Creative Ways to Protect Your Family And Your Mattress

As a provider for your family, it’s up to you to ensure there’s food on the table, a comfortable temperature maintained, and a general mood of happiness prevails within the walls of your home. It’s also up to you to ensure you protect the ones you love against the many possible dangers that lurk around every corner, and this is no easy task. That’s because there are so many potential things that could go wrong. From slipping in the bathroom to choking on a piece of ham and so much more, it’s impossible to consider them all.

While you can’t eliminate all dangers from impacting the ones you love the most, there are things you can do to minimize dangers and provide your family the best possible chance each and every day to avoid running into circumstances that could put them in danger. When you take the time to consider some of these possibilities, you can stop problems from infiltrating your life in the first place, and there are a number of creative ways in which you can protect your family.

Make Your Home Appear Occupied

Every day, thousands of homes are burglarized around the globe, and this can be devastating in itself. However, things get even worse when someone is home during the robbery, and this is the case about 30 percent of the time. When startled, burglars are known to inflict injury or even kill unexecting inhabitants.

In order to significantly reduce the chances that your or one of your loved ones fall victim, it’s important to always create the appearance that someone is always home. There are a variety of ways you can deter a robber, and just a few of these include:

• Set up a television or radio and leave it on near the entryways of the home.
• Set up lights on timers that turn on near entryways when it gets dark.
• Make sure you don’t leave mail in the mailbox for a couple of days as this can make it appear the family is on vacation.
• If you just don’t feel like answering the phone, turn the ringer off as a phone ringing off the hook makes it appear no one is home.

Protecting Against Creepy Crawlers

Some of the most dangerous elements in your home are often those you can’t even see, and this type of danger can be easily introduced when an infestation makes its way within the walls of your home. The scary thing is that you can often become infested without ever even knowing it as various types of bugs, arachnids, and other pests can take up residence within the walls of your home invisible to the naked eye. Just a few of the diseases that can be spread include:

• Infectious viral diseases such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis
• Black plague
• Salmonellosis

It can be easy to overlook preparation for infestations as we typically don’t think much about it until a problem manifests .However, once this happens, it can prove incredibly difficult to overcome. Just a few things you can do to decrease your chances of developing such a problem include:

• Safe guard your mattress against bed bugs with a mattress protector
• Keep a tight lid on trash can
• Clean up soon after each and every meal
• Remove any clutter that may have accumulated in the home
• Periodically use pest control products such as sprays
• Check pets for fleas before they come indoors

Poison Control Measures

There are likely a number of highly dangerous compounds within your home, and, especially if you have small children or pets in the home, it’s important that you consider this fact as it can be very easy to overlook. It only takes a few seconds for the wrong liquid to become ingested, and, within just minutes, it can be too late for irreparable damage to set in. Take the time to thoroughly assess your home by:

• Locking any and all medications away in a medicine cabinet
• Assessing all medications and ensuring those which have expired are properly disposed of
• Storing all household cleaning products out of reach of children and pets
• Posting the phone number of poison control in a spot that’s easy to see from your phone

Peace-of-Mind Your Family Deserves

It’s likely your home is one of the largest financial investments you’ve ever made in your life and for good reason. Here, you’ll make some of your most meaningful memories, and you’ll find refuge within its wall to protect you from the outside element. Although we spend, on average, $188,900 on our homes, the truth remains that they aren’t able to offer us 100 percent protection from the many possibilities that face us each and every day.
While you can’t eliminate negative circumstances from your life, you can take measures to reduce your chances of falling victim while within the walls of your home. When you follow these helpful tips, you can set yourself up for success and reduce the chances that the ones you love become injured under your watch.

Protecting Your Home With A Dehumidifier & Security System

You spend countless hours protecting the citizens of your town and city. You patrol on foot, by car, by bike, and maybe even by horse. While you’re out performing your everyday tasks, who’s protecting your home from unwanted intruders? You certainly aren’t because you’re out making everyone else’s world a better place. Every 13 seconds, a home intrusion is committed and only 17% of homes have a security system, which is your eye when you aren’t there. If you want your home to be protected like you protect your citizens, you can take just a few extra precautions when you leave each day, whether it’s from burglars, a fire, or other types of invasions.

