This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In January of 1996, a nine year old girl was riding her bike outside of her home. Her parents were inside, never suspecting that a kidnapper was stalking their daughter. A neighbor witnessed the kidnapping, and called the police. When it was discovered that the young girl was missing, her parents notified the FBI, as well as local news media. The search for the girl was organized by her parents, as well as several of their neighbors. The search continued for an excruciating four days, in which the girl’s parents hoped for any news of their daughter. After four days, a man (who was walking his dog) discovered the body of a small girl in a drainage ditch, which was identified as the missing child. The girl’s name was Amber Hagerman, and she is the reason we now have the “AMBER Alert” for missing children.

Though Amber’s kidnapper was never found, it prompted several legislative acts to be passed to help orchestrate the search for missing children. Amber’s parents went on to establish P.A.S.O. (People Against Sex Offenders), which gathered signatures to help ensure stricter laws regarding the event in which a child is missing. The organization received widespread support, mostly in the form of donated internet service, office space, office supplies and computer services. In October of 1996, the current president Bill Clinton signed the “Amber Hagerman Child Protection Act”. For the next two years, an AMBER Alert could be manually reported to news stations. Some time later, the Child Alert Foundation helped automate the AMBER Alert process, which was refined into the current system that we have today.

Requirements for an AMBER Alert

To avoid false alerts, there are several requirements that need to be met. However, law enforcement officials sometimes disregard criteria in the event that they believe an Alert is necessary.

Confirmed Abduction
In order for an AMBER Alert to be issued, law enforcement officials must believe that an abduction has actually taken place. This is one of the most strictly enforced requirements.

Child At Risk
A child must be reasonably believed to be either at risk or in a life-threatening situation in order for an AMBER Alert to be issued. However, there are sometimes exceptions. Even if a child’s life is not believed to be in immediate danger (such as in the event of certain family or divorce-related kidnappings), an AMBER Alert may be issued for the missing child.

Descriptive Information
In order for an effective AMBER Alert to be issued, there must be enough information to make the issuing of the alert useful to recovering the child. Important information includes: a description of the child’s appearance, the child’s age, any known suspects, a description of the kidnapper’s vehicle, a description of the kidnapper, etc.

17 or Under
Since the AMBER Alert system is designed to be for children, the missing child must be 17 years of age or younger.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In the 1880′s, summer camps were first introduced to the children of America. They highlighted a “back-to-nature” trend, which had recently increased in popularity over the past few decades. The summer camp experience was designed as a way for children in high-population areas (such as major cities) to experience the simple pleasures of being exposed to nature.

Today, summer camps are a regular occurrence for thousands of children across the United States. There are an incredible number of options for parents to choose from – horseback riding, hiking camps, history camps, math camps and wildlife education camps. However, not all camps are created equally, and it’s essential that you follow a few safety procedures when choosing a camp for your child.

1 - Your Child’s Needs
If your child has special needs, you need to be absolutely sure that a summer camp is properly staffed and equipped to meet these needs. Some of the special needs many children may have include:

• ADD/ADHD
• Food/Medication Allergies
• Allergies to Bee Stings
• Daily Medication
• Unique Behavioral Disorders
• Physical Handicap(s)
• Mental Handicap(s)
• Physical Limitations
• Chronic Health Problems
• Problems with Homesickness
• Bed-Wetting

2 – Camp Certification
Once you have chosen summer camp, you will need to make sure that it is ACA Certified. Though a certification from the American Camp Association isn’t stand-alone proof that a camp will be safe for your child, it can still be a important factor to consider. You can navigate to the American Camp Association Website for more information.

3 – Activity List
As an inquisitive parent, you should be able to obtain a list of the activities offered by a camp that you are considering. If a camp refuses or is unable to provide you with an activity list, this could be cause for concern. It’s essential that you read this list to ensure that all activities are safe and appropriate for your child. If you see some activities that your child will be unable or unwilling to participate in, contact the camp to see if they will have alternatives. For example, if your child has a severe allergy to dogs, check to make sure that they will not be exposed to dogs during regular activities, nature walks, camping trips and other events.

