test post
test post
PSA – 0.02
How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
By Jennifer Lownik, Executive Vice President IM-Safe, LLC.
Protect your Social Security Number:
Memorize your personal number and don’t ever carry your Social
Security card in your wallet. Keep it in a safe place at home or safety deposit
box. Do not give out your social security number unless there is a privacy
notice accompanying the request.
Shred All Personal Documents:
Use a diamond or cross-cut shredder to shred anything you discard that may contain personal or financial information. This includes financial records, bank statements, pre-approved credit offers from the mail, and credit card receipts.
Treat Your Mail With Care:
Stolen mail is the easiest way to get personal information. Keep an eye on your
mail and do not let it sit in your mailbox all day. Ask the post office to hold
your mail when going on vacation for more than a few days and pick it up when
you return.
Review Your Credit Report:
Order your credit report at least twice a year and review it carefully. If you see
anything that appears fraudulent or is not familiar to you, immediately put a fraud alert on your reports by calling the credit reporting agency.
Consider Identity Theft Coverage:
An ounce of prevention goes a long way,
especially when you think of the countless hours that you could spend attempting
to recover your stolen identity. These services monitor any changes to your
personal credit files, ensuring that identity thieves steer clear.
Clean Out Credit And Debit Cards:
Cancel all old credit cards that you do not use because open credit is a prime target for identity theft.
Safeguard Your Wallet And Personal Checks:
Even though it is convenient to keep some things in your wallet, only carry what you absolutely need for day-to-day dealings. When you order new checks, do not have your telephone number printed on them.
If you take these tips that help you stay safe from identity thieves, you safeguard your future and financial reputation. Remember, it is always easier to prevent id theft, than to fix the destruction an identity thief will wreak on your credit and finances.
Workplace Violence- How to Avoid Becoming a Victim
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) each year two million Americans are victims of workplace violence. The vast majority are women who suffer the greatest effects from the physical and emotional pain. Government projections suggest less than half all incidents are reported.
While the media tends to report on the most the most spectacular events Human Resource Departments know what “going postal” means and routinely post hot lists of individuals who have been identified as capable of committing violent acts in the workplace. Corporate guidelines typically suggest ways to report potentially violent individuals some even offer a few suggestions on how to go about calming an agitated worker. What is often absent from these guidelines are suggested action steps employees should take if someone is committing acts of destruction, violence or injuring fellow employees.
Here are few suggestions that you may want to consider:
· Know how to recognize the warning signs that proceed violence
· Increase your level of awareness of your environment and of the people working in it
· Know how to evaluate the work environment for escape routes, hiding places and more
· Build a mental “experience library” so you can operate strategically when disaster strikes
· Know in advance what you will do should violence erupt
· Know what simple techniques can save lives including your own
· Know how to disarm an attacker carrying a weapon
· Learn how to turn everyday office items into self defense tools
· Know how to use predator fear to your advantage
· Learn how to deescalate situations how to use distractions
· Learn what not to say
In summary: The media often reports that the incident of violence “erupted out of nowhere and with no warning”. In almost every case simple preventative steps could have detected and eliminated the threat .
It is possible to survive an encounter but to do so you must make a decision not to become the next victim when violence suddenly.
To learn more about our preventing and reacting to workplace violence seminars call IM-SAFE at 860-651-4911 or e-mail us at info@im-safe.com
Women – Don’t Become A Victim!
Written by: Jennifer Lownik, EVP, IM-SAFE Institute℠
Women ask: “What can I do to NOT look like a victim?” Here’s what we heard first hand from some of the predators we interviewed.
- “I always watch people especially in malls or other crowded places. Malls offer many great places to blend in and get lost. Mall management keeps a tight lid on the millions of crimes that occur annually in their parking lots because they don’t want to scare shoppers away”
- “Think about the women in high heels and form fitting skirt – how far and fast do you think they can run. Give them a kid and a few packages and no prior self defense training and it is nearly impossible for them to act quickly and effectively.
- Flashing a lot of wealth is a dead giveaway. “A bunch of flashy ladies will drive up in a in a high end car. I watch where they go and then follow them when they leave. The last one driving home is my target – either right away or I will come back another day”
- “ I watch feet and shoes. A lot of them could not run out of a burning building if they had to. Flip flops, heels and sloppy shoes are all good indicators of easy targets”.