Consider A Security System

While you are away, intruders will play. Security systems are ideal for those who are conscious about the security of their homes. Once you close the door when you leave for work, that security system keeps an eye out for suspicious activity, just like you do out on patrol. There are quite a few that you can choose from, depending on the level of protection you want.

• Access control systems
• Remote monitoring
• Wireless sensors
• Video surveillance systems

With some of these, such as the remote monitoring systems, you can watch your home in real time to ensure it is locked tight and nothing out of the ordinary is happening. With other systems, the police will be immediately notified if there is a breach in security, such as a door being broken open and wireless sensors being tripped. Police will show up in a matter of minutes and hopefully catch the intruder in the act.

Protect Your Home From Fire

If you aren’t home, who will be there to use the fire extinguisher if there’s a fire? Nobody. Candles are one of the leading causes of fires in the home. People sometimes leave the house and forget that they have one burning. It’s estimated that 38% of home candle fires start in bedrooms and they start because it was too close to a combustible material.

Before you leave the house, make sure that you blow out all candles you may have lit. You should also keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn. If you have family at home while you are at work, they should take some of the precautions as well. They should not place candles where they can be reached or knocked over by pets, don’t leave them burning on an unsturdy holder, and keep them away from flammable liquids.

Even though your schedule is probably very busy, you should take a few minutes each week to test your smoke alarms. These alarms can be linked to your home security system to alert the fire department in the event of a fire.

Protect Your Health

Your home has more to do with your health than you may think. If you live in a damp or humid place, your home will be very open to mold growth. Mold is a nasty problem that can completely destroy your home and your health. If you have a mold allergy to begin with, you could find yourself feeling more sick, leading to poor performance in the field. A thorough overview of dehumidifiers will explain how just one of them can keep mold at bay and your home free from humidity.
The safety of your family is just as important as that of those who you are sworn to serve. Don’t let something completely preventable get in the way. Keep your health and home protected, just as you would protect your community.

Electronic vs. Combination Gun Safe

It’s no doubt that guns pose safety hazards, and that’s why it’s so important for gun owners to do what they can to minimize these risks. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 32,351 deaths due to firearms, and 591 of these occurred due to accidental discharge.

When you invest in a gun safe, you can significantly lower your risk and help keep you and your family safe. However, as you shop around, you’ll quickly find that you have a number of options from which to choose. Before you can even narrow down your choices, you first must decide whether an electronic or combination gun safe will be best for your unique needs.

Understanding Mechanical Locks

A mechanical lock works using a spinning dial that moves in both directions and allows users to establish a three digit code that must be properly reached in the correct direction. Basically, this works just like the type of lock you likely had in high school to secure your locker. These types of gun locks typically come with a default combination, but it’s in your best interest to change this to a unique number you’ll remember for security reasons.

There are a number of benefits to choosing this option. For starters, you don’t have to worry about batteries running low when you need to access your firearm. They are also notably more durable than their electronic counterparts. However, a few downsides to take into consideration include:

• Manual relocking is required each time you close the safe.
• Can be easier for experienced burglars to get into mechanical safes.
• A technician or locksmith is needed if you want to change the combination.
• Can take a few minutes to open, which could be dangerous in the event you need to access your firearm in a hurry.

A Look at Electronic Gun Safes

If you’d like to take a more modern approach to firearm storage, electronic gun safes are another option. With these products, you simply enter your combination code into the keypad to gain access, an option that allows for quicker retrieval than mechanical locks. They also offer backlights on the keypad which allow for ease of use even in the dark. You can change your code on your own without help, and it’s highly difficult for anyone to gain access.

With so many exciting features, you may feel like you’ve already made up your mind. However, there are two sides to every coin. Before making a decision, you must consider some of the downsides to the electronic option including:

• Power outages and other electrical failures cause the system to shut down.
• For units without a alternate key option, you can only access the safe by drilling it open in the event you ever lost access.
• Electronic circuits degrade over time, so lifespan is limited.

Help Available to Make Your Final Choice an Easier One to Make

Aside from the fact that you have the option of purchasing an electronic or combination gun safe, you then have to pick from the many products on the market. You have likely made a significant investment in your firearms, and you want to make sure they are kept safe. More importantly, you don’t want them to fall into the wrong hands.