4 – Medical Safety
It’s natural to worry about your child getting hurt while attending summer camp. To help ease your concern, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the medical procedures and equipment at a camp that you are considering. For example, you may want to inquire about the medical training of the camp counselors, the distance to the nearest hospital, if there are on-staff certified medical professionals, etc. If your child will be going on extended hikes or camping trips, it’s also important to ask about what type of medical training the trip leaders have completed.

5 - Disciplinary Procedures
When a large group of children are together for extended periods of time, it may occur that disciplinary action is necessary. However depending on your disciplinary procedures at home, you may want to check on a summer camp’s policies. You may be able to request a special type of discipline for your child, depending on the structure of the camp.

6 – Disaster Plan
Though unlikely, a summer camp may experience a natural disaster while your child is in attendance. It’s best to contact a camp about their emergency disaster procedures, as well as their safety measures for such a situation. Flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,

Summer Camp Safety Tips (Local News Piece)

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Summer Camp Safety Tips (Another Local News Piece)

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Short Summer Camp Safety Movie (Canada)

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In 2002, a breakthrough service called “Friendster” was released. Since social netowrking was relatively new, a few people decided to make their own versions of Friendster. Brad Greenspan (founder of eUniverse) oversaw a social networking project that eventually turned into Myspace. Mark Zuckerburg, a student at Harvard, created a site (called “Facemash”) that compared photos of other Harvard students, which eventually grew into today’s Facebook.

For many teens, social networking is a way of life. However, recently using social networks has progressed past the adolescent crowd, and advanced to include mothers, fathers, grandparents and even company CEO’s. For many people, using a social network is a comprehensive and inexpensive way to keep in touch with people they care about. For others, it represents an effective way to market a product, service or business brand name. Three of the most commonly used social networks are Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.

Children as young as 9 are now making their own social network pages, as the internet reaches new levels of accessibility. However, with these changes, there are also significant risks. Younger children may not be able to handle negative attention, which often is projected over the internet. Cyber bullying has recently received a lot of media attention, due to the four bullying-related middle school child deaths in 2009 alone.

What is Cyber Bullying?

Cyber bullying is defined as any situation in which a child is bullied over the internet. This may be through chat programs, social networks, emails or other methods. In 2006, a thirteen year old girl was incessantly bullied by an ex-friend’s mother, who made a fake account pretending to be a sixteen year old boy named Josh. The mother gained the girl’s trust as Josh, then proceeded to begin bullying her incessantly by sending insulting and negative messages. In 2009, an 11 year old boy endured harassment from other students at his school, who frequently called him derogatory names over the internet. Both of these cases resulted in the children in question committing suicide. As you can see, the problem of cyber bullying can be extremely dangerous to young children.

How Does Cyber Bullying Occur?

In some cases, a child will be bullied from anonymous comments, chat messages and emails. Since the internet provides a level of anonymity, some children may use this for malicious purposes. Services such as Formspring allow people to ask another person anonymous questions, which may sometimes be hurtful or insulting. In some cases, a child will be bullied directly by comments on their Myspace, Facebook or other social network account. Open chat rooms are also another place where cyber bullying is common.

Can Cyber Bullying Be Prevented?

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent other children from bullying your child. However, there are measures that you can take to help minimize the effects of cyber bullying. While the arena of parental observation is somewhat disputed, it is recommended that you keep an eye on your child’s social network accounts. Also, be wary of your child frequently going into any public chat rooms, or staying up late on a regular basis to use their computer.

What Should I Do if My Child is Being Bullied?

First, identify the source of the bullying. If the bullying is coming from students that attend school with your child, contact your school’s administrative department. Since cyber bullying is no longer viewed as “harmless” by many schools, this can help you to get the bullies in question disciplined.

Where Can I Find More Information?