- “They wear the shirts with a gym name or something that says kick boxing etc. When I see that I know I have to strike hard and fast when I can – I catch them off guard. They are so stunned. I do what they don’t expect. It works every time. Guys are no problem either. They never know what hit them and most guys have never been a real street fight
- “I avoid the ones that look and walk real confident – you just know that they would be trouble. There’s always another easier target.”
- “Girls between 15 and 25 don’t pay attention to what’s going on around them “
While any woman can be the target of a street predator, 75% of the time attacks come from someone they know. More often than not, it’s an ex-boy friend, husband, business associate or casual acquaintance.
Written By: Jennifer Lownik , EVP, IM-SAFE Institute℠
Nobody plans on getting into a car accident. In fact, we do whatever we can to avoid such events. So, logically if we all took the necessary steps, to avoid accidents why would any of us need to have auto insurance? After all if we are really careful, isn’t it sort of overkill to pay for unnecessary insurance?
Most reasonable people would agree that the above thought process is ridiculous! That’s my point! Rational, thinking people know it’s necessary to have insurance protection because accidents can and do happen and … they happen when we least expect it. So what does this have to do with self-defense for women? A lot!
We as women go to great lengths to protect our cars, homes, lives and family with comprehensive insurance policies, yet when it comes to our own personal safety women suddenly say … it won’t happen to me! Why do logical women make life and death decisions about their own personal safety training and come to the conclusion … self defense training is unnecessary and optional?
In many cases, for less than $100 and 2 hours of your time, you can learn the steps necessary to protect yourself. Why live in fear? It’s possible for every woman to protect herself and her family using nothing more than her voice, whit, sense of humor and ultimately her body if needed.
So what should you look for when evaluating a self-defense program for women?
- It should be specifically designed for women and teach women how to use all of her female strengths. Many programs such as those found at martial arts studios teach women how to fight like men. (upper body, punches, jabs, yelling, screaming etc…) Looks great sounds great but look for a program that uses a woman’s strengths to level the playing field!
- A program should be easy to remember. Ask any kid ages 3+ what do to if their clothes catch on fire and they will tell you “Stop, Drop and Roll”. They don’t have to stop and think about it. A good women’s self defense program should be the same way. No matter what happens or what position you are in, the method should work without thinking twice.
- An effective women’s self defense protocol should be learned quickly. Women, due to the combined pressures of work and family, often don’t have years to train, thousands of dollars to invest, or want to memorize complicated techniques.
- As women you will want to avoid physical confrontation if at all possible. Look for programs that teach you to use your voice, whit, humor and deception to deescalate the situation before it becomes physical.
- Whistles and many pepper sprays are not very useful, but other ordinary objects can be used quite effectively as force multipliers to defend yourself. Find a program that teaches you how to use common items (water bottle, umbrella, purse, pen, cell phone etc…) to defend yourself.
Learn to be aware. Learn how to use your intuition and above all learn how to conquer fear by putting yourself and your loved ones first
Safety Tips for Senior Women
While the greatest number of assaults are committed against women ages 16 to 35, elderly women make a serious mistake if they believe they are immune from rape and sexual assault . Several of the women reported they followed predictable patterns of behavior that could be easily noted.
Magnets For Bad Guys
Over time we all drift into comfortable behavior patterns. It’s part of human nature to prefer a predictable routine. However, for elderly women who live alone, predictable routines can be a roadmap to danger. Routine habits don’t require a lot of thinking and they become so routine that we fail to notice that we have fallen into a rut which is easily spotted by a criminal.
For seniors, the daily noon exercise class or the regular trip to the bank or a weekly nigh out to the play cards with friends are just a few triggers a predator will look for when seeking out a victim.
Breaking The Cycle
It’s not easy. To be safe look for ways to change your daily and weekly schedules to make it more difficult for any criminal to pattern your daily activity. If you cannot change your schedule easily try to be more creative in your overall comings and goings. Try having someone stop in at “unexpected times” or have someone “new” drive you to an appointment. Leave a different car in your driveway. If you cannot make any changes think about starting a neighborhood watch program and ask neighbors to report suspicious vehicles and persons.