There is a valuable tool you should be sure to take advantage of before you make your final purchasing decision. Gun safe reviews like those found at http://www.gunsandsecurity.com/best-gun-safe-reviews/ are only a click away, and they can provide you with insider information on the very products you’re likely considering purchasing. Not only will they detail the benefits, but they also provide warnings of potential downsides that may cause you to keep exploring your options.

Outdoor Gear Security Personnel Should Consider

When we think of security guards, we often picture banks, government offices, and other facilities that need special protection. However, there are those who must face the great outdoors to serve their duty of keeping both people and the environment safe. From bodyguards to fireman and more, there are thousands of professionals who just never know where they may end up working for the day. In order to ensure you’re prepared to face what the day has to offer, there are a few pieces of outdoor gear well worth having in your arsenal.

A Quality Knife

In the event you find yourself in a situation where you’re battling the outdoor elements, a knife is essential. This is because there are so many ways you can put it to good use. Best of all, if you find yourself in a situation where your survival is in danger, knives are versatile tools that can prove helpful for a number of tasks including:

• Cutting rope
• Opening cumbersome packages
• Creating other tools and weapons
• Building emergency shelters
• Cutting bandages in the event you or someone you’re protecting become wounded

Air Mattress

Security personnel can sometimes find themselves in a situation where they must set up post outdoors, especially if they are in the business of protecting celebrities or other people of fame or notoriety. You can think of it as more of a camping trip when you come prepared with a modern air mattress with special accommodations for comfort and rest.

Whether you are switching wake/sleep shifts with another security guard or just need a comfortable place to assume your post, there are many products now on the market, allowing you to find the best air mattresses for camping to meet your individual needs.

Rope

Rope can be an easy element to overlook, but it can also prove to be your best friend if you find yourself facing difficult elements in the outdoors. Smaller cord can be used for traps to obtain food, and you can get a tight hold with other rope diameters depending on the need. Just a few other tasks you can accomplish when you’re properly armed with an adequate supply of rope include:

• Tent maintenance and repair
• Climbing
• Fishing and hunting
• Lifting food to keep it out of reach of wildlife
• Creating splints for injuries
• Building of emergency shelter

Filtered Water Bottle

It’s estimated by Dieticians of Canada that the average water needs of adults are as follows:

• 3 L (12 cups) for men 19 years old and over each day
• 2.2 L (9 cups) for women 19 years old and over each day.

This may seem like a lot, but this what you need for proper maintenance. Not to mention, if you’re outdoors, water intake needs can even become higher. That’s why it’s crucial that you have easy access to hydration.

While taking along bottled water seems like a good idea, there’s one that offers even more. A filtered water bottle system can prove to be the gift that keeps giving as you can continue to refill your bottle and increase your overall survival odds in the event you find yourself in an unexpected circumstance. Best of all, there are dozens of high-tech products currently on the market that can filter a surprising number of contaminates from your water.

An Exciting Career You Can Enjoy

Security is an often overlooked profession, yet we all rely on it for the safety of ourselves and the ones we love the most. However, it isn’t a job without danger. When you find yourself working in the outdoors, there are a number of things that can and do go wrong. However, by thinking ahead, you can be better prepared for whatever Mother Nature may decide to throw your way.

Trendy New Products in Security Guard Gear You Should Consider

Security guards are crucial to the safety and well-being of any organization, and it’s no wonder why, according to the United States Bureau of Statistics, more than one million brave men and women are employed in this industry across the country.

Whether you are just starting a career monitoring the activity at spectator sports events or have long served as a bouncer at a busy bar, it’s important to understand that, in an instant, you can find yourself facing a life or death situation, and it’s up to you not only to keep yourself alive, but also defend the lives of those around you. There is some trendy new gear you should consider to achieve just that.

Dangers of the Road

If you patrol the streets, you can quickly find yourself in a position that requires you to go well above and beyond the posted speed limit. As scary as this can be, it can easily become a necessity while in pursuit of a suspect. Officers who are at a much higher risk of sustaining injury or death on the road are those who use motorcycles. These vehicles offer a higher level of maneuverability, but they also offer much less stability in the event of a crash.