There are several organizations that have become devoted to providing information about cyber bullying, as well as tips to help you to prevent your child from becoming a victim. For more information, you can go to:

• http://stopcyberbullying.org/
• http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying
• http://www.cyberbully.org/

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Clare Oliver was a typical 19-year old girl, who enjoyed going to the beach and shopping with her friends. However, when she saw an advertisement – “Pay for 10 tanning sessions, and get 10 free!” her interest was piqued. Clare purchased the tanning package, and began going to tan at her local salon. The tanning attendant told her that the best way to get tan quickly, was to come in every other day, and use “speed cream”. Clare took her advice, and made it through 10 tanning sessions. However, after her 10th session, Clare’s skin began to hurt, and she decided to stop tanning.

Clare went on to receive a Bachelor of Media and Communication, as well as a Masters of Cinema from the University of Melbourne by the time she was 22. She began work as a sports journalist, and had many career plans for her future. However, when she discovered a lump under her armpit, she was frightened enough to go to the doctor. Though the lump vanished with treatment, it returned one year later. Clare eventually discovered that she had seven tumors in her chest, one in her neck, and one in her lung. After being positively diagnosed for melanoma, Clare eventually stopped responding to treatments. She lived until she was 26, and become one of the strongest advocates for putting strict restrictions on the use of tanning facilities by young girls.

Many people don’t realize the true dangers of exposing their skin to UV rays, either from a tanning salon or from spending time outdoors. To be able to safely enjoy your summer, you need to know why sunscreen is important, and how it functions to protect your health.

The Two Types of UV Rays

Sun damage to the skin is caused both by UVA and UVB rays. The damage by UVB rays is almost immediate, taking place within 60 seconds of exposure of unprotected skin. UVA rays also contribute to skin damage, being one of the contributing factors for developing premature wrinkles.

What does SPF Mean?

SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor”. Currently, SPF ratings are only designed to rate a sunscreen’s protection against UVB sun rays, as there is currently no rating system for protection against UVA rays.

The Difference Between Sunscreen and Sunblock

When you see a product advertised as “Sunblock”, this means that it operates as a “shield” to reflect the sun’s rays away from your skin. Sunblock products usually contain titanium dioxide. A sunscreen product functions to soak up UV rays before they are able to damage your skin. Sunscreen products usually contain PABA and Salicylates. However, some sun products contain both sunscreen and sunblock ingredients.

Broad Spectrum Sun Products

In order to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, it’s recommended that you choose a sunscreen that is labeled as “Broad Spectrum”.

Premature Aging

Exposure to UV rays is the number one cause of premature aging, wrinkling and skin damage. Though having a tan may be socially desirable, it’s important to remember that a tan represents damage to your skin by the sun.

Sunscreen Effectiveness

The protection you gain from sunscreen is only effective if you apply it properly. At a minimum, you should re-apply your sunscreen after being out in the sun for approximately three hours. If you’re swimming, remember to reapply your suncreen after one hour, even if your sunscreen is “waterproof”. Make sure that you cover all exposed skin with a layer of sunscreen, in order to maximize your protection.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Imagine that you’re laying on a lounge chair, the warmth of the sun making you slightly drowsy. Your eyes are closed, and in the background you can hear children laughing and splashing in the pool.Your daughter is playing with some other children, who are playfully chasing each other and giggling. A sparrow chirps from a nearby tree, and a soft breeze whisks down to brush the hair from your face. Everything is peaceful and relaxed.

Suddenly, you hear a child crying, and you open your eyes. Your daughter is sitting on the ground, crying and cradling a scraped knee. The children she was playing with are standing nearby, confused. What did they do wrong?

This fictional situation demonstrates how many parents aren’t fully aware of the proper pool safety procedures. Having young children around a pool requires you to be constantly alert, and ready to correct any dangerous behavior. Each year, about 300 children under the age of five drown in pool accidents, and over 2,100 children are rushed to the emergency room for near-drowning accidents. In 2005, 17 children drowned in accidents involving home inflatable pools, which is up significantly from previous years. How can you protect your children from pool-related accidents?

