart citizen and stay alert all the time.

These points may not be new, but are very important and should be a part of everyone’s New Year Resolution. So let us take this Safety resolution and also pledge not to leave this mid way through the year.

Wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Safe New Year 2012!

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Bioterrorism

Shipali Sharma — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:11:25 +0000

A new threat that looms on us in the twenty first century is that of a new kind of terrorism called bioterrorism. This is a very dangerous kind of terrorism that if unleashed can destroy the very fabric of human life. The mass hysteria that can arise out of a bioterrorism attack can lead to the breakdown of the government and lead to chaos and confusion on a global scale. The scariest thing about this weapon of mass destruction Is the fact there are very few ways to escape from its effects.

Bioterrorism involves the killing of people in public places merely by letting out harmful and possibly deadly viruses or bacteria that can cause diseases and sicknesses. It also involves using chemical substances to cause physical deformities in people and cause injuries and even death. Biological weapons can be used in the most cost effective manner and be used to unleash a sense of distrust among the people while destroying the way of life.

The only way to protect oneself against the forces of biologically guided attacks is to store up on face masks in order to be prepared for such an eventuality. The government does a thorough job to ensure that no such germs or disease causing bacteria are allowed to be possessed by people who have no reason to do so. A complete background check is required to possess such sensitive items that can be fatal to human life. There are stringent checks on international airports to ensure that no such goods are smuggled in the luggage of travelers coming in from other countries.

Bioterrorism is a scary thought that if translated into reality can spell doom for the human race. Terrorists utilize a lot of their funds into coming up with new ways to cause diseases and destroy the peace of mind of the civilians that they intend to target. Specialist doctors and researchers can e recruited for such purposes. The worst thing about bio attacks is that there is absolutely no chance of being forewarned about such events. The thought that scares most people is that before they can realize what’s happening, the effects of the biological weapon will be already showcasing themselves in their bodies.

The negative effects of such substances are not only temporary but may also be permanent in some cases. In such cases, the abnormalities in the body can be passed down from one generation to another and cause deformities and disabilities even in the offspring’s of a person who may be exposed to dangerous chemicals. Fortunately however, terrorists have not yet been able to carry out even a single such attack. This may be possibly due to the fact that highly trained chemists are required to handle dangerous elements and develop such weapons of death. But, with the idea ingrained in the minds of the terrorists, it may not be long before they are able to recruit an able person to commit to this task and carry out a successful bio attack.

Reasons for Terrorism Proliferation

Shipali Sharma — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:09:26 +0000

There has been an incidence of a number of terrorism related attacks in recent years that are still on the rise in an unprecedented manner. The terrorist attacks that occur around the world cause more deaths and injuries than those occurring out of natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. This growing phenomenon thus needs to be tackled in an effective manner to prevent the world from slipping into chaos. To accomplish this, it is very important to attain a thorough understanding of what exactly prompts this type of mass violence against harmless civilians who do not pose a threat to the terrorists in any possible way.

Terrorism is an indirect result of deprivation, humiliation or a sense of injustice. Most people who are recruited by terrorist organizations prey on such people who may have a history of any incident in their lives bordering around these three emotions. If someone is forced to go through any kind of trauma at the hands of the ruling government or the state in general, it becomes very easy to manipulate their mindset and convert them into killing machines of the future. Most terrorist organizations can be traced back to areas where there is no democratic or fair rule and the necessities of life are hard to come by.

Terrorists are fuelled by the desire to avenge a seemingly wrongful act that may have been committed against them. They start viewing the rest of the world as their enemy and anything signifying prosperity and richness is the first to be targeted. This is why the western world finds itself at the receiving end of most terrorism related violence. The western world is viewed as a symbol of progress and development and most Muslim countries where the power and wealth lies in the hands of a select few find themselves lacking in terms of quality of life significantly.

