Feature:
Inside LIFEcard
EMERgency
24's new LIFEcard Services program acts as a comprehensive
“safety net” of protection for your health, home and
secure information. With LIFEcard Services, members of your
own personal security network can look out for you and for
your possessions when you cannot. Outlined below are the
details of each service and examples of LIFEcard in action.
How LIFEcard Health Works:
Enter important contact
and health information into the LIFEcard Health database via a
secure website on the Internet. EMERgency 24 assigns a
membership number and an access code to the information and
then sends you a LIFEcard Health card to be carried in your
purse or wallet. If something happens to you, emergency
personnel can access important contact and health information
through the website or through a toll-free phone number.
Example:
A salesman on a
business trip was found unresponsive in the hallway of his
hotel. When the paramedics and police arrived, they discovered
his LIFEcard Health card in his wallet. The medical staff
quickly accessed his health and contact information and
learned that the salesman was a diabetic with a heart
condition. They were informed of his correct dosage of insulin
and of other medications the salesman was taking. They were
also informed of his insurance information. The nurses quickly
contacted the salesman’s family so that they could make
arrangements to catch the next flight out to be with him.
Pricing:
—Annual Membership Fee = $15.00/person
—Health LIFEcard Fee = $5.00/card
How LIFEcard
Home Works:
From a secure website
on the Internet, you register and enter an emergency contact
list for a property. LIFEcard Home assigns an account number
to the property, and we send you 5" x 5" decals to
be displayed prominently on the windows or doors. If something
happens to the property, your neighbors or the authorities can
use the account number provided on the LIFEcard Home decals to
contact your emergency list by logging on to the Internet or
by calling LIFEcard directly. (There is also an option for us
to not provide the person calling or accessing the information
via the Internet any contact information but to make the
contacts ourselves.)
Example:
While you are away on
vacation, lightning from a thunderstorm knocks down a tree
limb that crashes through your front window. Police see the
damage and stop to survey it. Usually, there is no contact
information or any means for them to help the homeowner. But
in this case, they spot the LIFEcard Home decal on the front
door and contact EMERgency 24. The dispatcher accesses the
contact information and is able to call you, your brother who
lives nearby and your insurance agent to have the window
boarded up.
Pricing for
EMERgency 24 Subscribers:
—Monitored
Premise = Free (one premise per account with two decals)
—$2.50/each additional
LIFEcard Home decal
—Non-Monitored
Premise Annual Fee = $10.00
—$2.50/each LIFEcard Home
decal
How
LIFEcard Secure Works:
Think about losing your
wallet, cell phone, PDA or laptop. All your credit card and
phone numbers, contact information, user names, passwords,
etc. are gone. When you lose this type of information, you are
extremely stressed, but you are eager to get your life back on
track. LIFEcard Secure is there for you. You store your
important information in a secure and restricted database that
you can access from anywhere in the world to instantly
retrieve your sensitive information.
Example:
Jane was traveling in
Europe when her purse containing her credit cards and
important documents was stolen. She did not have any of her
credit card statements with her, and she had no record of the
account numbers or phone numbers to call in case this
happened. Since Jane is a member of the LIFEcard Secure
program, she immediately logged on to the secure website and
accessed her account. She obtained important phone numbers and
instructions to cancel her credit cards and to notify the
credit rating organizations of the theft. She quickly got her
life back in order, and her stress dropped considerably.
Pricing:
Annual
Membership Fee = $30.00 for 1MB of encrypted storage space.
Why should
people choose EMERgency 24 to protect their sensitive
information?
1. People have
entrusted their lives and property to EMERgency 24 for 36
years.
2. Our system is not subject to "crashing," loss or
theft, which can occur to laptops, home computers and PDAs.
3. We have made every effort to make LIFEcard Secure service
as secure as possible. LIFEcard Secure stores the information
in an encrypted format using the latest technology, and the
secure system is backed up regularly.
4. Our computers are located in a secure building (a UL-listed
central station).
5. Technical staff is available 24 hours a day to update the
system and to keep it operational.
To register for any of the LIFEcard services, call (773)
272-0883 or (866) 221-0848 or e-mail support@LIFEcardServices.com.
You may also visit
http://www.lifecardservices.com.
Home
Fire Prevention and Preparedness
Fires continue to be the third leading cause of
injuries and deaths at home. In 2002 alone, 2,200 people lost their
lives in home fires. Those particularly at risk include the
very young and the very old. Follow the safety tips listed
below to protect yourself and your family.
Smoke
Detectors
--One is definitely NOT enough! Every home should be equipped
with smoke detectors on every level, particularly outside of
sleeping areas.
--Ensure that your smoke detectors are tested monthly and that
batteries are replaced twice a year. Change batteries when you
change your clocks.
--Encourage children to help test the smoke detectors.
Familiarize them with the sounds of the alarm(s).
Fire Extinguishers
--Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in your kitchen (one
rated for grease fires and electrical fires.)
--Keep fire extinguishers near the furnace, garage and
anywhere else a fire may start.
--Make sure every able-bodied member of the family is trained
and is familiar with the proper way to use the fire
extinguishers.