Here are a few simple tips for summer pool safety.

Pool Safety Tips – 1. Cover Your Pool.
If you have a pool on your property, be sure that you completely cover it when it’s not being used. This prevents debris from affecting the filtration systems in the pool.

Pool Safety Tips – 2. Install a Fence and Gate.
The fencing around a pool is recommended to be at least 4 feet high. It’s also essential that your fence has a latching, locking gate. This gate is extremely important for preventing young children from having unsupervised access to the pool.

Pool Safety Tips – 3. Know CPR.
The American Red Cross offers regular CPR certification courses in most major cities. Knowing CPR could save your child’s life in the event of a near-drowning accident, and can be useful in other situations as well. As a responsible parent, it’s highly recommended that you look for opportunities to attend a CPR training course.

Pool Safety Tips – 4. Have Safety Flotation Devices.
No matter if you’re going to a public pool or your own backyard pool, it’s still important that you have a safety flotation device. This is especially important if you have very young children, who aren’t able to easily swim on their own. There are currently several different types of safety flotation devices, which are designed for children of all ages. An example would be a children’s float suit (Amazon Product Page), which has foam inserts designed to help children learn how to swim.

Pool Safety Tips – 5. No Running!
This is a rule that most parents are aware of, but may have difficulty enforcing. Children love to play around the pool, and young children love to run. However, the concrete or tile around the pool is often slippery from the water, which increases the risk of a fall-related injury. Falls near the pool are also particularly dangerous since it’s possible that your child could be knocked unconscious, then fall into the water. Explain to your children why running around the pool is dangerous, and be strict about enforcing this rule.

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On Christmas Day in 2009, a terrorist attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253, with plastic explosives that were sewn into his pants. Dubbed the “Underwear Bomber”, this incident sparked a flurry of activity for the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). Measures were taken to tighten security, in order to avoid having any other explosives ever make it past security checkpoints. One of the security measures that has recently been subject to a lot of controversy, is the “Full Body Scanners” that have begun to make their way into airports.

What is a Full Body Scanner?

A full body scanner is a device that is able to detect items hidden under clothing. The scanner does this by creating a full 3-D image of a person, complete with detailed body contours. The scanners are effective at detecting contraband that may be hidden on a person’s body.

How Does a Full Body Scanner Work?

There are currently two different types of scanning technology that are used in full body scanners: millimeter wave scanners, and backscatter scanners. A millimeter wave scanner is able to use radio waves that are of extremely high frequencies, which are decoded in order to produce a 3-D image. A backscatter scanner makes use of high-energy rays that scatter when they hit solid materials. This allows a backscatter scanner to create a detailed image of the person being scanned.

An example of one type of Full Body Scanner.

Do Full Body Scanners Take Nude Pictures?

A full body scanner is able to strip away any items of clothing that a person is wearing, essentially producing a nude representation of a person. This allows the person screening the scans to see details that could represent concealed objects. However, it is true that the full body scanner does produce a “naked” representation of airline passengers, which is why full body scanners are subject to so much controversy.

Which Airports Have Full Body Scanners?

Currently, there are 40 active full body scanners at 19 different airports.

Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)
Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)
Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Las Vegas-McCarran Airport (LAS)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
Washington DC’s Reagan National (DCA)
Amsterdam-Schipol Airport (AMS)

However, there are 11 more airports that are currently in the process of receiving them. This list includes:

Boston Logan International Airport
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Mineta San Jose International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Port Columbus Unternational Airport
Oakland International Airport
San Diego International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport

By the end of this year, the TSA hopes to have over 450 full body scanners active in airports across the United States. By 2011, the TSA projects that over 1200 full body scanners will be used.

Are Full Body Scans Required?

Under the current airport security protocols, you have the right to refuse a full body scan when boarding a plane. In the event that you refuse, you will be taken to another location in which you may receive a pat-down, a scan with a hand-scanner, swabs that can detect explosives, and other tests.

