HOME SAFETY TIPS

General home safety:

Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers by your main telephone

Store at least two flashlights with fresh batteries in central locations

Keep working fire extinguishers in easy-to-access locations, one on each level of the house

Store candles and matches in a safe place in case of power outages.

Develop and practice a fire escape plan with your family

First Aid Kit Contents:

First aid manual

Ipecac syrup (to be used only on advice of a poison control center or family doctor)

Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds

Antibiotic ointment Ace bandage elastic wrap for joint injuries

Bandages (at least two boxes) of assorted sizes for minor cuts

Closure (butterfly) bandages

Adhesive tape and 2" gauze Gauze in rolls and pads Ice and plastic bags

Tweezers

Scissors with rounded tips

Safety pins Rubber gloves

Home Safety Practices

Periodically check that all smoke alarms are operating properly

Have fire extinguishers tested annually

Know how to shut off electrical, water, and gas sources to your house

If you own a furnace, have it serviced annually

If you have a wood stove or fireplace, have it checked, and the flue cleaned annually

Ensure that all circuits are properly labeled on main electrical panel

Make sure no circuit is overloaded with appliances or fixtures

Unplug all small appliances when not in use

Additional Child Safety

Tips Keep matches stored well away from children

Childproof all cabinets and drawers

Childproof all electrical outlets and electrical cords Use only

Mylar balloons instead of latex rubber balloons

Install permanent gates at the top and bottom of all stairs

    All the software featured on this page is available in a fully- functional version that is FREE for home users.  I personally use these programs, some of them for several years, and I am *still* impressed with them.

Doug Patrick/Webmaster

     The only 100-percent guarantee of never encountering a malicious coder is to unplug your computer's Internet connection.  The next best option is to make sure you are prepared.  Just as you would never venture outside into a blizzard without a coat, you should never connect to the Internet without a firewall.  Because Internet connections work in both directions, as you surf, hackers can invade your computer unless you put something in their path.  Visit Zone Labs to learn more about their free personal firewall, Zone Alarm.

     Another way you can give away details about your computer and your surfing habits is through software downloads.  This kind of software is referred to as Spyware.  Some software is advertiser- supported and is called Adware.  Then there is Trojanware, which is designed to have your computer perform a specific function and then report back.  (NONE of the software featured on this page falls into any of these categories.)  'Infected' software can include system utilities, games, screensavers...you name it.  Some of them are made to replicate themselves to keep you from deleting them and will start every time you boot up your computer.  To clean your system and regain your privacy, go to Lavasoft and check out Ad-Aware.

     Speaking of software, once piece you definitely need is a great anti-virus program.  Not a good one, a great one.  The second you connected to the Internet, you put your entire system at risk.  There are some great commercial software programs, but a while back I made the switch to a free program called AVG.  It immediately found two suspect files on my hard drive the costly one missed.  It also consumes an extremely small amount of system resources, and I was surprised at how much faster my computer ran.

     Using a fairly simple (and freely available) piece of computer code, web designers are able to find out the details of your computer and its software environment.  This is a very common practice, and is probably being used by 80-90% of the sites you visit. It is not being done maliciously.  Gathering system information allows us to create sites that are compliant to a wider audience.  CSTC® collects very little system information (much less than is displayed by the link above) and NO personal information.  Our Privacy Policy is simple:  We will never share your information with anyone.  If you feel this is an intrusion, check out WebWasher.  If the bad guys can't see you, they can't get you.  It will also kill popup windows, filter cookies, and lots more.