Safety Archives - Jen is on a Journey

Keeping Kids Safe with SANUS TV Wall Mount

June 11, 2013 by The Mom Jen 34 Comments

For many Americans, a flat panel TV is a great way to enjoy family time and entertainment. However, most parents are unaware of the safety risks that flat panel TVs pose for kids. Due to increasing size and new ultra thin designs, today’s flat panel TVs can easily tip over when bumped or pulled, toppling off of furniture and causing injury or even death. One of our televisions is mounted in the living room, and we’re so cautious that no one monkeys around near it for that exact reason! Bringing this risk to the forefront, SANUS, the leading designer and manufacturer of flat panel TV wall mounts, has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide. By educating consumers on the risk of unsecured flat panel TV’s, SANUS and Safe Kids Worldwide offer safe solutions for families across the nation by reducing TV tip-over related injuries and fatalities.

A 2011 US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report on flat panel TV safety revealed:
· A child is killed every three weeks from an unsecured TV
· Every 45 minutes a child visits an emergency room due to a TV tip-over related injury
· Between 2000 and 2011, 215 fatalities have resulted from TV tip-over
· An estimated 17,000 people each year, the majority of which are children, are treated for injuries from TV tip-overs
· Reported cases have increased almost 25% from 2006 to 2010, and over the last 10 years, injuries have increased by 31%

SANUS TV offers:
–Easy 1, 2, 3 installation with a wall template to ensure even placement
–Online video walk-through of simple installation available at any time, check it out

–No additional tools necessary – all required installation hardware is included in package
–Live customer support available 6 days a week

Similar prizing was offered to facilitate this post, no monetary compensation was received.

Parrot Minikit Smart Review: Hands-Free Calling and Navigation

September 7, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Being a proud owner of a smart phone for the past 4 months has been fabulous. I’m connected to the internet wherever I go which is great for my social media job, plus I have phone capabilities as well as texting. This is huge for me, but with this new technology the temptation to take a call, or send a text while you are driving is there. I will admit I have done taboo things while driving and I’m so aware how unsafe this is!

Enter the Parrot Minikit Smart, technology for your phone with the ability to have your hands-free but still have the availability to make and take a call safely! If you have a navigation system app (free or paid) they work with the Parrot to get you to your destination without fumbling with your phone or maps while driving! Even better, the Parrot can charge your phone while nestled in the holder, so you can multi-task safely and effectively. Here are some of the specifications:

Interface
Portrait or landscape mode
Green button: for answering calls, calling someone in the phonebook, launching speech synthesis, confirmation and supporting double calls …
Red button: for hanging up, switching the kit on and off, exiting menus and cancelling
Rotary button: for accessing menus, adjusting the volume and sending DTMF signals

Phone Features
Dialing / accepting / rejecting calls, last number call-back, call waiting, DTMF
Activating the Smartphone’s voice commands (if they exist)
Multi-user voice recognition
Text-To-Speech (speech synthesis): confirming calls, stating the caller’s name

General
Number of contacts: 2,000 per Smartphone
Language: one language per version
Pairing: up to 10 Smartphones
Automatic connection by pairing order
Phonebook synchronization: Sync (IRMS), NokiaSync, SyncML

Connectivity/Battery
USB port: recharging the Smartphone, updating the product
Mini USB socket: recharging the MINIKIT Smart via a 12V cigarette lighter socket
Battery: Lithium-ion, charged in max. of 2 hours
Battery life: up to 10 hours talk time and more than 1 week on standby
Low battery indication: beep emitted every minute, 15 minutes until the device is completely out of power

Our Take:
The Parrot MINIKIT Smart is my first foray into the hands-free mobile world. The Bluetooth setup was simple and straight forward, I had my phone connected within minutes of opening the box. The suction cup mounting arm stuck right on the windshield surprisingly well. Just about a half-hour of time to get it functioning for you to use with just one touch of a button and a “call Jen” or “Call Grandma” and you have a hands-free speaker phone at your fingertips.There is some standard frustration matching voice and understanding with the Parrot, we accepted and moved forward.

My iPhone and its protective case slipped right into the convinent bracket and within 2 clicks my maps app was up and running showing my position as I drove. The app I use for maps didn’t rotate to the landscape view that I had originally intended to use but I was able to detach the entire assembly and remount it in the portrait orientation without any tools in less than a minute.

The included battery charger plugs right into the 12V port in the car and I’ve been going more than a week between charges. Since setting this up I’ve added my husband’s phone (which isn’t a “smart phone” but has bluetooth enabling) and we’ve had no problems using either. There is a microphone that pulls out and can be clipped on the visor for a closer conversation, I find when my husband uses this while driving I hear much more noise, so I prefer it staying on the unit on the dash board.