Another emotion that takes over the mind of terrorists and does not allow them to differentiate between right and wrong is religious brainwashing. The religion of Islam and the teachings in the Quran have been manipulated to the whims and fancies of the terrorists and interpreted as asking them to fight a religious war on behalf of their fellow brothers. There is a perceived threat to their religion and this sense of injustice fuels the fervent desire to continue on the path of violence and destruction. Any feelings of empathy are rooted out when one develops a single track mind and merely focuses on achieving religious freedom from seemingly threatening practices of the western civilization. Preservation of their culture is given as one of the main reasons for disliking foreigners and regarding them with a sense of suspicion.

There are multiple reasons that can be found to explain the actions of terrorists and only once they are understood by the authorities can a method be adopted to root out this evil from the world and make the society a civilized place to live in. When traditional ways like fighting violence with violence don’t seem to work that well, tackling this problem by comprehending its nature is the best way to conquer it.

State Terrorism

Shipali Sharma — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:26:31 +0000

Although terrorism has become a part and parcel of our daily lexicon these days, not many of us may be familiar with the less often used term called state terrorism. State terrorism is an elusive concept that is a little hard to define. It differs from general terrorism in a significant manner. State terrorism does not involved forces coming in from outside and threatening the safety and security of the land. On the contrary, it involves a policy of terror that may be practiced by the ruling government in power at that time against the civilians and innocent people.

This concept has been observed in many countries in the past. The most glaring example that has gone down as one of the darkest events to blot the pages of history is undoubtedly the Nazi terrorism practiced by the government rules by Hitler against all civilians who happened to be Jews. This kind of terrorism is the most dangerous of all as people simply lose all their rights to the authorities in power. The rules are made as per the whims and wishes of the government and not in keeping with the welfare of the people in mind. There is absolutely no concept of peace, safety and security within one’s own country.

State terrorism is largely observed in countries that are under the rule of monarchists or dictators. It is a rare and hardly seen phenomenon in states that have a democratic set up of government. The people under the effects of state terrorism live in constant fear for their lives as they possess absolutely no civil liberties or basic human rights. The premise of laws and rights is completely changed and they live at the mercy of their rulers. There is no right to trial and anyone can be convicted without the presentation of any proof. There is a sense of fear, disorder and humiliation among the people. There can also be a rebellion against the government from time to time resulting in frequent civil strife.

Afghanistan witnessed a kind of state terrorism before 1990 at the time when there was Taliban rule in the country. The Taliban was in the habit of imposing extreme and stringent rules upon the people and equally stringent punishments were meted out to those who failed to abide by these laws. All the laws were interpreted from the Quran and simple things like listening to any kind of music or singing was absolutely prohibited. Adultery was seen as a crime that attracted the punishment of being brutally stoned to death under the gaze of the public in a square.

State terrorism leads to stagnation of the economy and does not promote globalization or world peace. It only attempts to control any kind of development and advancement and reduces the chances of a country’s progress in a considerable manner. With growing levels of awareness regarding human rights and the formation of international organizations that promote peace and understanding worldwide, the concept of state terrorism is hardly observed in the present times with there being a few exceptions.

Psychological reasons for murders

Shipali Sharma — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:04:17 +0000

The fact that murderers are able to commit the most gruesome and ghastly acts without showcasing even a slight hint of remorse can take most of us by shock. However, this fact can be explained by trying to assess the psychological make-up of criminal minds. It is said by psychologists that the structure of the way that the brain is made of is quite different in criminals when compared to other people who lead average lives. A little tendency to commit such violent acts may already be present deep down as a camouflaged desire in a criminal’s mind for years with merely an environmental trigger required to bring it into action.

When the psyche of murderers is explored, it is found that the sights of blood and other such details do not seem to faze them. Some of them may even take a certain amount of delight or pleasure in observing such sights or incidents. These people tend to have very disturbed minds that require medical supervision in most cases.

There is also a class of criminals who may be quite normal and equipped with normal reactions when young but may have changed considerably due to certain circumstances and the occurrence of some tragic or traumatic incidents in their life. They may develop this urge to transfer their trauma to others around them when they are grown up if not given proper psychological treatment at the opportune time.

