Security Tips & Advice Blog

It’s a typical morning commute: Traffic backed up on the highway. Sip your coffee. Grab a snack from your console. Scan texts. It’s a parking lot anyway, right? What do they mean they can’t find the presentation files?! Text your associates back. Traffic is still not moving. Come on, I’ve got a meeting to make. Glance at GPS. Any alternatives to avoid congestion? Check the radio: nope, just traffic volume. There goes another motorcyclist, zooming down the shoulder. Wish I could do that. Cell phone goes off. Bluetooth isn’t working. Oh well, no cops around, right? Car isn’t really moving anyways. It’ll be quick. Your kids need a ride after school. That means leaving work early. Man, I’ve got to get into the office NOW!

Sound familiar? During National Road Safety Week (May 15 to 21, 2012), the Canada Safety Council is targeting distracted driving. One study commissioned by TheSteelAlliance and the CSC found that 80 per cent of drivers admit to multi-tasking behind the wheel. That could include eating, drinking, fiddling with your radio or GPS, talking on your cell phone or to your passengers, texting or even daydreaming.

Did you know?

• While you’re texting, your eyes are off the road for 4.6 out of six seconds
• Driving while texting makes you 23 times more likely to crash
• Drivers who talk on a cell phone miss about 50 per cent of what's going on around them, visually, and are four times more likely to get into a crash.

These ICBC videos drive home the point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gDVFE5tRBWU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaAhTUn-rOA&feature=player_embedded

So, what are some strategies for preventing distracted driving? The best advice is to stay focused. Pull over if you need to text, program your GPS or use your cell phone. However, if you must use a cell phone, use a hands-free model. Even then,

• Keep the conversations brief.
• Keep a consistently safe speed (research shows drivers on cell phones tend to vary their speed up and down).
• Make sure your device is securely fixed to your vehicle and doesn’t obstruct your view.

If your cell phone rings while you’re on the road:

• Let it go to voicemail. Better yet, turn the ringer off.
• Ask a passenger to pick up the call.
• Pull over before you answer.
• Focus on the road.
• Leave a message on your voicemail letting callers know you'll call them back when safe to do so, as you may be driving.

When we drive distracted, we not only put our life at risk, we endanger vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. No text or phone call is worth a life. As ICBC suggests, “before taking your eyes off the road, have a word with yourself.”

Sources:

Keep Your Eyes on the Road, Canada Safety Council

Distracted Driving, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

RCMP public warning: Shalendra Kumar SHARMA, 43, of Surrey, BC, was released from custody on May 9, 2012, and is now awaiting trial for sexual assault and other violent crimes against women. More information.

First, the good news: Residential break and enters in Vancouver so far this year are down 21 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Then the bad news: That’s still 746 B & Es too many, 27 per cent of them without forced entry.

Commercial B & Es, meanwhile, went up 15 per cent over the same period, for a total of 610. The Vancouver Police are asking for your help to identify this suspect who robbed a pharmacy on Kingsway in March. The VPD are also warning business owners about a rash of B & Es in Little Italy, mostly between midnight and 7 a.m. Thieves are smashing restaurant windows with rocks, targeting liquor and cash.

On the bright side, Hope RCMP used Craigslist to recover two sets of tires stolen from a car dealership.

You can take steps to protect your home and business:

• Don’t leave doors or windows open, even on the second floor
• Don’t leave laptops, cash or other valuables in plain view.
• Leave your register’s cash tray open and empty. Or post a sign, “no cash on premises.”

Finally, invest in a security system. With the wide range of devices available, you can find a security solution that fits your home or business.

Intrusion detectors. From window and door contacts to glass break detectors to motion sensors, intrusion detectors trip your alarm system. Depending on your system, this could result in an audible alarm, e-mail or text notification, a video clip, video tracking or your security monitoring agency interrogating intruders and notifying police.

Video surveillance. Rapidly evolving technology allows you to monitor your home or business in fascinating new ways. You can check on your pets and turn on your lights over the Internet, from across town or around the world. If an intruder breaks into your business or parkade, security cameras can generate an instant video clip and e-mail it to you, or your security monitoring agency.