You can purchase the Parrot Minikit Smart for $129, http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=205682
Product was sent for honest review.

Bike Safety 101: How to Lock up a Safe And Happy Bike Ride

July 1, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Now that the weather is great, dust the cobwebs off your bike and get out with the family for some healthy exercise and fun memories. My youngest daughter is 5 now, and oh-so close to getting those training wheels off! When we leave the house to go cycling, we make sure that all our bikes are safe if we stop at a park with our Master Lock bike locks! The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that more than 1.5 million bikes are stolen each year, according to Bicyclesource.com, and there’s nothing more sad than losing something personal!

For a safe ride, read on:
Master Lock Offers Five Essential Cycling Safety Guidelines

Select the right lock
When looking at security solutions to protect your bike, it’s important to weigh your needs. Heavy duty U-bars, like Master Lock’s 8170D, offer top-notch security and are ideal if you don’t already have a bike lock. If you are in need of a security solution that can lock up multiple items, a long, thick cable lock like Master Lock’s 8428DPS adjustable locking cable may be a better solution. Keep in mind, the thicker the cable or bar, the more security that lock will provide. If you have trouble remembering combinations, consider a keyed cable lock. If you hate carrying around more keys than necessary, an integrated, set-your-own password combination cable lock like Master Lock’s 8220D is ideal. Use the free Master Lock Vault (www.masterlockvault.com) to store log-in and password information for your lock combinations, key codes, and other confidential data for easy access via the web or smart phone app.

Gear up
Wear the proper safety gear every time you go out for a ride. Regardless of where you’re riding or how short the ride will be, a bike helmet is always a must. Fitting your bike and clothing with reflectors or lights will ensure you can be easily spotted day or night.

Map it out
Take time to familiarize yourself with the best bike routes in your city before heading out to avoid ending up on a dangerous trail or street. Consult an online mapping service, such as Google Maps, or your local transit authority or city website for an overview of streets with dedicated bike lanes, bike trails or other bike-friendly routes.

Remember the rules of the road
And follow them! Even though you’re on a bike, you still have to abide by the same traffic laws as drivers. This includes stopping at stop signs, driving on the right side of the road, yielding to pedestrians and signaling a turn. The three primary arm signals you should know are:

· Left turn: extend left arm straight out in the direction of the turn, parallel to the road

· Right turn: extend your left upper-arm out to the left, parallel to the road and angle your forearm vertically upward

· Stopping: extend your left upper arm out to the left, parallel to the road and angle your forearm vertically downward

Ride defensively
Remember that your bicycle is a small, inconspicuous vehicle, so make sure you are noticed while riding. Whenever possible, ride in a bike lane while on the road and stay in a single file. Avoid traveling along the side of cars when passing through intersections – cars may turn in front of you without warning. Use caution when passing parked cars as occupants may not see you when opening doors or pulling out of parking spaces. Keep your hands over the brakes at all times so you can brake quickly if a hazard presents itself.

For more information on bike security solutions, please visit Master Lock’s website at www.masterlock.com or the Master Lock Facebook page at www.facebook.com/masterlock. Visit www.masterlockvault.com to utilize the free, secure online data storage application and download a smart phone app for easy access on the go.
Lock provided to us in exchange for post.

Safety Tips for Halloween

October 19, 2010 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Child pedestrian safety expert Moira Donahue with SafeKids USA (www.safekids.org) encourages parents to remind their little ones to be safe when out trick-or-treating. Halloween is supposed to be about scares that are fun, not frightening. But statistics show it’s one of the most dangerous days of the year for kids when it comes to walking safely. Consider these:

o It’s getting darker earlier in the day, and children are likely to be trick-or-treating when it is harder for drivers to see them
o Children are excited on this night and may be less cautions and move in unpredictable ways
o Masks may restrict children’s vision and ill-fitting shoes may make them more prone to trips and falls

Safety experts from SafeKids and FedEx have teamed up to develop safety tips for parents and drivers.

Parents: Halloween is an exciting holiday for children, but they can be vulnerable to injury on this night. To ensure trick-or-treaters stay safe, Safe Kids recommends that children:

· Always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10

· Only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit

· Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks

· Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets

· Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up

· Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible

· Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars

· Wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers

· Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls

· Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers

· Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision

Drivers: Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. FedEx reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:

· Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods

· Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road

· Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances

· Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs

· Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle

· Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully

· Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways

· Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.

· Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians

We were sent product for purpose of this post/review.