There are certain sadistic criminals who delight in inflicting pain and torture to their victims. They do not only commit murders but also wish to see the suffering of their victims before watching them die. They are possibly the worst kind of murderers as they seem to take a perverse delight in other people’s pain. In majority of the cases where the victim is a woman, they are sure to first rape her brutally and only then go about killing the victim. They lose the humanistic touch and start to see people as mere objects. They compartmentalize their feelings and fail to relate to the grief and suffering of others around them which is a natural response of most humans with a normal and undisturbed frame of mind.

There are still other kind of criminals who may indulge in the act of murder as a means of avenging a wrong that may have been done to them. They can perceive a small wrong as something very big and magnify it out of proportion warranting the victim as deserving a death sentence. They fail to think with a rationalistic viewpoint and suffer from temporary insanity due to a bloated sense of injustice and unfairness or a certain situation. All they may be able to think about in such moments I getting fair and square with a certain person who may have wronged them.

It is important to understand the psychological aspects that govern the mindsets of most criminals so that such triggers can be recognized in the early stages of their inception and terrible crimes can be prevented.

White Collar Crimes

Shipali Sharma — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:45:16 +0000

White collar crime is an increasing phenomenon that has escalated to dangerous proportions with the advent of computers and other such technological advancements that have taken place in the last decade. White collar crime cannot be clubbed with other crimes as it is completely different from any other type. This type usually involves stealth of large amounts of money and all crimes committed in this area are motivated with large profits. There is hardly ever any other emotionally charged reason for committing such crimes. Greed and necessity are the two main factors that prompt a person to indulge in a white collar crime that if further fuelled by the strong sense of materialism that seems to pervade all aspects of our lives today.

A marked difference between the character profiles of white collar criminals and common criminals is the fact that these criminals may be quite high in terms of societal standing. They are hardly ever poor and on the contrary are quite well-read, educated and possess know-how of the technical aspects of computers and banking systems. In a lot of cases, they may also be skilful hackers. Crimes like embezzling money from an organization that you work for, committing bank fraud, forgery, counterfeiting currency, etc. all fall under the category of such crimes.

It is becoming increasingly hard for the police forces to tackle such crimes as they are very difficult to determine due to the large amount of secrecy and cover-ups involved while committing them. The perpetrators are largely intellectually charged people who believe in cleaning up after themselves and leave absolutely no trace of their crimes. Moreover, with the decreasing amount of paper work involved in most bank related transactions these days, it becomes all the more easier to commit white collar crimes absolutely without any kind of proof that might be traced back to them.

White collar crimes, when detected lead to the downfall of major corporations and result in a complete character assassination and fallout of credit standing of the person involved. However, the punishments and fines that are levied on such criminals are not all that much which does not in any way add to the decrease of white collar crimes in any way. The leniency with which such a criminal is treated gives ample encouragement to future criminals to indulge in such crimes as they know beforehand that they may be able to get off easy even if caught. Thus there is no sense of fear among them that may deter them from committing such crimes.

It is very important to keep such crimes in check as money running into millions is stolen and reported missing from banks and personal accounts of credit card holders every year. If the proportion of such crimes is not checked, the time is not far when people refuse to put their money into public corporations or even trust their banks for safeguarding their deposits. Credit card fraud is growing at a quick pace and for these figures to be brought under control, a complete change of the state machinery is required regarding this aspect of crime that is not taken as seriously as other crimes.

Suicide Attacks

Shipali Sharma — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:30:43 +0000

Suicide attacks are a growing trend that is being observed in terrorist attacks today. A suicide attack usually involves tying up a bomb to one’s own body and then walking into an area where the bomb is supposed to blow off killing everyone around along with oneself in the process. It is quite difficult to understand the motivations that go behind a person offering themselves up for a cause in this manner. It is generally believed that humans have a psychological tendency to preserve their own life. So, the concept of a suicide bombing goes completely against this.

There can be multiple reasons that can prompt a person to be a part of a suicide attack. They may or may not however necessarily be religious ones. The reason why a person would choose to waste their life in such a way may have a lot to do with the psyche and the state of mind of the suicide bomber. In most cases, it is observed that the individual may have personally gone through a traumatic event in the past or lost their loved ones due to political reasons of the state’s apathy.