Make it Hard for a Criminal
Steps that help prevent a personal attack:
- Trust your instinct and intuition – if something feels wrong – it probably is
- Carry a cane even if you don’t need one. With a bit of training it can be used as a self defense tool
- Carry a key chain with an ear-piercing alarm
- Your car may have a built in alarm on your key fob but a honking car horn draws more attention
- Keep a defensive spray in hand when going from the car to the front door
- Upon entering your home, keep your alarm or spray in hand and check for intruders
- Bring a cell phone into your bedroom at night so you can call the police if phone lines are cut
- Don’t discuss travel plans in public places like hair salons. You never know who is listening.
- Plant defensive shrubbery like rose bushes outside low access windows
- Lock your bedroom door when sleeping as it will give you more time to react
- Use a timer to turn on lights, or a radio when you are not home. Change the programming monthly.
- The garage door the largest door in a home — close it to keep a criminal guessing. Always remember to lock the side access door to the garage as well.
Personal Safety Tips
You will never know if and when your daily routine is being monitored by someone planning to hurt you. Every thief or a rapist does some planning at some level if he wants to avoid getting caught or hurt. Make it as difficult as possible for someone to track your routine as it creates doubt in the mind of the predator.
If a stranger comes to your door – including someone in uniform – don’t allow entry into the home without confirming an ID. Thieves or attackers often pretend to be police officers, fireman or members of the clergy. The unknown florist delivering flowers may just be looking to gain access to your home . Criminals can be male or female, adults, teens, or older children.
Seniors who have a plan and make changes stand the best chance of preventing an attack or home invasion.
Goodbye Wimpy Pepper Sprays…Here’s One We Endorse.
The most advanced non-lethal, non-electrical personal self defense tool available today. The Kimber Pepper Blaster™ stops threats at a safe distance, rendering conventional pepper spray obsolete. Small, light, and ergonomic, it carries easily in a pocket or purse, or clips to a belt, jacket, waistband, or seatbelt.
So much more than a Pepper Spray. The Pepper Blaster contains two cylinders, each delivering one shot of powerfully concentrated near-pharmaceutical-grade OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) pepper solution. But this is no mere “Pepper Spray.” First, the Pepper Blaster uses an extremely potent solution. And it’s definitely not an aerosol.
Just aim and pull the trigger. To fire, simply push the safety away from the trigger, point at target, and pull the gun-like trigger. The devastatingly effective inflammatory agent is literally shot out of the Pepper Blaster at 90 MPH. The pyrotechnically propelled charge can hit thirteen feet in just one-tenth of a second, moving so fast that misting and cross contamination are virtually eliminated. Unlike pepper sprays, it can be fired into the wind and is effective in the rain.
Safe and instantly effective. Twice. The Pepper Blaster can be safely fired as close as two feet, and up to thirteen feet, from an assailant. Once it has found its mark, the liquid irritant solution immediately goes to work, and can incapacitate an assailant for up to 45 minutes. Because each disposable unit contains two equally potent blasts, you’ve got a back-up. Just pull the trigger a second time to fire again.
5 Quick Tips for Personal Safety
Unfortunately, real life isn’t like the movies and dangerous situations don’t come with ominous background music to warn us that something’s about to happen. And chances are probably pretty good that you won’t be seeking out shady side streets for a midnight stroll anytime soon, either. But the truth is that crimes don’t just happen in places that look or feel dangerous. While some places do have higher crime rates than others, crimes can, and do, happen anytime and anywhere.
The last thing you probably want to worry about is what to do if you’re attacked or robbed. But though it might be scary, the possibility of becoming a victim of a crime is very real. About one out of every 4 people in the United States age 12 or older is a victim of crime each year
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of becoming a statistic and conquer fear. We’ve scoured law enforcement, government and security Web sites to find the best ways to stay out of harm’s way. Read on to learn the top five tips for personal safety.
1. Travel in Groups
One of the best ways to protect yourself from crime or violence is to make sure you’re not alone. Whenever possible, stick with other people. Criminals are more likely to target people who are by themselves than those who are with at least one other person.
2. Be Prepared
Before going somewhere, be prepared by planning your route so you won’t get lost or have to ask a stranger for directions. Note safe places to stop along the way, such as grocery stores, police stations or fire stations.
When walking to your car or house, you can also be prepared by having your keys out and ready. You don’t want to be digging around in your pocket or purse for your keys — thieves often use that brief moment of distraction as their window of opportunity.
