December 4, 2009

Amber Alert Works…But The Internet Helps Predators!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — admin @ 12:41 pm

I just read this article about the success or the Amber Alert system. It is wonderful to hear about the lives that are being saved and children being found thanks to this wonderful program. What really surprised me was the statistic that a child goes missing in the USA every 40 seconds. That is simply amazing. I am sure a lot of them are missing temporarily and that mom and dad  just lost track of them somehow, but every 40 seconds? Mind boggling. Of course, the AAGPS child tracking device would go a long way to helping solve this issue.

Another scary thing is the number of predators who are online trying to connect with our kids through Facebook, MySpace, etc. The article mentions a YouTube video that tells predators how to target and identify children online. Is that sick or what? Well, check out the article, for the good and the bad…

http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=37444&catid=1081

To Your Child’s Safety,

Julia Howard

May 27, 2009

Child Safety On Airplanes And Other AAGPS News!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — admin @ 5:59 pm

Before I get into today’s child safety tip, I just have to tell you about our new web design. We re-did the whole site along with our new packaging for the Amber Alert GPS 2G child locator unit. I am so excited about it. Go take a look and give us your opinion:

http://www.amberalertgps.com

If you would like to leave a comment for us about our new design, go to: http://amberalertgps.groupieguide.com/news/new-site-design-for-amberalertgps-com and give us your feedback. We’d love to hear from you and share it with our readers!

Anyway, onto our Child Safety Tip…

Many airlines give parents the option of either purchasing a ticket for their child when the family travels on their planes or just holding them on their lap for the flight. Many parents are tempted to save the money and just sit them in their lap for the flight since they feel that there is not quite the danger that there is like riding in a car.

The FAA actually recommends that children not only have their own seat but are also restrained in an approved restraint system. In an emergency or during times of heavy turbulence there is no safer place than safely tucked away into their own seat. Many airlines will accommodate parents to make the trip not only safe but also affordable.

If you plan on traveling and would like children to have their own seat you should book this at the same time you book your flight. It is also important to reserve adjoining seats to ensure that you will be sitting together on the day of the flight. Also some airlines will even offer a discounted rate for young children when you buy them their own seat. When you are making your reservations do not hesitate to ask about this since it does not hurt anyone to do so. Some airlines also offer an approved child restraint system (CRS) that you can use while on your flights. Discuss this with them as well when you make your flight arrangements so that you know how the airlines handles a CRS whether they provide it or you do and if so whether it counts as checked baggage.

Make the flight safe for your child and make sure you are well prepared for the time with plenty of snacks and activities to keep them occupied while you are on the plane.

Hope this helps!

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com

April 9, 2009

Child Proofing Your Kitchen…And A Very Sad Amber Alert Note

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 11:45 am

My heart is very heavy today. We have all heard about the tragic death of this sweet little girl in Tracy,  California. It just breaks my heart to see this happen, especially if it could have been prevented. Everyone associated with Amber Alert GPS has children, some of us as many as 6, and the thought of losing any one of our kids is almost too much to deal with!

We had a lot of calls after they found this young girl’s body, even from news agencies, because of the profound effect GPS child locator technology could have in preventing incidents like this. Our founder, Russ Thornton, did a TV interview on Good Day Sacramento and our Amber Alert GPS 2G unit was featured on KRON Channel 4 in San Francisco immediately after the grizzly discovery (here is the link if you would like to see the KRON piece: http://www.kron.com/News/GabrielSlatesTechReport/tabid/75/Default.aspx ). We don’t want these calls…they only come when tragedy is imminent or has occurred.  May we protect our children from any more of these senseless killings!

Now, onto something a little more pleasant…and preventative!…

Child Proofing Your Kitchen

A kitchen can be a wonderful place since in many wonderful family memories are created in this special room. From having family dinners together to those after school snacks a kitchen can be a warm and inviting place for the whole family but especially children. But a kitchen can also be a very dangerous place for small children so parents need to take extra special care to make sure they thoroughly child proof this room in their home.
•    Sharp knives and utensils can really hurt young children so care should be taken to ensure that these implements are well out of their reach or in a locked cabinet.
•    Appliances such as toasters and can openers need to be unplugged and outlet covers should cover all the wall outlets to keep electrocution accidents from occurring.
•    Appliance cords as well as hot pans on the stove should be positioned so that young kids cannot reach up and pull them off the counter or stove.
•    Make sure that dishwashing liquid and other cleaning products are well out of reach and locked up.
A kitchen can be a warm and inviting place as long as children learn how to be safe in this area of the home where we all spend a lot of time.

