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East Oregonian
EASTERN OREGON MARKETPLACE
Tuesday, January, 2, 2018
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
How to keep your busy, adventurous family safe
M
FAMILY FEATURES
F
amilies are seemingly
always on the go.
From soccer games
and school trips to
excursions with friends
and vacations with the family,
people are constantly on the
move, exploring new places and
experiencing new things.
In fact, a study by Sfara
shows that kids today are using
public transportation, going
on field trips and taking long-
distance road trips at much
younger ages compared to 30
years ago. As exciting as these
new opportunities can be, it’s
equally as important to make
sure families – and kids – stay
safe and protected at home and
on the go.
AROUND THE HOUSE
Know your neighbors
Whether you live in an
apartment building, cul-de-sac or
the countryside, make it a point
to get to know your neighbors.
Building these relationships isn’t
only neighborly, but can help keep you safe. Not only can you
have a stronger community of people to lean on for small crises,
like borrowing forgotten ingredients, and larger emergencies,
such as weather-related disasters, but you’ll also have a better
understanding of your surroundings.
Help in an instant
While security systems deliver some peace of mind, they’re not
always fool-proof, and they also aren’t transferable to the office,
school or your summer getaway. Always on and always available,
an app such as Sfara Guardian can help keep you and your family
safe, no matter where you are. By just triple-tapping your phone,
even while it’s in your pocket, the app connects you to a live
emergency manager who can provide the help you need. If you’re
unable to respond, it will dispatch local responders to your exact
location immediately.
Accessibility
While baby-proofing starts in your children’s earliest years,
limiting their access to certain areas or items is important
throughout their childhoods. When you have a young child,
locks on cabinets and gates across steps may be your focus
when it comes to home safety. As kids get older, ensure they do
not have unsupervised access to dangerous items like cleaning
supplies, prescription medicine or kitchen knives. Make sure
to also have open conversations with kids about the dangers of
seemingly safe home products so they are equipped to make
appropriate choices outside the home.
Fire safety
Take the time to ensure your home is properly equipped in case
of fire. Check that you have working fire extinguishers and that
windows and fire escapes are not blocked by heavy furniture or
other objects. Be sure everyone in your family knows the plan in
case of a fire or similar emergency at home, and is aware of how
to contact help, if needed.
DRIVING
SAFELY
AWAY FROM HOME
Tools to take on the road
In the past, families brought the essentials with them when on the
go – a first aid kit, snacks and water bottles. Now, in addition to
the basics, make sure you add modern essentials to your packing
list when you’re away from home, whether you’re going on a day
trip or a long vacation. Carry a portable phone charger in your bag
or in your car to ensure you can always connect to family, call
for help if needed or just use your phone’s flashlight in case of a
blackout.
Help on-the-go
Today, virtually everything is available at your fingertips, right
through a smartphone. Now, safety is that accessible, too. Apps,
like Sfara Guardian, can connect you to live experts who can help
you in virtually any kind of situation. For example, if you’ve been
in an accident, the app can detect you need help and send local
responders even if you can’t speak. Learn more at sfara.com.
Stranger danger
When in public, be hyper-aware of your surroun dings and the
people around you. Talk with your kids about how they should
respond if they are approached by a stranger. It’s a good idea
to practice at home so your child feels comfortable giving an
emphatic “no” if the need arises. If you’ll be at a crowded
location where you may become separated, use your phone
to take a photo of your child so you have a current photo and
clothing description ready if the unthinkable happens.
ost families spend an
ample part of every
day in their vehicles,
between transport to school,
activities, work and various
errands. Keeping everyone
safe is easier than ever with
a slew of safety features that
are increasingly available,
either straight from the
factory or as add-ons to your
in-car experience.
Advanced Navigation:
While built-in navigation
systems in cars may just seem
like an added convenience,
they are also a key safety
feature. Navigation systems
offer easy access to directions
and points of interest on
the road, which can help
eliminate distractions and
reduce the possibility of
accidents. Features like voice
control can make navigation
hands-free and allow you to
concentrate on the road.
Smartphone Crash
Detection: Today, the
technology in your pocket
is often more advanced than
the cars you drive or ride in.
Apps like Sfara Guardian can
detect a car crash or incident
and dispatch help. Because
the technology is on the
phone, it works whether you
are the driver or passenger
and in your car or someone
else’s. Roadside assistance
has a modern twist, too. If
you need help with a flat or a
tow, you can request service
on your app and map the
driver in real-time as he or
she heads your way.
Lock Controls: In some
vehicles, an adjustable setting
allows you to control which
car doors unlock depending on
which door you open first or
how many times you press the
unlock button. This feature can
allow a driver to safely enter
the car on the driver’s side
without unlocking other doors
and potentially giving access
to an intruder. Similar controls
can keep mischievous kids
from pushing buttons in the
back and unlocking or opening
rear doors or windows without
your knowledge.