The US State Department has issued a public announcement for travelers heading to Peru, based on a threat by coca growers to strike. Similar strikes in the past have led to problems for foreigners in the area.
Coca growers in Cuzco have called for a “series of actions” from October 18 through about October 20, 2005. Previous calls for strikes by cocaleros in Cuzco have resulted in widespread disruption of ground transportation and closure of the airport. On one recent occasion a group of foreign tourists was involuntarily held captive for several hours by strikers.
(more…)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued these recalls in October:
Target Jumbo Pencils with Sharpeners
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 176,000 jumbo pencils with sharpeners. The sharpener’s razor blade is exposed when the cover is removed. Also, the pencil sharpener hole is large enough to allow a finger to fit inside. This poses a laceration hazard to children and adults.
Stihl Inc. Backpack Blowers
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Stihl Inc. of Virginia Beach, Va. is voluntarily recalling about 6,230 BR 500 and BR 550 Backpack Blowers. The fan wheel on these backpack blowers could break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower housing. This poses a risk of injury to the user or a bystander.
Child Craft Industries, Inc. Cribs
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Child Craft Industries Inc., of New Salisbury, Ind. is voluntarily recalling 155 Child Craft Cribs. A wooden strip added to the end assemblies of the crib to correct a spacing problem could come loose, creating a space in violation of the federal crib standard and posing a risk of entrapment. In addition, the three pin nails used to hold the strip in place pose a laceration hazard if the wooden strip detaches.
Hewlett-Packard Company Notebook Computer Batteries
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hewlett-Packard Company, of Palo Alto, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 135,000 HP and Compaq Notebook Computer Battery Packs. An internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat and melt or char the plastic case, posing a burn and fire hazard.
Polaris Industries Inc. Snowmobiles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 16,640 Polaris Snowmobiles. The fuel tank filler neck on these snowmobiles can crack. A crack in the filler neck area may cause the filler neck to separate from the fuel tank. A crack or filler neck separation may allow fuel or fuel vapors to escape from the fuel tank, posing a fire hazard.
Kelty Speedster Jogging Stroller
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kelty Division of American Recreation Products Inc., of Boulder, Colo. is voluntarily recalling 230 Kelty Speedster Jogging Strollers. Stroller handle-locking clips can unlock during use, causing stroller to collapse.
Design Ideas Ltd. Bean Bag Furniture Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Design Ideas Ltd., of Springfield, Ill. is voluntarily recalling about 1,100 Lily Chair and Lily Ottoman Bean Bag Sets. The chair and ottoman do not have locking zippers or warning labels. CPSC is aware of children who have died from suffocation when they unzipped, inhaled and ingested small pellets in similar bean bag furniture.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. All-Terrain Vehicles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., of Valcourt, Providence of Quebec, Canada is voluntarily recalling about 275 Bombardier Outlander 800 H.O. XT ATVs. The drive pulley inner flange could break resulting in the broken flange fragments becoming a projectile. This situation could cause serious injuries or death to the rider or bystanders.
Wal-Mart Holiday Candle Gift Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. and Dan Dee International Ltd., of Jersey City, N.J. are voluntarily recalling about 48,000 Holiday Time™ Candle Gift Sets. The decorative covering on the candles can ignite, posing a fire and burn hazard.
A.O. Smith Water Heaters
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), A.O. Smith Water Products Co., of Ashland City, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 75-Gallon Propane Gas Water Heaters. The water heaters can accumulate soot on the burners, posing a fire hazard.
Reebok Children’s Fleece Pullover/Pant Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Adjmi Apparel Group, of New York, N.Y. (Adjmi is an authorized licensee of children’s apparel products of Reebok, of Canton, Mass.) is voluntarily recalling about 61,000 Reebok Children’s Fleece Quarter-Zip Pullover/Pant Sets. The zipper slider and pull on the fleece pullovers can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
The Safe Travel Institure announced the Safe Passage Travel Companion(TM). Included is an instructional DVD and resource guide showcasing principles and strategies for safe travel, resource CD with vital information including emergency contact procedures and key embassy phone numbers, a pocket reference with strategic reminders of safe travel practices, a travel security pouch. Also included is a free membership to the online resource “Safe Passage NewsLine”. The Institute also offers hostage survival training through the National Hostage Survival Training Center.
Those interested in the Safe Passage Travel Companion may also be interested in these books:
Safe Air Travel Companion
The Safe Travel Book
Safe Travel Institute Announces ‘Safe Passage’: First DVD Designed to Help Travelers Learn to Reduce Risks in Today’s Volatile World: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
“Today, Americans are more uneasy about traveling than ever before,” said Randy Spivey, director of the Safe Travel Institute. “Currently, there are U.S. State Department Travel Warning Advisories covering 26 countries Americans should avoid… 16 more advisories warn of terrorist activities in the Caribbean, England and Scotland. Added to that is the fact that while Mexico and Brazil are not on either list, they rank high for kidnappings, theft and unsolved crimes. The Safe Travel Institute’s goal is to help consumers and business travelers process this information, learn how to travel safely, and enjoy their travels with a renewed peace of mind. We know that there is danger at some level no matter the destination, but we can help give you the tools to help you be more prepared to handle yourself in business or pleasure travels.”
(more…)
Many of the things that can improve home safety and security are low or even no cost, like remembering to lock the deadbolt you already spent money to install. Are you storing a ladder beside your house? A burglar could use your own ladder to get in a window.
TownOnline.com - Holbrook Sun - Opinion & Letters
Play the security game. Gather members of your family together outside the house. Lock up the house as if no one were home. Have everyone try to get into the house without breaking windows. Make a list of vulnerable spots and repair or secure it. Make it a practice to lock up all ladders and tools, such as crowbars or screwdrivers.