Intelligent video security cameras can continuously monitor secured areas such as car dealership parking lots or construction sites for specific patterns of movement. These newer video surveillance cameras can distinguish between animals, people and vehicles in all weather and lighting conditions. Your monitoring agency can track intruders with live video feeds and interrogate them using interactive audio.

Monitoring. Any security system, even the most advanced, works best if it is monitored. The ideal response is an immediate one. Radius Security operates a central monitoring station located right in the Lower Mainland. Security professionals can conduct scheduled virtual patrols of your property, as well as respond immediately to an alarm.

More information on

• Video surveillance
• Intrusion detection
• Radius Security's central monitoring station

Public warning: Local police forces have noted a spike in scams targeting seniors, including a lottery scam. Plus, a con artist with a history of defrauding seniors has been released from custody.

On February 1, amid Apple-worthy buzz, Facebook filed its initial public offering to raise $ 5 billion. Some analysts predict that the social networking giant will be valued at $ 75 to $ 100 billion by the time actual shares are available, likely in May. However, unless you can afford to lose a large chunk of your investment, most experts recommend staying away from the buying frenzy.¹

And why is Facebook worth so much? Data. Personal data. Yours. By posting about a wedding, you are inviting ads from caterers. By clicking on apps and liking 1,001 friends, you are creating a wealth of information for others to use.

Take a close look at your profile and posts. Who can see them? Your friends. Do you know all of your “friends” personally? And can you trust *their* friends, or friends of friends? If you tag someone, all his or her friends (or friends of friends, depending on that person’s privacy settings) can see your post or photo. Ditto if you comment on friends’ posts. The original post’s privacy settings determine who can see your comment.

Given that, are you comfortable with that entire social network knowing where you live and work? Where your children go to school, what they look like and what their names are? What your daily routine is? When you’re going away on vacation?

Then there are the apps. Try this: click on your “privacy settings” and scroll down to the apps section. You’ll see a list of apps that have access to your profile and other information. Do you remember giving all those apps permission? By exploring this section, you’ll discover how much information is available to third parties on Facebook. After all, this is how Facebook will make money for its new shareholders. Good time to prune your list.

That’s just legitimate apps. There are plenty of scams too. One of the most recent tricks involves “remove timeline” websites or Facebook pages. There is no way to get rid of the Timeline setting once you’ve switched over. These apps, at best, will just use your information to spam you and your friends.

This scam joins the long-time “Facebook dislike button,” “stalker tracker” and “watch this video” tricks online. Then there are the old-fashioned “Lose XX Pounds in 7 Days,” “Make $$$ from home” and “Win a Free [Expensive Gadget]” ads that the BBB has been warning about for years.

We will cover some of these scams in upcoming blogs. Considering February 7 was Safer Internet Day, it’s an apt time to review safety on social networks. Just remember, Facebook may not make you rich, but it can make you poor…

1. Facebook IPO: Should You Invest in It? Wall Street Journal Marketbeat blog

Is Facebook Overvalued at $ 50 Billion? The Economist

A Sobering Look at Facebook. Financial Post

Author: Susanna Chu

Last week, New Jersey mayor Cory Booker made headlines when he rescued his neighbour from a burning building.  Although an upstairs kitchen was already engulfed in flames, and the detective on his security detail tried to hold him back, Booker went into the fire to bring out a woman trapped on the other side.

The details of this dramatic story highlight some important points about fire safety.

1. What Booker did was, while commendable, extremely dangerous. Even firefighters must consider their own safety before attempting a rescue. Generally speaking, you are under no legal obligation to rescue anyone, but if you do start a rescue, you should do it with reasonable care.¹

2. When Booker entered the kitchen, he choked on the smoke and dropped to the floor to breathe. Smoke inhalation is one of the greatest dangers in a fire. In any fire, the oxygen will be close to the ground. Crawl below the smoke.

