Sometimes it is good to check quickly to see what that person who just passed you with the odd look on his face -- or anybody else behind you -- is doing.
You could make a half turn or twist your head around of course, but that is awkward and very obvious (not necessarily bad in some cases) and there are other ways you might want to accomplish this in some cases.
One way is have a small round mirror that would fit into the palm of your hand that you can easily pull out and watch that person or the scene behind you, just as you do when driving. Many loss prevention people working in stores use such mirrors to watch suspected shoplifters at the end of a store isle. They simply hold the mirror quickly up to their eye while their back is turned toward the suspect to watch his or her activities. It work excellently.
Or if you have the money and want or need to work more professionally, you can buy a special pair of sunglasses used by professional surveillance operatives.
These have a special lens for covert surveillance of the scene behind as you walk along or pass somebody. Like everything else these come in a variety of prices and quality ranges. The best have the rear-vision strip embedded right in the lenses.
You can check the yellow pages for dealers in this type of thing or check out Eye Spy magazine for more information. They print quite few advertisements for this type of thing.
Don't buy anything compulsively, however, check such devices out carefully first -- and remember that old hand-held mirror might be all you need.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Have You Installed Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm Yet?
You could be subjecting yourself and family to a silent killer if you have not installed your working carbon monoxide alarm yet. According to the CBC television this morning an Ottawa family just missed such a death this morning.
Some family members were found unconscious after one of their children started throwing up and the Ottawa, Ontario firemen found a reading of 300 ppm in the house. A normal reading is 10.
You don't hear about such things in the news that often but according to officials carbon monoxide kills over 500 persons every year in America and accounts for another 15,000 emergency hospital visits. I don't have the current Canadian statistics for this right now but the rates must be quite high.
What you have to remember with carbon monoxide poisoning is that even if you do survive the initial poisoning and recover through some type of oxygen therapy -- involving breathing pure oxygen through a mask or being treated in a special hyparbaric chamber, you can still suffer debilitating after effects. So it is not something you want to take for granted.
What you have to remember with carbon monoxide poisoning is that even if you do survive the initial poisoning and recover through some type of oxygen therapy -- involving breathing pure oxygen through a mask or being treated in a special hyparbaric chamber, you can still suffer debilitating after effects. So it is not something you want to take for granted.
For more information on this case involving the Ottawa family click on www.cbc.ca
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Detect Possible Stalker or Trackers
If you are concerned about the possibility of been tracked by either stalkers or professional surveillance practitioners of some ilk you can counter their efforts in a number of ways.
When you are driving for instance (of course this works just as well in many cases when you're on foot) keep an eye open for that vehicle or person who keeps a certain distance behind your for a long period of time.
Then at a convenient and safe spot suddenly turn on your flashers and pull to curb to let that persons pass. Watch carefully to see if the person is paying undue attention to you when he or she passes or pulls off to the side of the road too further down to the road.
As they pass also try to have your cell phone camera ready so you can take a quick shot of the rear licence plate in case you need to pass the plate number on to the police later.
You can't use any such hand-held device legally in many areas of North America now when driving, but your cell phone should still be kept on the seat beside you or in an easily accessible pouch in case you need it in instances like this other other emergencies.
When you are driving for instance (of course this works just as well in many cases when you're on foot) keep an eye open for that vehicle or person who keeps a certain distance behind your for a long period of time.
Then at a convenient and safe spot suddenly turn on your flashers and pull to curb to let that persons pass. Watch carefully to see if the person is paying undue attention to you when he or she passes or pulls off to the side of the road too further down to the road.
As they pass also try to have your cell phone camera ready so you can take a quick shot of the rear licence plate in case you need to pass the plate number on to the police later.
You can't use any such hand-held device legally in many areas of North America now when driving, but your cell phone should still be kept on the seat beside you or in an easily accessible pouch in case you need it in instances like this other other emergencies.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Don't Open The Window Much.
If you are parked and sitting in your vehicle alone (especially women) and somebody approaches your vehicle to speak with you do two things before they're near you.
The first is to make sure that all your doors are locked. Then direct them to the passenger side of the car where you can keep the person some distance from your face. Then make sure the window is opened just enough to speak to them -- not wide open.
Remember you are a sitting duck in your car. It is easy for somebody to try and stab you or grab you by the throat and you're in a very awkward position to respond quickly to any attack. So open the windows just a little. Also. start and keep your car idling when speaking to the stranger -- with the car in gear and your foot on the brake in case you have to leave quickly.
.
The first is to make sure that all your doors are locked. Then direct them to the passenger side of the car where you can keep the person some distance from your face. Then make sure the window is opened just enough to speak to them -- not wide open.
Remember you are a sitting duck in your car. It is easy for somebody to try and stab you or grab you by the throat and you're in a very awkward position to respond quickly to any attack. So open the windows just a little. Also. start and keep your car idling when speaking to the stranger -- with the car in gear and your foot on the brake in case you have to leave quickly.
.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
What Dangers Surround You?
The massive explosion and fire storm which destroyed a Prince George B.C. mills two days ago is a tragic warning of the need to be constantly monitoring our surroundings -- whether you are working in such a complex -- your own home.
The latest word about the possible causes this fire which killed two workers so far is that it could have been caused by too much dust -- and bad housekeeping in the mill.
What the complete investigation will reveal remains to be seen but the mill fire, the second in B.C. in three months, is a reminder that we are constantly surrounded by dangerous environments.
Two other examples of this recently are two families we know were the victims of gas leaks in their homes. In one case it appears that the gas leak caused or contributed to the death of one family member the crippling of another. And in yet another instance family members became very ill before the gas leak was detected.
So -- without becoming paranoid -- it is a good idea to be vigilant for possible assailants around you in the form of both other persons as well thins like natural gas, carbon dioxide, and radon leaks.
More information on this topic can be found either on the Google News Web site, of The Toronto Star, April 25, 2012 which has an excellent picture of the widespread fire destruction. Click on www.torontostarnews.com
See: "Protecting Yourself From Home Invasions" below
The latest word about the possible causes this fire which killed two workers so far is that it could have been caused by too much dust -- and bad housekeeping in the mill.
What the complete investigation will reveal remains to be seen but the mill fire, the second in B.C. in three months, is a reminder that we are constantly surrounded by dangerous environments.
Two other examples of this recently are two families we know were the victims of gas leaks in their homes. In one case it appears that the gas leak caused or contributed to the death of one family member the crippling of another. And in yet another instance family members became very ill before the gas leak was detected.
So -- without becoming paranoid -- it is a good idea to be vigilant for possible assailants around you in the form of both other persons as well thins like natural gas, carbon dioxide, and radon leaks.
More information on this topic can be found either on the Google News Web site, of The Toronto Star, April 25, 2012 which has an excellent picture of the widespread fire destruction. Click on www.torontostarnews.com
See: "Protecting Yourself From Home Invasions" below
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)