Illinois state police have introduced “CHAD” or “Children Have An Identity” stickers which fit on a child safety seat or under a bicycle seat after a 13-month old boy named Chad was involved in an auto accident with his babysitter. The babysitter was killed in the crash and the boy could not be quickly identified. His injuries were untreated for an hour until a family friend happened to walk by his hospital gurney.
The stickers give basic identification and emergency contact information and can also give important information such as allergies to medications.
The Southern Illinoisan
Illinois State Trooper J. D. Murphy said an identification tool promoted by state police is a CHAD - Children Have An Identity - sticker. The stickers are meant to put on the back of a child safety seat, but also fit underneath a bicycle seat and are appropriate for adults as well.
“Unfortunately, we get a lot of our innovative ideas when something bad happens,” Murphy said.
The CHAD stickers were introduced after a boy named Chad was involved in a vehicle accident with a babysitter and could not be immediately identified.
More information on identification and emergency contact programs at this site.
Firefighters recommend homeowners insurance as the best way to protect your home from lightning strikes, not lightning rods. If rods aren’t properly grounded, they will actually attract lightning strikes and then direct the current into the structure. If you do have a lightning rod, make sure it’s properly installed and properly grounded. If you don’t have one and were thinking about it, think about insurance instead.
Protection Problem: Lightning Rods
…the problem is they never kept the ground cable, the ground connection. A lot of times it rusted off or somebody knocks it off and never replaced it. It can cause more problems.
Hertz is offering Hertz #1 Club and #1 Club Gold members 3 free months subscription to “Clear”, the TSAs Registered Traveler Program which allows expedited security screening for regular pre-screened travelers using biometric identification. The program is currently being operated on a pilot basis at the Orlando airport.
PRESS RELEASE Travel Clear With Hertz
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Registered Traveler Program is supported by the National Business Travel Association. With more than 6 million frequent business travelers potentially eligible for the registered traveler program, Clear provides enrolled members with rapid processing through new airport screening procedures and improves the security screening process at airports by helping the TSA align screeners and resources with potential risks. Clear allows approved travelers to have expedited access through airport security.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) is the first airport in the country to participate in a privately run pilot program of the TSA’s Registered Traveler Program. The program is operated with the approval and cooperation of the TSA and GOAA.
The knee jerk reaction of many child safety advocates to gun accidents involving children is to advocate removing guns from the home. This article in the Missoulian points out that while that may be a great idea in a city where 911 brings the police in minutes, in rural areas it just isn’t feasible. Given the recent events in New Orleans where the police were at best irrelevant and at worst looting themselves, it probably isn’t even good advice in the city. Solution: Teach your kids gun safety and responsible gun use. Then not only will they be responsible and safe today, but when the time comes for them to be responsible for the safety and security of their own family they’ll be prepared. And isn’t preparing kids for the time when they are on their own what good parenting is all about?
Missoulian: Guns should be the least of kids’ worries - Monday, Sept. 12, 2005
One of the legitimate and most compelling reasons to keep a gun is for personal and family protection. An unloaded gun is worse than useless in any situation that calls for firepower. Would-be rapists and murderers won’t always wait for you to retrieve your weapon from the locked safe or rummage through your purse for the key to the trigger lock. Protection is no trivial reason for keeping a loaded gun handy, nor one to approach casually. You must balance the manageable but undeniable risk of gun ownership with any sense of security and actual protection you might provide with it. Used responsibly and skillfully, a gun can be a decided asset; otherwise, it’s a liability.
For many people, especially those with ungoverned or ungovernable children, the balance at least tilts toward secure lockup. But many, many Montana families reside with a high degree of safety, even with loaded, unlocked guns in the house, mainly because the parents properly school their children. Their kids don’t play with the guns for the same reason they don’t play with gasoline and matches.
A British survey found most homeowners believe their homes are safe, but don’t take basic safety precautions like always locking doors and windows when leaving the house. One-in-six British homeowners have no idea how many people have keys to their home. The survey figures may be of interest mostly in Britain, but the basic safety and security measures work anywhere.
Top 10 home security lapses revealed - UK News Headlines - Life Style Extra
1. more than three-quarters (76 per cent) don’t have a burglar alarm or have one but don’t always turn it on before they go out.
2. Six-in-10 (59 per cent) don’t always ask a tradesman for identification.
3. Almost half 48 (per cent) don’t bother leaving a light on when away from home.
4. Over four-in-10 (46 per cent) don’t always check that appliances are switched off every time they leave the house.
5. Just over a third (37 per cent) would not bother to have the locks changed if they lost their keys.
6. 27 per cent leave spare keys outside their house e.g. under a mat.
7. Over a quarter (27 per cent) do not possess a smoke alarm and those that do, don’t check it regularly.
8. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) smoke in their home or allow others to.
9. Nearly one-in-five (18 per cent) say they don’t always lock all their doors and windows when they go out.
10. One-in-six (14 per cent) have no idea how many people have keys to their home.
Preventing Child Abduction: Child Safety Program Teaches Kids How
Every 40 seconds a child becomes missing or abducted, but parents can help their children prevent that from happening.
The Vanished Children’s Alliance reports that high statistic, meaning thousands of children disappear every day throughout the United States. Many of those abductions can be prevented, according to Dwight Trower, who has been teaching children and parents for 10 years.
Now parents can do something about it. “The Child Safety Program” is designed to help parents talk to their kids about dangers and how to avoide them. The program which was previously taught at schools and through community groups is now available to parents on DVD and CD from the company’s website, childsafetyinformation.com.