The good news is that there are a variety of new products on the market when it comes to helmets. Depending on the unique nature of your work, only you know what features would offer you the most benefit, and you’d do yourself a favor to take a look at motorcycle helmet comparisons to ensure you find just the one to meet your needs.

Hidden Cameras

As a security officer, it’s not only your job to catch bad guys, but you also must be easily able to provide reliable evidence so justice can be served. In our day and age, this is easier than ever to achieve. There are a number of types of hidden cameras from which you can choose, and you can place them discreetly around your work setting. When something does go wrong, you can provide indisputable evidence to support your claims. Just a few unique products on the market worth considering include:

• Clock cameras
• Hidden spy cameras in glasses
• Mini thumb DVR cameras

Proper Medical Equipment

While you hope you’ll never have to use it, having the proper medical equipment readily available is crucial for any type of security officer. Especially if you’ve never had to use medical equipment, now’s the time to either create the appropriate arsenal or analyze what you already have on hand. Even the most seemingly insignificant measures can mean the difference between life and death, and just a few things to consider adding to your medical equipment include:

• Complete first aid kit
• CPR mask
• Decontamination towelettes
• Ice packs

Making the World a Safer Place

The combined efforts of security officers around the world make us all feel more at-ease, and the work done by these courageous individuals is often overlooked. If you’re one of the proud that puts their life on the line to make the world a safer place, you can go home at the end of the day feeling like you made a real difference in the lives of hundreds or even thousands.

However, the dangers are real. In fact, in the mall industry alone, an estimated 80 assaults on security guard officers are reported each year. Facing danger is a part of the job, but you can decrease your chances of becoming a grim statistic when you take the time to prepare with the right gear.

Don’t Forget to Secure Your Personal Life

No matter what type of security service you provide, you are a member of a group of prestigious men and women that helps ensure our daily lives and freedoms are secured. It’s estimated that, in the United States alone, more than 1,100,000 security officers perform their duties to keep innocent lives protected from potential dangers that can arise when you least expect it.

You spend grueling hours making sure others are protected. However, it’s important that you don’t allow yourself to overlook your own well-being. While most of us like to leave work at work, those in the security business can’t really do that. If you haven’t done so in a while, it’s time to do an inventory to ensure you’re doing what you can to watch out for yourself as well as the thousands of others you’ve dedicated yourself to protect.

1. Little Thing to Save Time

After a long day on the job, the last thing you want to do is start taking care of the many intricate errands that await us all in our homes. From making dinner to taking care of your laundry and so much more, it can seem impossible to get everything done. However, there are investments you can make to ensure these tasks are already taken care of when you get home at the end of a long day. Just a few ideas you could consider taking advantage of include:

• Purchasing a self-propelled vacuum such as the iRobot Roomba that works to keep your floors clean at all times.
• Using tools such as canister filters to ensure pet tanks remain clean.
• Taking your laundry to a laundromat that offers services so you don’t have to worry about availability of clean clothes.
• If you can afford it, hiring a professional maid service to ensure your home is always looking its best after a busy day.

2. Taking Time for Fitness

Even if your job does include a moderate level of physical activity, it’s likely you don’t work on all the primary muscle groups on a regular basis. The general job functions in which you engage on any given day can become somewhat monotonous, and this allows you to get out of shape. That’s why it’s important that you secure your health in taking time for personal fitness, and it doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore. There are some easy ways you can fit in a little bit of exercise without finding it to be cumbersome. Just a few ideas include:

• Rather than finding the closest parking spot, find one far away whether at work, the store, or anywhere in between. This forces you to make at least two lengthy trips.
• Go to your local gym and sign up for a fitness class. Not only does this allow you to receive valuable instruction, but it also can help you meet new people who will hold you accountable.
• Consider getting up even just a few minutes early for a brisk walk around the block. You’d be surprised at what a difference it can make in your day.