The feeling of revenge dominates in some scenarios and the potential suicide bomber jumps up to the chance to take some sort of a revenge on those who he/she perceives to be the perpetrators. Terrorist outfits are aware of the personal history of such people and especially target them for recruitment purposes. The seed of hatred and revenge is already present in their hearts and these terrorist organizations just fuel their desire and provide the weapons and means to help them convert their wants into actual reality. The potential suicide bombers get a chance to finally do something and get rid of the feeling of helplessness and self-pity that may have consumed their lives till such a moment.

Terrorist groups may also use religion to justify suicide bombings. The suicide bombers have a firm belief in the concept of life after death and believe that their actions will be handsomely repaid in the next life or in heaven. There is a strong belief among the followers of Islamic groups that they will be accorded the grand status of a martyr who died fighting for the protection of his/her religion. They also say that all that they are doing is in the name of God and to protect and keep their religion sacrosanct.

As opposed to the widely held notion that most suicide bombers are guided by religion, there is also an alternate view regarding this act. As there are many groups that are largely secular but still commit suicide bombings, there is a rising belief that this act may just be all a part of the military plans and a necessary step for gaining victory. It is the most feasible and risk free option as explosives are sometimes even sewn inside the body of the potential suicide bomber and escapes detection by security forces in lots of places.

Safety tips for a train journey

Shipali Sharma — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:00:06 +0000

A lot of us may have travelled in a train at some point of our lives. However, there may be very few of us who may have attached much significance to the importance of following a few safety guidelines when on a train. Although trains are believed to be generally a safe means of travel, no one can be quite sure when disaster can strike. It is better to be prepared for such incidents and take preventive action before they have a chance to occur. You should keep the below mentioned safety tips in mind when making a train journey:

You should keep a watch over unclaimed baggage lying on railway platforms. The increasing number of terrorism related activities in the past few years makes it very important to scan your surroundings for signs of an impending blast or hostage situation. You should immediately get in touch with the railway authorities if you observe something suspicious or out of place.
You should stay buckled up in your seat through the entire length of the journey as you never know when the train may be forced to come to a sudden halt. If you are not prepared for such an event, you can hit your head or other sensitive parts of your body as the fast moving train comes to a stop in case of an emergency. It is better to avoid moving about excessively on a train.
If you are travelling with young children, you must try to obtain tickets with them or close to them and never leave them unwatched. Unsupervised kids on a train journey can be a sure shot recipe for disaster. You should forbid them to venture too far from the cabin that you have been assigned.
Children should be instructed to immediately rush back to their seats if the train for some reason, comes to a sudden, unexpected stop at an unscheduled place.
Kids must never be allowed to venture too near to the railway tracks when waiting for the train to arrive. They should not be permitted to play near the platform as even a single miscalculated step can lead to fatalities.
While using public toilets on railway platforms and in trains, you must accompany your children and stand guard outside the doors until your kid is safely out beside you. This is because there may be persons with malicious intents who can do all sorts of things against your children who may not fully understand right from wrong.
Children should be restricted from fumbling too much with doors or windows on the train. They must refrain from leaning out of the open windows of a train as any kind of slight imbalance can cause them to fall over and possibly get crushed under the speeding train.
If you are a woman who is travelling alone on an overnight train, you should carefully size up the people who are in the same compartment as you are in. In case you feel uncomfortable with anyone seated next to you, you should request the authorities or staff to change your seating arrangements.

The above mentioned tips if kept in mind and followed can make a train journey a pleasurable and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. You can have a great experience on the ride itself even before you reach your destination. You can meet interesting people on a train journey are sure to make your trip more interesting and fun. However you should remain wary of over eager strangers trying to befriend you with hidden intentions in mind.