Are Full Body Scanners Open to Abuse?

Much of the controversy about full body scanners centers around the fact that yes, it is possible for the data images taken by the scanners to be abused. Concern has particularly been focused on the potential for abuse in images of celebrities, children and women. The TSA has attempted to assuage these fears by pledging that the images are deleted after the scan, and will never be used elsewhere. However, many people still feel uncomfortable with the possibility that these scan photos represent a breach in privacy.

Sources:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/12/29/full-body-scanners-in-all-our-airports-115875-21928634/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/12/30/airline.terror.scanners/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/05/body.scanners.airports/index.html

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/6/165831/7563/travel/Full-Body+Scanners+101:+How+Naked+Is+Full-Body+Scan+Naked%3F

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwear_bomber

http://ivarfjeld.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/airport-security-line.jpg

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

If you’re a parent, your child’s safety is of the utmost importance. If you are a working parent, chances are that you won’t be able to stay at home to take care of your child as much as you would like. If you can afford it, a great way to make sure that your child receives proper care in your absence is to hire a nanny.

Why Hire a Nanny?

If you have several children, you may need help in order to give them all the care and attention that they need. Even if you are a stay-at-home parent, you still may need an extra pair of hands to help with making lunches, doing laundry, and driving your children to after-school activities. If you’re a working parent, you may think that enrolling your child in day-care (or hiring a babysitter) isn’t enough. To give your children the direct attention that they need, a great way to care for your children in your absence is to hire a nanny.

The Drawbacks

Most child behavioral experts agree that there is no substitute for a stay-at-home parent. Though hiring a nanny can help your children receive care while you’re away, nothing can replace a parent’s attention. You should never use a nanny as an excuse to pay less attention to your children. Another drawback of hiring a nanny is that not all nannies are cut out for working with children. Finding a highly rated, experienced and reputable one can be a bit difficult. However, by knowing which questions to ask, and how to go about the interview process, you can help to improve your chances of hiring somebody that will have your children’s best interests in mind.

Hire Nannies Through An Agency

You may want to begin by checking out “Nanny Agencies” in your area. An agency will usually pre-screen nannies, and will take care of placing them in homes that will benefit most from their care. However, not all agencies are created equal. Some agencies don’t have the resources to properly screen potential nannies, or are lacking on the funding to do background research on the nannies in their department. To choose a reputable and effective agency, you may want to consider asking the following questions:

• How high is your success rate with the placement of nannies with homes?
• How long has your agency been in business?
• What fees do you charge for placing a nanny?
• Do you interview your nannies in person?
• How extensively do you check their backgrounds?
• How many do you place in homes each year?
• Do you offer any type of training for your nannies?
• Are they certified in first aid or CPR?

Depending on their answers to these questions, you can usually decide if an agency is established and experienced enough to help you find and hire a nanny.

Hire a Nanny Yourself

If you plan to hire a nanny yourself, you will need to also pre-screen any potential applicants for this job. You need to remember that hiring a nanny can be an extensive process, and may take a few weeks before you find a good one. Here are some tips that you can follow to make the screening process much easier.

Do At Least Two Interviews
In order to ensure that you can really get to know a potential nanny applicant, it’s highly recommended that you do at least two personal interviews. You may want to have your children present for the second interview, in order to see how the applicant reacts to having the children present.

Do a Background Check
No matter how positive a person’s references may seem, you will usually want to do a background check. Remember, you are entrusting this person to take care of your children, and need to make sure that they don’t have a criminal history.

Check All References
It’s important that you do a follow-up on any references provided by an applicant. Be wary of any provided references that don’t also have a phone number.

Ask Personal Questions
It’s important not to shy away from asking personal questions when hiring a nanny. Remember, they will be spending time alone with your children, and you need to be able to get to know them personally. Ask them if they’re married or seeing anyone, and clearly outline your rules about visitors when you’re not at home.