If you have a cell phone, make sure to always have it charged, turned on and with you in case of emergency.
Lastly, being prepared means knowing what to do if you are attacked. Learning a few self-defense moves can be very helpful — it will also help you to feel more secure when you’re out and about. In 65 percent of violent crime situations, self-defense measures helped the victim escape or avoid additional injury.
3. Be Discreet
Being discreet means guarding your personal information. This isn’t just true for credit card numbers and bank accounts, it’s also important that you keep information about where you’re going and what you’re doing under wraps. Don’t post status updates online about what you’re doing. If everyone knows you’re vacationing in London, they’ll also know that your house is empty and the new 60-inch flat screen TV you’ve been bragging about is up for the taking.
Being discreet also means not drawing attention to yourself. Walking around with an expensive electronic device or other desired accessories out in the open could make you a target.
4. Be Aware
It might seem like common sense, but one of the best ways to protect yourself is to be aware of your surroundings, even in places you think you know well. Reports indicate that 54 percent of crimes take place within a mile of the victim’s home. Don’t let your guard down in comfortable settings.
Pay attention to people acting unusual or moving in your direction. If anybody around you makes you feel uncomfortable or nervous, this can be a big sign that something isn’t right and it’s time to leave.
It’s difficult to be aware of what’s going on around you if you’re talking or texting on your cell phone or listening to music through earbuds or headphones. You’ll not only be distracted, you’ll be a prime target for theft or violence. Many thieves target people who are preoccupied with a phone or lots of bags, or fumbling for their keys or dealing with small children.
Just as important as staying alert is looking alert. Walk confidently with your head up and constantly look around you. If thieves know you’re paying attention, they might think twice about coming after you.
5. Trust Your Instincts
You might dismiss an uneasy feeling as paranoia, but when it comes to personal safety, a little bit of paranoia can be a good thing. If you feel uncomfortable with your surroundings, don’t hesitate — it’s a good time to leave.
When it comes to protecting yourself from danger, it’s a very good idea to trust your instincts. A great deal of what we learn is stored in our unconscious mind. If you get a feeling about something — such as danger — the unconscious part of your brain might be picking up on something that your conscious mind hasn’t noticed. It might also be making connections to previous experiences or learning. If your instincts are telling you to get out, that’s a warning you should not ignore.
Tapping Into Every Predator’s Fear
Tapping Into Every Predator’s Fear
Did you ever wonder why criminals commit crimes? The answer is quite simple — they think they can get away with it.
It’s not the punishment that concerns a criminal; it is the certainty of getting caught.
Here is an example. I was caught in a confrontation with someone who cut me off in traffic and I made the mistake of honking my horn at then. That was it a short honk. What followed was eye opening. He slammed on his brakes in front of me. He then began swerving violently and yelling out his window. It was apparent that he wanted to punish me for having the audacity to honk at him.
At first – PANIC — Then I controlled my breathing and “got on my inquisitive face” and began to stare at his car. I took a great interest in his vehicle and began writing down information on a pad that had been positioned in plain view on my dash. I was concerned and wrote down the color, the make, the model.
As I craned my neck to catch his license plate, his whole disposition began to change. You could see it in his face. He knew I was getting his plate number. I then picked up my cell phone and he quickly accelerated and drove away.
To this day if I want to get rid of someone harassing me on a highway today, I just take down – or appear to take down — his plate number. You can see a major attitude change going on in just a few seconds. When you pick up your cell phone or appear to by picking up your remote garage door opener the aggressor quickly goes away
An IM-SAFE graduate thanked me for telling her of this particular technique. She was traveling on an interstate highway on business when she noticed a delivery truck matching her speed. If she slowed, it slowed. If she accelerated, it accelerated.
It became obvious that the two males in the truck had plans for her. She remembered what I told her and picked up a pen and paper in her car she made a great show of noticing the markings on the side of the van and slowed to get the license plate. The “brain lights” suddenly went on and it dawned on them that it was time to take the next exit.
On the street, you can instill the fear into a predator by using a loud, attention-getting device like screaming. Screaming is a great personal alarm. It is always with you and it never runs out of batteries. The tip for today — Use fear — it really works against bad guys.
IM-SAFE Personal Safety 