Safety tips for using Elevators

Shipali Sharma — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:58:25 +0000

Elevators have fast replaced the traditional staircases in most areas of our lives and have become an indispensable part of modern living. However, very few of us attach much importance to safety aspects when it comes to using elevators in our daily lives as we assume that they are risk free. There have been numerous elevator related accidents that have been reported in the recent past and the suddenness of their occurrence leaves the victims with no time to react or do anything to prevent further damage or injury as in most cases they are completely unprepared to deal with such occurrences. The below mentioned security guidelines can be kept in mind while making use of elevators in future:

You should never attempt to climb into an elevator whose doors are in the process of closing or snapping shut no matter in how much rush you are in. This can be a recipe for disaster as the sliding doors can just close in on you leading to a very painful experience and in some cases even death. Although most modern elevator doors have built-in motion sensors that do not close if there Is an object in their path, there can be malfunctions that prevent this. So, it is best to steer clear of closing doors.
Before heading into an elevator, make sure that your phones battery is completely charged and it is in working condition so that you have some means of communicating with the outside world in case something goes wrong and the elevator gets stuck. There have been reports in the recent past of cases where the lifts just got stuck due to technical errors and refused to open with help arriving unduly late due to the authorities’ ignorance.
Before entering an elevator, take a quick look around and scan the people who are getting in with you. You should trust your intuition and never enter an elevator if you feel uneasy with the people entering with you especially if you are a woman as anything can happen in the enclosed area that is far from the eyes of the public. Using the stairs is a better option in such cases.
If the elevator malfunctions and the lift doors open half way when the elevator has not come to a full halt, you must never attempt to jump onto the floor below from the lift. This is because there is a wide open area called the shaft where you can easily fall to your death as you attempt to jump out of the elevator. It is best to wait for help to arrive than to take such risks.
You should never mess around with the buttons affixed onto the elevators and should only press the ones that are required. Too much messing around can lead to malfunctions and may even cause the elevator to fail. There are emergency buttons that can be pressed in case of any mishap. You must be aware of their location when you get onto the elevator.

Travelling in elevators is an everyday activity that not many people pay much attention to. The above mentioned safety tips can ensure that you always steer clear or danger or harm when suing elevators. They are sure to keep you as well as others around you safe.

Safety tips for dealing with a tsunami

Shipali Sharma — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:24:17 +0000

A Tsunami is a natural disaster that has occurred frighteningly frequently in various parts of the world in the preceding decade. This makes for a need for everyone living in or near coastal areas to be completely aware of what exactly a tsunami is and the kind of damage it can cause to lives and property. A tsunami is a massive wave of ocean water that rushes towards the coast at a mind boggling pace and with a huge height due to an earthquake on the sea bed. Such a wave can be extremely powerful and reduce everything in its path to rubble. It is thus vital to be aware of the safety tips and precautions that can be followed to remain safe and secure during a tsunami and increase one’s chances of surviving such an ordeal.

The first step is to make an assessment of the kind of risk and danger you are in. You should try to gain knowledge about whether the town or city you live in is located in a high risk zone or a relatively danger free zone.
If your town falls in a high risk zone that is vulnerable to tsunamis, you should always try to remain updated on the weather reports in the region. When an earthquake occurs on the floor of the sea, there is usually a time gap before the wave actually hits the coast. This time must be well utilized to escape or evacuate to higher ground or safer areas. Government warnings must be adhered to and taken seriously.
An action plan must be in place that all your family members must be aware of in case you find yourself in the midst of a tsunami. There should be earmarked safety shelters that everyone must proceed to when such an event happens. In case there is no such plan in place, there can be utter chaos and confusion with no one really sure what to do next.
In case you are on a beach and observe the sea completely receding backwards in a most unnatural way, you should rush away from the coast line and try to go as far away from the area as possible. The waters receding significantly is a sure shot sign of an oncoming tsunami. If a smaller wave has already hit the shoreline and the waters have completely receded after that, a tsunami is definitely on the way. The water is just gathering enough potential energy to hit the shore hard.
If you are visiting a coastal region for a vacation or holiday in a high risk area, you must choose a hotel that has safety measures and evacuation plans in place to deal with a tsunami. The building where the hotel has been built must be according to safety guidelines with enough exits and safety shelters in place. You must also check whether the staff is well trained to handle such emergencies.
If you are on a ferry or a ship out into the sea and have no time to rush away from the coast line on the land when you hear a warning about a possible tsunami, it is best to rush out into the sea as far from the coastline as possible as the water will rush onto the land and this will leave you safe and secure in the relatively calmer waters of the sea.