3. Install a Home Security System

You spend your entire work day keeping an eye out for others and making sure things stay safe. While you should continue to utilize your skills when it comes to protecting yourself, you should be able to relax and enjoy yourself after a busy day. When you install a home security system, you can take advantage of a number of innovative features that will help you feel safe and sound such as:

• Landline, broadband, and cellular notifications
• Live video monitoring
• Home automation
• Personal response
• Energy management services

Making Time for Yourself

Especially if you live on your own, it can be all too easy to overlook your own well being. The life of a security guard can be a tough one. In fact, it’s not unusual for a security guard to work an average of 48 hours per week. Because of such a rigorous schedule, it’s not difficult to see how you can neglect your own comfort and overall well-being.
While we come up with a number of excuses as to why we neglect our own security and peace-of-mind, the plain fact remains that it’s important for each and every one of us to ensure we take proper care of ourselves. After all, you aren’t able to give others your all when you can’t do the same for yourself. By following these simple tips, you can be on your way to enjoying not only a more comfortable and secure life but also put your all into your job.

Little Known Tricks to Reduce Your Chance of Auto Theft – LED Light Bars

Anyone who has been in the security business understands the high level of threat of car theft and damage. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, approximately 500,000 automobiles are stolen every year. It’s clear this is a danger in any parking lot or even private garage, and that’s why it’s important for security guards to minimize their workload by helping those they protect understand what they can do to reduce their risk.

Take Care of the Obvious

When you exit your vehicle, always take the keys with you and lock the door. It’s estimated that around half of cars stolen were unlocked with 13 percent conveniently making the keys to the ride readily available. Those who leave their keys in the car put themselves in a particularly difficult situation. Not only has their vehicle been unrightfully taken away, but they also face the strong possibility that their insurance won’t help them due to their own negligence.

Install LED Light Bars

Most of us understand why store owners leave a few lights on when they close up shop. This is to allow those outside to see what’s happening in the store while the owners aren’t there. The same can be true of your car when you choose to install LED light bars. These devices can be made to turn on if the doors open, giving potential thieves an unpleasant surprise if they ever try to make a victim out of you.

Turn Your Wheels to the Curb

If you park on the street, make sure you get into the habit of turning your wheels to the curb. This reduces risk because many car thieves utilize tow trucks when they engage in car theft. When your tires are facing the curb, you make this much more difficult to achieve. You should also turn your tires all the way left or right when you park elsewhere so potential thieves will be limited to towing you from the front.

Keep Registration and Title Separated From Your Car

If you give someone all the ingredients they need to bake a cake, you shouldn’t be surprised when they present you with the final frosted product. The same holds true when you leave your title and registration in your vehicle. In the event it were ever stolen, you provide the thief with everything they need to sell your car. This is a common mistake that thousands make on a daily basis. Instead of keeping this information in your glovebox, consider filing the title in your home or office and keeping your registration safely in your wallet or purse.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

It’s not always the vehicle thieves are after. Sometimes, the incentive for burglarizing a car is to retrieve something of value that can be seen inside. If you’re like approximately 33 percent of people who have reportedly left their car running while they go in somewhere for a few minutes, understand that you’re at an increased risk of theft. Whether they take the whole car or are primarily focused on the brand new iPhone sitting on the dash, you’ll be at a loss.

Passing On Knowledge to Help Others

If you’re a security officer, it’s your job to keep people safe, and this isn’t limited to the risk of bodily harm. Car theft is a real problem across the globe, and you owe it to yourself and those around you to do whatever possible to prevent occurrences. Consider carrying bear spray. By passing on this knowledge, you can help yourself while helping others.

Tips For Security Officers to Find the Best Rifle Scope

People put a lot of faith in security officers, and they are counting on you to provide them with the peace-of-mind they deserve. However, in order to truly offer maximum security, it’s important that you’re armed with the proper equipment.

It’s estimated by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services that the average shopping facility or mall has 50 to 110 reports of assault on a security guard per year, and this doesn’t even include assaults on officers manning other types of facilities. It’s clear to see that there are serious occupational risks in the security business, and you owe it to yourself and everyone you are there to protect to be armed with the best rifle scope to increase your chances of surviving a stand off.

Use Resources at Your Disposal

Since the advent of the Internet, the human race has built up quite the database of information, and you can certainly use this to your advantage as you shop for the best rifle scope to meet your specific needs. Online, you can access reviews provided by real customers sharing their honest experiences with certain products, and there’s a lot that can be learned.