3. Another resident had tried to put out the fire with water before the mayor went up. But he discovered water just seemed to make it worse. Kitchen fires often involve grease or electricity. In both cases, spraying water on the flames only spreads them. Here, the fire spread rapidly up the walls and across the ceiling, putting the structure in danger of collapsing.

To put out a small kitchen fire, cover it with a pot lid or pour baking soda on the flames. Better yet, have on hand a fire extinguisher suitable for residential cooking. Class A units work for ordinary combustibles, such as wood, fabric and paper. Class B handles flammable liquids, such as gasoline and oil grease. Class C extinguishers are for live electrical equipment, wiring, appliances etc. Class K extinguishers are for cooking appliances and fires that involve combustible cooking media, oils and fat.

Before you ever need a fire extinguisher, however, make sure you know how to use it (PASS):

• Pull the pin
• Aim the extinguisher
• Squeeze or press the handle
• Sweep the extinguisher nozzle from side to side

Of course, only use the fire extinguisher if you’re confident the fire is small enough to control. If the fire is not easily contained, back away and immediately evacuate the house. Call 9-1-1 from outside.

Whether a fire occurs in a home or commercial building, a properly installed and functioning sprinkler system is the quickest way to stop the flames. A fire can engulf a home within minutes.

For more information on fire protection systems for your home or business, visit Vancouver Fire and Security.

1. There are exceptions to this common-law concept. B.C. has a Good Samaritan Act which protects volunteer first-aiders (not professional first responders) from liability unless they are grossly negligent. Quebec’s Charter of Rights, however, recognizes the right of a person in peril to assistance. This blog does not address the moral or legal responsibilities of a potential rescuer, and should not be construed as legal advice.

Note: This blog discusses general safety and security topics. It is not intended to provide comprehensive advice or guidance. In all matters of personal safety and security, we encourage readers to research topics in depth and consult a security professional about specific concerns.

Spring has sprung! Daffodils and crocuses vie with weeds for real estate. Groupons for auto detailing, power washing and housecleaning arrive daily. And those Christmas socks from Aunt Edith? They really don’t work as coasters anymore.

But where do you start? For de-cluttering, you can try the full purge. Empty out an entire space–be it a closet, cupboard or garage–and then put everything you want to keep back in its rightful place. Stacking your belongings in the driveway will motivate you to finish the job before someone walks off with those valuable LPs and pink flamingoes. Of course, you’ll need plenty of tarp to protect your stuff from the weather.

The daily detox approach, on the other hand, requires short, continual bursts of energy. Set a timer for, say, half an hour, and then sort all items in an area into three bins: keep, give and toss. When the timer goes off, empty your bins. Find a home for all kept items and take gift items to your car for delivery.

When you’re moving boxes and organizing, remember to keep stairs and landings clear of clutter. Carry only loads that you can see over, while keeping one hand free to grasp railings and banisters.

If it’s time to dump that old couch or freezer, get some help with the heavy lifting. Like those WorkSafeBC ads say, keep your back straight and lift from your legs. Wearing shoes will protect your toes.

Then comes the annual scrub-down. Before you start climbing, ripping, mopping and hosing, remind yourself:

1. Don’t rush. Accidents happen when we’re tired or in a hurry. Take a break, eat and rehydrate.
2. Ladders tip. Don’t let your belly button stretch beyond either side of the ladder. Position the ladder one foot out for every four feet up, and ask someone to keep it steady while you work. Never “jump” ladders–they’re not stilts.
3. Beware of wet surfaces. Wear non-skid shoes when stepping on wet ladders or floors. Keep young children away from slippery surfaces. Don’t leave buckets of water lying around. They may spill onto the floor, or even drown toddlers.
4. Power washers can puncture skin. Sometimes fatally. Never aim the nozzle at any person. Better yet, a low-pressure sprayer and quality exterior cleaning product will do less damage to your siding, deck, driveway and other outside surfaces.
5. Wear protective gear--rubber gloves, eye protection, etc., as needed.
6. Handle cleansers properly. Read product labels and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions. Store all cleaning products safely out of the reach of children and never use food containers for chemical products.

Then again, you can always click on that Groupon…