The points that have been compiled above can help keep you safe and sound and prevent fatalities during a tsunami. The best thing to keep in mind is not to panic and to instead maintain a sense of calm and wits about you to deal with such a situation.

Safety and Security tips for Driving on Mountain Roads

Shipali Sharma — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:56:27 +0000

There are a lot of us who enjoy a short vacation in the mountains and there is no better way to do this than to drive your way to a scenic destination. The panoramic views on the way are sure to leave you spell bound and make your trip even more pleasant. However, not everyone is accomplished enough to attempt a long drive on the mountain roads and only experienced drivers should take control of a vehicle on such arduous roads. There are a few security tips that can be kept in mind when driving in mountainous regions:

The first thing to remember is to follow all local traffic rules and safety signs specifying speed limits. These limits have been fixed keeping in mind the surroundings and the driving conditions and it will be to your advantage to adhere to them.
You should take care to leave enough distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you so that you have time to take precautionary action in case the vehicle preceding yours suddenly applies breaks or suffers from an unfortunate mishap.
You should keep to your side of the road as there can be certain bends in the road that do not allow you to see oncoming traffic. Driving in the wrong loan makes you more susceptible to head-on collisions.
You need to fully concentrate on driving and not get distracted by other things as making even one small mistake is enough to endanger your life and the lives of those travelling with you. Even a single moment’s distraction or loss of attention can make you miss a turn and send your vehicle tumbling downhill.
You should keep yourself up to date regarding the weather conditions before proceeding on a car journey on the mountains. If rainfall or snow has been predicted, it is best to put off your journey for a later date when the weather has cleared up. It is precarious to drive on snowy terrain and the maximum numbers of disasters occur in such weather as the road becomes wet and slippery.
Before undertaking a mountain journey, you should get your vehicle thoroughly checked out by mechanics and professionals to ensure that all parts are functioning smoothly. Any sudden technical problems during the journey can put you highly at risk.
While making the downhill journey, most people share the belief that it is best to use the brakes as generously as possible. This however is the completely wrong notion and can lead to a failure of the brakes of your car leaving your car out of control. The best way to proceed downhill is to apply the brakes after short intervals of time and to maintain a stable, slow speed.
If you are driving in the mountains at night, make sure that you switch on the headlights of your car and honk at all the turns to alert any oncoming vehicle of your presence. It is best to put off your driving to the day time to avoid dangerous situations.

The above mentioned tips on mountain driving are quite simple and easy to follow. If they are put to practice, it will not only enable you to become a better and more focused driver but will also keep you safe and secure.

Security Tips for Kids in Swimming Pools

Shipali Sharma — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:08:52 +0000

Childhood is the best age to teach your kids swimming as they can absorb and learn much faster at this stage of their lives. Young children also love to spend time frolicking in the waters and beating the heat of a hot summer’s day. If you are a habitual visitor to a local beach, a swimming pool or a river, you should keep the following safety tips in mind to ensure that your children remain safe in the water:

Before you allow your children to head out for a swim in a water body, make sure that it is safe and clean for swimming. Any area that is marked unsafe for swimming should be completely avoided as it can contain toxic and dangerous contaminants that may harm your health.
When at a swimming pool, your kids should never be left unsupervised. There must always be a trained instructor present to supervise their activities in the pool. The best thing is for you to sit at the wayside of the pool and observe your children especially if they are quite young and incapable of staying safe on their own.
You must never allow your child to dive into the water especially if it is shallow. This is very dangerous and your child can hit his/her head on the floor of the pool and suffer from serious injuries as a result. If at all you permit your child to dive, he/she must only do so feet first and not head first and in water that is considerably deep enough so as not to be injurious to him/her.
If there is a thunder storm or rain coming, you should immediately abandon the swimming pool and head out. This is because if the lightning hits an open pool, the water can act as a good conductor of electric charges and lead to a massive shock to those in the pool in such circumstances.
There are many viruses and bacteria that can be caught or picked up in and around the pool. Moisture is the perfect breeding ground for germs which make it all the more necessary to take proper precautions when it comes to hygiene. You should insist that your children take a proper shower before and after using the swimming pool. They must not visit a public pool when suffering from a cold or any other infection.
If your children are just learning how to swim, it is better to be safe than sorry and equip them with floaters to keep them above water. It is not that uncommon for children to drown even in a public swimming pool and only one wrong step can lead to such a mishap.
In case there is a slide at your local swimming pool, children should never be allowed to perform any kind of stunts that may endanger their lives or put them at risk of getting hurt. They should only use such slides in the way that has been prescribed and should not attempt to experiment in any way.

The above mentioned security tips can help your kids remain safe when learning how to swim. Swimming can then be an enjoyable activity instead of causing you anxiety and stress about your kids’ safety. These guidelines can be instructed to your kids so that they learn how to be responsible when in the water.

How to stay safe in the Amusement Park

Shipali Sharma — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:33:15 +0000

Amusement parks can be quite fun to visit and form an important and inherent part of the growing up years. Families that go for trips to amusement parks can make it an occasion to remember bringing back memories that can be cherished forever as these places offer a variety of entertainment options for the young and old alike. The rides appeal to the thrill-seeking tendencies in our hearts and make for a pleasurable experience. However, most of us ignore some crucial aspects related to safety when embarking on such a visit. Below are a few pointers to keep in mind if you have such a trip lined up with your family in the near feature to make sure that your trip does not turn into a scary experience:

Young children visiting with you may want to wander off alone when they see something that appeals to them. You should ensure that this does not happen and there is no situation when any child is left entirely alone in the amusement park no matter how safe the place may seem.
You should give clear instructions to your children to remain with the group and to take your permission before they go on a ride as it may be dangerous for them.
As most part of the amusement park is built in the open, your skin can be exposed to the harsh rays of the sun. So, it is better to wear light, cotton fabrics that cover your skin. You should also carry a few essential items like a water bottle and a strong sunscreen that you can re apply from time to time to safe yourself from heat stroke.
You should never be reckless and try to secure yourself a seat on a ride that is not appropriate for you. The rules and regulations regarding who can take a particular ride have been formulated by the park authorities after careful deliberation and exist for your safety. The seating on some rides may have been built in such a way so as to be completely ineffective on people with short height. So, cheating your way onto such a ride can lead to disastrous consequences and even threaten your life.
If you are an adult with certain heart related problems, it is advisable not to take rides that consist of jerky and sudden movements or plunges as you can even have a fatal heart attack on such a ride with no way to obtain medical help.
You should keep a close watch on the people that are running the rides in case the rides are manually operated. If you find that any such worker is not doing his/her job properly and is inefficient in any way, you must immediately complain to the concerned authorities to correct such behavior.
Before going on a ride, you must read all the safety instructions related to it and follow them to the hilt. You should also instruct others with you to do the same and ask them to keep their body parts inside the ride and not to fling them out.

Keeping in mind the list of guidelines compiled above can play an important role in keeping you safe and secure. Amusement parks can be a fun way to spend your vacation or a day off as long as safety instructions are kept in mind and not flouted mindlessly.

Safety tips while using e-mail

Shipali Sharma — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:50:09 +0000

With the widespread use of the internet, e-mail has become an important part of our lexicon. We are now using this useful tool in our daily interactions on a frequent basis and many tasks cannot be completed without it. However, opening certain kinds of e-mails can be highly dangerous and bring your systems crashing down with very little chances or recovering lost data or information. However, there are certain tips that you can keep in mind to ensure that you remain safe while using e-mail.