Before making a final decision or as you shop, make sure to check out reviews to see if there are any problems that you could find difficult to live with. The investment in a rifle scope is a significant one, and you can access valuable information to ensure you make the best decision.

Consider the Optical Power

Rifle scopes are not “one size fits all” tools. Each is designed with its own qualities that make it the right option for particular buyers. In the security business, it’s important that you have maximum protection, and the range at which you’re able to see can be a matter of life and death.

It can be confusing to determine what magnification level will be best for your specific needs, but the following guide serves as a reliable rule of thumb:

• Magnifications of 4X to 6X allow for expedient offhand and distance shooting.
• Scopes less than 10X are best suited for distances of less than 500 yards.
• Scopes more than 10X are best suited firearms to be fired in a supported position.
• Scopes more than 16X allow for more accurate target resolution.

More in-depth information regarding the optical power of a rifle scope can be found on Lucky Gunner’s Lounge’s website.

Understanding Lens Size

Let’s face it. Not everyone in the security business understands all the specifications on the technological equipment they use, and this can make it difficult to ensure you end up with the rifle scope that’s best suited to meet your needs. Once you have determined the proper magnification necessary for your job functions, you then need to decide on the best lens size. Once again, we’ve cleared up some of the confusion by offering the following helpful guide:

• Larger objective lens:
  • Better brightness and clarity
  • Must be mounted over the barrel
• Smaller objective lens:
  • Smaller, lightweight and easier to damage

A Walk Through Focal Plane

Technology is constantly changing, and we now have even more exciting new options than ever before. One of these advancements is the ability to choose between two different reticle positions within the scope. If the scope you’re considering uses SFP reticles, this option uses what the majority of other products do. The SFP reticles remain the same size in relation to the overall image size when the scope is changed.

There are now, however, first focal plane reticles available, and they allow the size of the reticle to scale up and down as the reticle changes. This means, regardless of what magnification your scope is set on, accuracy can easily be achieved. If you are considering the purchase of a scope featuring FFP technology, it’s worth noting that this option is best suited for firing long range. This is because low-level magnifications can be quite difficult to make out clearly.

Protect and Serve

You’re in the business of providing a service the public relies on for their safety and security, and it’s important that you’re able to take swift, appropriate action when dangerous situations present themselves. By taking the time to review and research the best rifle scope to enable you to perform your job duties, you’re taking the first step toward not only protecting others, but also yourself.

How Effective is Bear Spray?

Bear spray is a very common and highly effective answer to the risk of attack in natural bear habitats. It is a variety of pepper spray that uses capsaicin, which is the chemical that creates spice in a peer, as an irritant to deter and repel bears in case of attack.

Bear spray is a relatively recent invention, only coming to market in the late 80s. Its popularity is a testament to its utility, but the research backs it up – every study to date has found an incredible success rate for the product when put to the test against real bears. A study done in 2008 titled, “Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska” found that the spray was totally effective 90 percent of the time against black bears, 92 percent of the time against brown bears, and 100 percent of the time against polar bears. It was also found that 98 percent of people carrying bear spray were uninjured by the bears in close-range encounters.

Chris Servheen, coordinator for the Grizzly Bear Recovery Program says, “I’d rate the effectiveness of bear spray at a 10 out of 10. I carry it myself.” While he doesn’t state his bear spray of choice, there are lots of options available for anyone looking to carry bear repellent. There are a few things worth looking into when choosing a spray. It is important to have a strong enough spray with at least a 0.857 percent concentration of the chemical capsaicin, and should have a label designating it a bear repellent spray and not a personal defense spray like ordinary pepper spray. It should spray in a cone shape and form a cloud, and should have enough to spray for at least 8 straight seconds. It should also have a range of at least 16 feet, or 5 meters.

This product works by spraying capsaicin into the air, where it spreads into a cloud that a bear would then need to make its way through before reaching you. The capsaicin irritates the mucus membrane of the animal, causing them to swell and leaving the bear temporarily without sight and with irritation as it breathes. This makes it highly effective as the response of nearly all bears upon encountering this is to retreat and wait for relief, giving you time to get away as while it is preoccupied.