--If you must use an extinguisher, make sure you have a clear
way out in the event that you cannot put out the fire.
Flammables
--Keep matches, lighters and candles out of reach and out of
sight of children.
--Smoking is dangerous. No one should ever smoke in bed. Make
sure that cigarettes and cigars are extinguished properly
before dumping ashes.
--Avoid grease build-up in the kitchen and on appliances.
Cooking fires are common. Do not leave food that is cooking on
stovetops unattended.
--If a fire should occur, suffocate it with a pot/pan lid or a
cookie sheet or close the oven door.
--Around the holidays, Christmas trees are a primary concern.
Consider using an artificial tree that is labeled
"flame-resistant." If you do use an evergreen, water
it daily to keep it from drying out.
--Make sure to inspect stringed lights and window ornaments
annually for deterioration.
--Dispose of materials from fireplaces and grills in
non-flammable containers.
--Never put children to sleep in "day" clothes.
Fire-retardant sleepwear can make a difference in burn
outcomes.
Electrical Safety and Heat Sources
--Make sure your electrical system is not over-taxed. This can
cause a fire. Do your lights dim or flicker when extra
appliances are plugged in? If you have questions or concerns,
consult a certified electrician.
--Inspect wires. If you find any worn or exposed wiring from
appliances, discontinue their use immediately. A fire is
imminent.
--Space heaters can be dangerous if not used correctly. Make
sure yours will automatically shut off if tipped over. Consult
the operating instructions to make sure that you are using
space heaters, gas fire places and other heat sources as
intended by the manufacturer.
--Keep all flammable materials away from heat sources. If
there are young children in the house, make sure space heaters
and hot water heaters are inaccessible.
--Chimney fires are common. Have your chimney inspected and
cleaned annually.
--Keep appliances unplugged when not in use.
Escaping a Fire
--Keep bedroom doors shut while sleeping. If you think there
is a fire, feel the door and knob for heat before opening.
--Have an escape route for each area of the home and a
designated meeting place outside.
--Draw a map that is easy for all members of the family and
visitors to understand.
--When planning for a family with young children, be sure to
teach them not to hide from fire or smoke and to go to
firefighters who are there to help them.
--All children should be familiar with the ideas of
"crawling underneath the smoke" to escape a fire.
"Stop, drop and roll" is another safety principle
that must be ingrained into children's minds.
--Multistoried buildings are of special concern. Ensure that
everyone is familiar with how to use an escape ladder if
necessary.
--Make sure every sleeping room has two means of escape in the
event of a fire. --Windows provide a secondary means of
escape. Ensure that they are in proper working order and are
not painted shut. Guards should be able to be disengaged in
case of a fire to make escape necessary through that window.
--Everyone must understand that once you escape, you must
never reenter a burning building.
--Call emergency responders (911) from a neighbor's house.
--Make sure to practice your escape plan periodically. It will
be easier to remember in case of an emergency.
--Young children should know their street address, last name
and how to dial 911.
--Alert firefighters about your pets. Do not rely on window or
door decals to alert firefighters—such decals are often
found to be outdated. In the event your pet suffers from smoke
inhalation, rush the animal to the vet.
For more information, visit www.nsc.org.
Travel
Safety Tips: Part I
When you
travel abroad, the odds are in your favor that you will have a
safe and incident-free trip. However, crime and violence, as
well as unexpected difficulties, do happen to U.S. citizens in
all parts of the world. The following travel tips are Part I
of a series on how you can avoid serious difficulties during
your trip abroad.
What to Bring Before You Go
1. Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target, dress
conservatively. Do not wear expensive-looking jewelry. A
flashy wardrobe or one that is too casual can mark you as a
tourist. Avoid the appearance of affluence as much as
possible.
2. Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly, and
you will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be
less tired and less likely to set your luggage down and leave
it unattended.
3. Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your
trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your
passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in
a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you
may wish to conceal them in several places rather than putting
them all in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs
and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside
pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across
your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to
carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your
clothing.
4. If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any
medicines you need in your carry-on luggage.
5. To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep
medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies
of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If
a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter
from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If
you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain
drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that
country first.
6. Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards
instead of cash.
7. Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy
of your passport information page to make replacement of your
passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.
8. Put your name, address and telephone numbers on the inside
and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags
to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality.
If possible, lock your luggage.
9. Consider getting a telephone calling card. It is a
convenient way of keeping in touch. If you have one, verify
that you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access
numbers to U.S. operators are published in many international
newspapers. Determine your access number before you leave.
For more information,
visit www.state.gov/travel/.
Security
Success Story On
June 16, 2004, a fire alarm was received from a residential
account located in Maryland. Stara Ference quickly dispatched the
fire department, and the fire was able to be contained in one area
of the house. The homeowner was very pleased with the outcome. If
you have a success story that you would like to share with your
central station and with other security-minded people, please e-mail
us. Contact
Information
The Security Seeker is a customer service publication designed for
security-minded consumers. If you have any questions, suggestions
for improvement or success stories, please contact Jolinda
Cappello at (773) 725-0222 or (800) 827-3624, extension 6033.
Visit our web site at www.ursecure.com. |