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If you are a parent, it’s natural for you to experience some anxiety when leaving your children alone with another person. This may be a nanny, a babysitter or even a family friend. To help lessen the anxiety of leaving children under the care of someone else, many parents are now choosing to install a ‘Nanny Cam’ to keep an eye on how a caretaker interacts with their children. However, how useful is a ‘Nanny Cam’? Is it legal to capture hidden video surveillance of a professional child caretaker without their knowledge? Here is some information to help you to become more familiar with the concept of a ‘Nanny Cam’.

What is a Nanny Cam?

Basically, a “Nanny Cam” is a hidden camera that you install in a non-visible location inside your home. This camera may be hidden in a potted plant, a stuffed animal, a lightbulb or other common household object. The primary purpose of this camera is to allow you to see how a caretaker interacts with your children while you are not around.

Why Are Nanny Cams Useful?

Recently, there have been a lot of cases of child abuse by caretakers that have gotten extensive media attention. While it is not advised to believe that all nannies have the potential to abuse children, it is still a problem that should cause some concern. While many potentially abusive nannies can be screened out with the proper interview process, it can still be difficult to know when you’re choosing a nanny that is truly dedicated to keeping your children safe.

For a concerned parent, a Nanny Cam can help you to gain insight onto how your nanny interacts with your children while you’re away. It can either provide you with peace of mind, or allow you to identify a potentially dangerous situation for your children.

Are Nanny Cams Legal?

Currently, you are allowed to take video footage of a person without their knowledge (in your own home) in all 50 US States. However, it’s important to remember that not all states have laws that support hidden cameras which also take audio. It is currently not legal to record audio without a person’s consent in the following states:

• Washington
• Pennsylvania
• Oregon
• New Hampshire
• Nevada
• Montana
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Louisiana
• Illinois
• Hawaii
• Florida
• Delaware
• Connecticut
• California

Where Can I Buy a Nanny Cam?

If you’re looking to purchase a Nanny Cam, you can usually find a camera that fits your needs by searching online. As stated before, do not purchase a camera that also records audio, especially if you live in one of the 15 states where it’s illegal. Be sure that the camera is small enough so that it can be placed somewhere without your Nanny’s knowledge, and is able to still capture video footage in low-light conditions.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Every year, families around the world plan their holiday celebrations. The holidays are a time for spending time with friends, family and appreciating those that are close to you. However, amidst all of the festivities, it’s important to remember that safety should always be your number one priority. There are many things that you can do to help ensure that your holidays will be safe, happy and accident-free.

Holiday Safety Tip #1: Candles
Many candles are designed with warm, appealing scents that add an ambiance of comfort to a home. However, as with any type of candle, it’s essential that you don’t let them burn unattended! If you do light candles, be sure that they are placed on a non-flammable surface, away from any hanging decorations, plants or other materials.

Holiday Safety Tip #2: Fire Resistant Trees
When purchasing a fake Christmas tree, be sure to check the packaging for the label “Fire Resistant”. Some of the more inexpensive fake Christmas trees may not be rated as being resistant to fire, which can be very dangerous if you plan to use lights on your tree. If you are unsure of if a tree that you have is fire resistant, you can always check the manufacturer’s website online.

Holiday Safety Tip #3: Live Christmas Tree Care
In order to lower the risk of fire, it’s important to take proper care of a live Christmas tree. The best way to ensure that a live tree doesn’t become a fire hazard is to keep it sufficiently watered. In heated rooms, Christmas trees often dry out very quickly. It’s highly recommended that you add water to your Christmas tree’s dish at least twice per day, in order to ensure that it doesn’t become dry. When a Christmas tree isn’t sufficiently watered, it becomes extremely flammable.

Holiday Safety Tip #4: Lights
Before hanging up your lights, you may want to check them for defects. A frayed wire, broken bulb or loose connection may be all that it takes to start a fire in your home. Keep all of your receipts for light purchases, so that you can return them if you find that they are defective. If you plan to hang your lights outside, be sure to check that they are designed for outdoor use. Always hang outdoor lights on hooks or with insulated staples, instead of tacks or nails.