To Your Child’s Safety! And thank you to the thousands of you parents out there who receive our Child Safety Tips Newsletter and subscribe to this blog…it will help you help your children keep safe.

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com

April 6, 2009

Amber Alert GPS On TV In San Francisco!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:07 pm

The hype for our new Amber Alert GPS 2G child locator unit is growing by the day, both in the USA and internationally. Although this is our Child Safety Blog, and we usually like to put up child safety tips and news, I felt it was important to tell you about this story done by Channel 4 in San Francisco last week. It was a news  story done by a reporter there in the wake of the disappearance of an 8 year old girl in the Bay Area. Here is the story:

http://www.kron.com:80/News/GabrielSlatesTechReport/tabid/75/Default.aspx

The need for a product like this is so huge. More and more kids are reported missing…and thousands upon thousands more are just temporarily out of mom and dad’s sight. This is a must have for parents who need the peace of mind of knowing that their child is safe. I hope you enjoy the story. Just go to the top right hand side of the page  on that website and click on the “ Amber Alert GPS goes on sale in May” link. It will take you to the story.

To Your Child’s Safety,

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com

February 2, 2009

Some Child Safety Links for Moms…

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 4:45 pm

It is hard to know where to go to get good child safety advice and information here are a few sites I have found to be helpful.

www.missingkids.com
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a non-profit organization which attempts to locate missing children as well as educate the public. You can learn how to protect you child, and read some success stories.  You should take sometime to visit the “Resources for Parents & Guardians” section.

www.netsmartz.org
NetSmartz is an Internet safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  This site uses the latest technology to create high-impact educational activities for kids of any age group. Parents, guardians, educators, community leaders, and law enforcement can choose from resources including on- and offline activities, games, internet safety pledges, news articles, and activity cards designed to supplement the NetSmartz online activities.

www.parenting.com
Parenting.com is a great site for parents with children of any age. You can select the age of your child and then find lots of helpful information which is relevant to your child’s stage age.

Kid Safety
The Public Safety Department at the University of Oklahoma has prepared this wonderful site to help parents better protect their children. Topics range from crime prevention to internet safety, and from first-aid to alcohol and drug issues.

www.wirelessamberalerts.org
Receive AMBER Alerts on your cell phone.  Visit this site, select up to five zip codes - perhaps for your home, office and other areas you frequent - and you will receive a text message if an AMBER Alert is issued in or near that zip code.  You could play in important role in the recovery of an abducted child!

To Your Child’s Safety,

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com
For the latest child locator devices!

January 27, 2009

Child Safety - Confidence and Paranoia

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:18 pm

Greetings, fellow concerned parents. Welcome to a new year and we, at amberalertgps.com, hope your 2009 is wonderful!

We have all heard the horror stories about child abduction. Whose heart hasn’t jumped when you see or hear an Amber Alert? Yes those tragedies happen, but the truth is that most children are not abducted and most are perfectly safe. This is the most important thing to remember.

However, before you breathe a sigh of relief—there are some things that parents should do to keep it that way.

First—don’t be overly paranoid or fearful, that leads you child to also become overly concerned. Speak confidently and openly about child safety and make sure that your child knows the basic rules.

–always let you know where they are at all times.

–stay with other children and in groups.

–know who they can go to for help. (Police, people in uniforms and grandmas)

–don’t talk to strangers no matter how nice they may seem.

Second—trust your instincts. Moms automatically come with a very sophisticated radar and antenna for being alerted to danger, lies, and situations that may not be the best for their children. (Remember how you though your mom had eyes in the back of her head.) Trust your feelings. Act on them. If you feel you should phone your child, do it. If you don’t think they should stay after school today or play with that particular friend, follow those feelings. They will be right most of the time.

Third—do the things that make you feel confident. Know who your child’s friends are. Set up rules and make sure your child obeys them. Get them a cell phone or even better a GPS child tracking device so you can know where your child is all times. How confident you feel with be reflected in your child’s behavior and how they feel about being safe and secure.

Fourth—talk. Talk with your child about school, friends, what they are doing. If there is open communication then you will know if something is not right and can take steps to fix the problem.

Being a parent is one of the most challenging and rewarding thing you can do. But it should also be enjoyable. Be pro-active with child safety so you can enjoy your children’s growing up years. This is the most miraculous time in their and your lives.

To Your Child’s Safety,

Julia Howard
www.amberalertgps.com