Hands Free Cell Phone
Posted November 17, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Electronics, Safety
Driving these days requires full attention. One of our pet peeves is people who drive and talk on the cell phones.
When in your car if you decide to make a call pull over and talk to your hearts content. If someone calls you they can leave a message. Now we all know that this isn’t going to work.
When we use our phones in the car we use a hands free speakerphone. It allows us to place and receive calls with simple push of a button. It will require some time to setup the voice commands, it will handle 150 of them, but once done it works well.
We never have to take our eyes off the road. When we travel this is great as we navigate through new or unfamiliar territories. As well there are jurisdictions where the use of cell phones while driving is illegal without a hands free device.
The Parrot Mini Kit is a Blue tooth device that clips on to the sun visor. it comes with a car and home charger.
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How to Survive a Plane Crash
Posted October 5, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Safety
I watched an episode of the TV show “How Not to Die” the other night which dealt with air, sea and automobile transportation perils. Chris Ryan, the show’s host made great points about airline passengers who risk their lives and the lives of others in the event of an airplane crash.
First and foremost are those who think they know it all and read the paper (or talk, or sleep) during the safety announcements delivered prior to departure. I hate those people with a passion! They’re arrogant and/or stupid in the extreme, and apparently do not appreciate the fact that a dark, smoke-filled cabin would be difficult to exit even with the proper information in mind.
Mr. Ryan also commented on the dangers posed by women who wear stilletto-healed shoes while flying. In the event of an accident, they are hobbled by their shoes and may block others’ egress. Moreover those things are sharp objects. I personally always make a point to wear shoes in which I could easily run if the need arose.
I also always peruse the safety card stowed in the seat back pocket, and know exactly how many rows I am seated from my closest exit.
What Mr. Ryan didn’t mention is the need to exit without trying to take one’s personal belongings, as one woman aboard the Air France crash in Toronto admitted trying to do while discussing the accident on an episode of “Mayday”. It’s bad enough that some passengers impede other passengers’ movement from window and center-aisle seats by stowing over-sized bags under the seat in front of them (about which flight attendants often make no comment), without endangering the lives of others by trying to save their laptops in the event of an accident.
Perhaps because I worked for 20 years in the aviation industry as an air traffic controller, I’m very aware of safety concerns while flying. I would love to see the airlines force staff to ensure passengers remain silent during safety demonstrations - and all other announcements.
Last but not least, I wish Chris Ryan had mentioned those female airline passengers who’ve poured on a bottle of perfume and then cause respiratory distress in other passengers. Those women should know that if they do not wish to die, they shouldn’t sit next to me.
Technorati Tags: How Not to Die, Chris Ryan, plane crash, airline, airplane, safety, survival
Hotel Fires: Planning Ahead Could Save Your Life!
Posted September 30, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Safety
The time to plan your escape from a hotel fire is before you get caught in one. Here are tips that will help you plan ahead and deal with such an emergency.
When making reservations, ask if the hotel or motel has smoke detectors and fire sprinklers.
When checking into your room, familiarize yourself with the locations of the fire exits nearest your room. These are generally shown on a map posted on the back of the room door or in a closet. Use the map to locate the two exits nearest your room. Take a trip to the nearest exit and count the number of doorways you pass to get there. Make sure the stairway door is opened and that the stairs are unobstructed. Locate fire alarms and fire fighting equipment.
Figure out how to turn off the fan that delivers air into my room. Find the location of both the entry and return air vents and make a mental note of how to seal them if you were trapped in my room during a hotel fire.
Practice unlocking and opening the windows in your room. Look outside to see if you could escape without injury.
If you suspect fire, call the hotel operator immediately. Give your name, room number, and a brief description of the situation.
Having a small flashlight in your suitcase may prove invaluable as there are no guarantees that lighting will always work.
Never use an elevator as a fire exit. Elevator mechanisms can easily malfunction during a fire, causing persons to be transported to the exact location of the fire.
Leaving Your Room
Feel the door with the back of your hand if you use your palm it could get burnt and make using it difficult. If the door or knob is warm, do not open it. If the door is not warm, drop to your knees and slowly open the door, but be ready to slam it should a cloud of smoke roll in.
If the hallway is clear, head for the exit, not the elevator.
Close your door behind you. Take your key with you, if you encounter trouble you may have to return to your room. If you have a plastic key card and the power has failed the card may not work.
Do not stand upright, but crawl or keep low to the floor to avoid smoke and odorless carbon monoxide.
Stay on the same side of the hall as your exit, counting the number of doors to the exit.
When you reach the exit, walk quickly, but cautiously down the stairs, and hold on to the handrail as you go, it will prevent you from being knocked down from behind.
Smoke will sometimes get into an exit stairwell. If you encounter smoke, do not try to run through it. Turn around and walk up. Proceed to a smoke free corridor and cross the building to an alternate exit.
Staying in Your Room
If you are unable to leave your room, make every effort to notify someone that you are in your room. If you cannot reach the hotel operator, call the local fire department and identify your exact location. Signal to them by hanging a bed sheet from your window. If there is smoke in your room, open the window. Do not break the glass unless it is absolutely necessary because heavier smoke may begin to enter from outside.
Fill the bathtub with water. Wet towels and sheets and stuff them around the door and vent which is allowing smoke to enter the room.
If the door and walls are hot, bail water on them with your ice bucket to keep them cool. Place the mattress up against the door and hold it in place with the dresser. Keep it wet. Keep everything wet.
A wet towel tied around your nose and mouth will help filter out smoke if you fold it into a triangle and put the corner in your mouth.
If there is a fire outside of the window, pull down the drapes and move everything that is flammable away from the window.
You can avoid panic by having a specific plan of action to employ should you be involved in a fire.
Technorati Tags: smoke detectors, hotel fire
Is That Destination Safe?
Recently came across a New York Times article that deals with how to determine if a travel destination is safe to visit.I found the article written by Joshua Kurlantzick to deliver a wealth of information on different sources that can be tapped for the real story. You can get the facts and make an informed decision.
You can read the article here
Technorati Tags: New York Times
Leatherman Surge Multitool
Stainless steel Leatherman Surge multitool features stronger, redesigned jaws to deliver more squeezing force with less effort, helping you maintain a firm grip.
Features longer blades, stronger scissors, tougher pliers and a new awl.
The most frequently used tools — knives, blades and scissors — open to the outside for quick access.
Includes screwdrivers, an opener, wire cutters and strippers, a saw and locks. Measures 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ and weighs 12 1/2 oz. 25-year warranty.
This compact tool has been wonderful for making repairs when traveling.
Technorati Tags: Leatherman, multitool, knives, blades and scissors, traveling