Holiday Safety Tip #5: Festivities
After having a gathering, be sure to clean up any broken ornaments, excess food, misplaced decorations or other items. This is especially important if you have young children, who may injure themselves on broken Christmas decorations. Don’t be afraid to do a quick “child-proofing” of your house before a holiday party, which may involve removing any breakable items from the area in which your guests will be gathering.

Holiday Safety Tip #6: Fireplace Safety
Though hanging stockings over the fireplace mantle is a time-honored tradition, it’s essential that you do this with extreme care! Felt or light cloth can be ignited by even a small spark from the fireplace. If your fireplace is open, purchase a glass door or screen to keep it from throwing sparks out into your living room.

Holiday Safety Tip #7: Wrapping Paper
Since wrapping paper may be coated with chemical dyes, plastics or other materials, it’s not recommended that you burn it in your fireplace. Some of the chemicals may produce dangerous fumes, or contribute to dangerous buildup in your chimney. It’s best if you either recycle your holiday wrapping paper, or dispose of it with your other garbage.

Holiday Safety Tip #8: Holiday Stress
Though stress isn’t an immediate threat to your personal safety, holiday activities can still take quite a toll on both your health and energy level. In order to help combat this, take some “personal” time each day to relax. Brew some chamomile tea, grab a book, and curl up by the fireplace to read. You’ll be surprised at how much more you’ll be able to accomplish each day if you take some time to lower your stress level.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

As children become increasingly computer literate, keeping your child off of the internet is no longer an option. The internet is an extremely valuable tool, which children can use for research, entertainment and other activities. However, with this type of freedom also comes some significant risks. Instant messaging is not in itself dangerous to children, though it may potentially expose your child to very dangerous situations. Here is some general information about how you can protect your child, without banning them from using instant messaging programs.

What is Instant Messaging?

By definition, an instant messaging interface is an online method of communication between two or more people that is based on the exchanging of text-based messages. There are many programs that support this type of communication, including:

• Yahoo! Messenger
• Google Talk
• AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
• Skype
• IMVU
• ICQ
• Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger)
• Xfire

In addition to this, there are many web-based chat rooms that also support the exchanging of private chat messages between two or more members of the chat room. These chat rooms usually do not require the installation of any software, though some of them may require browser add-ons in order to function properly.

Why is Instant Messaging Dangerous for Children?

To put it simply, it is not the instant messaging client that is dangerous to a child. Many children can responsibly use instant messaging software to communicate with friends or relatives that they do not see on a regular basis. However, it is the fact that many children have a need for constant social interaction which may provide the risk. When presented with such a versatile and widely used chat interface, a child may abandon other social activities and use this type of interaction as a replacement.

In addition to this, your child may begin trying to portray an “idealized” image of themselves to people they may meet online. The aspect of online anonymity is appealing to children, since many children, as they enter adolescence, begin to become self-conscious about their appearance, weight, hair color, etc.

Perhaps the most obvious danger to children which is presented by instant messaging is the risk of being exposed to people who may wish your child harm. It is a very common occurrence for pedaphiles or child sex offenders to use an anonymous online identity in order to solicit the attention of children. They may pretend to be another child, which may make your child think they are a “friend”.

What are some of the Danger Signs?

If you suspect that your child is using instant messaging in a dangerous manner, there are many signs that you can look out for. This includes:

• Using their computer after the rest of the family has gone to bed.
• Staying up for more than three hours simply to use an instant messaging client.
• Closing or minimizing chat windows when other family members are in the room.

How Can You Protect Your Child?

Aside from completely banning your child from internet chat rooms and instant messaging clients, there are several things that you can do to better protect your child. This includes:

• An “Adult” discussion about the dangers of the internet.
• Installation of parental monitoring software on your child’s computer.
• Constant supervision of your child while they are online.

Related posts:

1. Keeping your Children Safe Online This post is originally authored at the home security blog...
2. Child Safety This post is originally authored at the home security blog...