If you are travelling in a bear’s habitat it is imprint to be aware since most bears don’t attack unless you interfere with their young, find yourself around their food supply, or startle them. However, always make sure to have your bear spray on you and easily accessible, just in case. It is preferable to carry in in a holster on your belt or backpack, like the spray found here.

If you do need to use the spray, merely remove the safely clip, aim it toward the bear, and press the trigger in short 2 to 3 second bursts. It is best to begin while the bear is still a good distance from you (around 30 feet) allowing the spray to disperse and form a cloud. If the bear is close by, simply aim for its face. Once the bear has been effected leave as quickly as possible without running. If you are about to travel to any area where bears are common be sure to look over the information outlined by the National Park Service. They can be found on the Yellowstone Park website at https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearspray.htm. It includes general tips for use and step-by-step directions for using the spray.

The main protection alternative to bear repellent spray is a firearm, but they are significantly less reliable and more dangerous – for both the human and the bear. It may seem intuitively like guns would provide much better protection, but in reality they are much less effective and a much higher risk. People who raise a gun to a bear have a 56 percent chance of injury, while the bear has a 61 percent chance of being killed. So while using a bear spray will nearly guarantee the life of yourself and the bear, reliance on a gun gives you over a 50 percent chance of injury, and used successfully ensures the death of the bear. Additionally, once a bear has actually attacked a human the park must slate the bear for “destruction,” even if it originally survives.

For all of its benefits, there are not a lot of downsides to carrying bear repellent spray. It is small, light, and easily portable. It is inexpensive and easy to use. And, most importantly, it is effective.

You do, however, need to be aware of your surroundings and the weather conditions when you are in an area you may suspect the need to use bear spray. It is possible for the wind to interfere with the spray’s accuracy and blow the irritant back into your face. If this happens the proper procedure (once you are safe) is to wash yourself and any contaminated clothing or items with cold water, and be sure to remove any contact lenses. Also make sure to only use the spray in case of an actual bear attack. It does not work as a preventative manner like an insect repellent would. In fact, the lingering scent of the spray can actually attract bears. The spray is also highly pressurized and flammable, so be sure to never let it become punctured and keep it away from intense heat or flame.

While bear attack is not overly common, the health risk is substantial enough that it is important to be aware and protected in bear habitats. There are a variety of bear repellents available on the market but by and far the most-studied and most effective solution found is bear repellent spray. Its effectiveness and convenience makes it a logical choice for any outdoorsman.

Having the Right Security Equipment

Both the wilderness and the streets of major cities can be quite dangerous and having the proper security equipment near at hand can be crucial and even life saving. And while there are plenty of tools and devices one can think of when it comes to personal security, there are some that are essential, and everyone should consider getting, whether they use the public transport for commuting, or they go in the wilderness for fishing, hiking or hunting. It always pays to be prepared and have what you need, so below you will find probably the most essential security gear one can think have.

Pepper Sprays

Pepper sprays are amongst the most popular and wide spread personal protection devices out there. Whether you are a man or a woman, a pepper spray can ensure your safety and can even save your life both in the city and the wilderness. Their effectiveness varies, depending on the manufacturer, the quality, and constituents, as well as the range they is being used. Sprays are usually most effective when your target is within 10 feet. That being said, no one can be always prepared, and situations can often be surprising but having a pepper spray in your pocket or bag is always helpful.

Stun Guns

Stun guns, also known as tasers, are amongst the most effective weapons for self-defense out there. They are really affordable and quite compact so carrying one around no matter where you are is discreet and easy. Stun guns come in all shapes and sizes and can look like a flashlight, a TV remote control or even a walking cane. The great thing about them is that they fit in your pocket or bag and you can have a stun gun at your disposal even when strolling through the streets, and no one will even know. With just an ordinary 9V battery this device is capable of producing up to 1 million volts, so it is safe to say that it is one of the most invaluable addition to your security equipment.

Enough Storage Space

Whether you have a pepper spray or a stun gun, you can’t hold it in your hand all the time. That is why it is important to have the right tactical utility belt with pouches, cargo vest or pants. These are not quite appropriate to wear in your everyday life traveling through the city, but can be invaluable in the wilderness and the great outdoors. The numerous pockets and pouches will ensure you have all the security equipment right where you want it and easily reachable. This will help you react as quickly as possible.