You should re-check the privacy setting in your account as soon as you sign up for an account on any website. You should create specific settings so that you receive e mail only from people that you know and not from strangers prowling the net.
You should remember that your bank or any other such authority whose services you may be availing will never send you an e mail that asks you to provide your password or any other such confidential information. So, it is best to call up your bank and check in with them regarding any such e mail that you may have received as it is likely to be a phishing related scam. Once you reveal such information, unscrupulous elements can take over your identity and commit crimes in your name with you being held accountable for activities that are performed under your name.
You should never open e mail that has been classified as junk through your e mail controls. All e mails coming into your inbox are thoroughly checked by the website and when they are found to be free of offensive material, they can be seen in your inbox. Otherwise they go to the junk folder as they may have been found to contain viruses that may threaten the health of your system. It is important to protect yourself well against this virus threat.
You should never remain logged in from a public computer or a system at your friend’s place. The person who may sit on the same system after you leave can have access to all your information if you forget to log out or close a certain window when you leave. So, you should make sure that you have closed your account before you head out.
If you receive calls asking for your e mail id’s password, you should never provide it until and unless you have thoroughly verified the credentials of the caller. You can do so by calling back the number from which you may have received the call and making some enquiries.
You should never click on attachments or download files that appear to be fishy. It is better to be safe than sorry in this case and make all the files that you receive undergo a through scan to rule out the presence of malware or spyware.
If you receive links to webpages and click on them and something unexpected pops up, you may be visiting a cloned webpage that has been specially designed to gather information about you. One must be weary of such sites as they can be used to extract useful information that may be quite harmful for you.

The tips formulated above can help protect your system and uphold the safety and security of your computer. Most viruses that infect computers are found to have infiltrated the system as a result of the carelessness and callousness of the users involved who allow their entry by clicking on certain links that they should not have clicked on.

Fireplace Safety

Shipali Sharma — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:46:52 +0000

The traditional fireplace forms a vital part of a lot of households around the world even today although some modern versions of it may have developed in the form of electric or gas fires. However, a conventional wood fire still has a charm of its own and can be observed in many homes in different areas. They provide a cozy atmosphere while also giving warmth to the inhabitants of the household. But, a certain amount of risk cannot be ruled out in case you have a fireplace area at your home. Certain safety measures need to be kept in mind to ensure that your house or nearby objects do not catch fire or come to any harm because of stray flames or any other such discrepancy. Some of them have been enumerated below:

A fire in the fireplace must only be started as per pre-specified instructions. If you are not aware of the basics of lighting such a fire, you should not attempt to do so through a hit and trial method. It is better to consult someone who is knowledgeable on the subject to assist you to do the same.
These days, lots of modern homes are equipping their fireplace areas with glass doors to prevent any sparks from falling onto the surrounding areas. These glass doors not only keep you safe but also enhance the décor and look of your room. They are available in many shapes, designs and colors and are an item worth investing in.
You can also fire-screen that keeps the fire in a certain periphery and keeps the flames in control. The models that come in hard metal are highly resistant and durable and will serve you well in maintaining a safe fire.
You should never use combustible fuels like cooking oil or coal to initiate or start a fire as the effects can be devastating in some cases when there is a sudden, unexpected rise in flames due to a draft. It is better to play it by the rules and start the fire using a piece of paper and throwing it onto the wood meant for this purpose.
The wood that is used should be strictly store bought and not any kind of wood can be inserted into the fireplace and set on fire as the consequences can be fatal in some cases. You may also find it difficult to contain the fire if the kind of logs that you are using is not meant for the fireplace in your house.
It is best to keep young children away from a fireplace and make this area inaccessible for them. This is because young children can be quite inquisitive and unmindfully try to touch the fire with their bare hands causing them to burn.
You should never leave your house when the fire is still burning in the fireplace. Adequate measures must be taken to ensure that not even a single flame or spark can be observed before you head out of the house no matter what the emergency.

If the above mentioned tips are followed and remembered, the fireplace can become a source of comfort and warmth and the possibility of any accidents occurring can be completely ruled out. It takes only a single stray spark to set a piece of furniture and subsequently even the whole house or building on fire.

Home Security Store has the latest high-tech, well-designed, and sophisticated fire alarms to help protect your home.