From a Yahoo! News article - Car Booster Seats to Avoid
by Blake Ellis, Staff Reporter
The good news is that booster seats are getting safer. The bad news is that there are still some seats out there that may not protect your child in a crash, a report released Wednesday showed.
Because seat belts are typically designed for adults, booster seats are meant to lift children so that lap belts fit flat across their upper thighs and shoulder belts hit mid-shoulder, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Out of the 72 boosters evaluated, 21 were recommended as "best bets" because safety belts fit well across most vehicles, while seven models were "good bets" and eight were not recommended. This was the first time top performers outnumbered the worst performers, with only nine boosters rated as "best bets" last year.
The eight models that failed the institute's evaluations were Eddie Bauer's Deluxe and Deluxe 3-in-1, Evenflo's Express, Generation 65 and Sightseer, Safety 1st's All-in-One and Alpha Omega Elite and Harmony's Baby Armor.
Engineers found that these boosters provided poor belt fit, meaning that the lap belt came too high on a child's stomach or the shoulder belt hit too close to a child's neck or fell off the shoulder.
"If the booster isn't doing a good job -- if the lap belt is up on your son or daughter's tummy or if the shoulder belt is falling off your child's shoulder -- then find a replacement booster seat as soon as practical," said Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research.
"Best bets" included Chicco's Keyfit Strada and Graco's TurboBooster Crawford. While one of its boosters failed the test, Harmony Juvenile Products boasts five "best bet" booster seats, more than any other manufacturer.
Among the "good bets" were Combi's Kobuk Air Thru, Britax's Parkway SG and Maxi-Cosi's Rodi.
Booster seat manufacturer Dorel Juvenile Group, which makes Eddie Bauer and Safety 1st seats, pointed out in a company statement that five of its seats were rated "good" or "best bets" by the institute, although four were listed as "not recommended."
"We evaluate and continue to evolve current products to enhance their performance with new technologies and designs that reflect our leadership in child passenger safety," Dorel said in its statement.
The manufacturers of Evenflo and Harmony booster seats did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both of those manufacturers had seats listed among the "best bets" as well as among the "not recommended" seats.
Thirty-six boosters fell between "not recommended" and "good bets," because the safety belts didn't consistently fit well when they were tested in a variety of vehicles.
"Unlike the top performers, consumers can't assume boosters in the in-between group will work in every family vehicle," said McCartt. "Some may be fine, but parents still need to try them out to see if the lap and shoulder belts fit their kids correctly."
To gauge booster safety, engineers placed a crash test dummy the size of an average 6-year old into each seat and measured the fit of the safety belts. Booster seats are designed for children ages four through eight.
For a full list of booster seats and ratings, visit: http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr090810.html
Purpose
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Personal Protection for Senior Citizens
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has a common fraud schemes site on their webpage that provides tips on how you can protect you and your family from fraud. Senior Citizens especially should be aware of fraud schemes.
It has been the experience of the FBI that the elderly are targeted for fraud for several reasons:
1) Older American citizens are most likely to have a "nest egg," own their home and/or have excellent credit all of which the con-man will try to tap into. The fraudster will focus his/her efforts on the segment of the population most likely to be in a financial position to buy something.
2) Individuals who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Two very important and positive personality traits, except when it comes to dealing with a con-man. The con-man will exploit these traits knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say "no" or just hang up the phone.
3) Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don't know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or do not know they have been scammed. In some cases, an elderly victim may not report the crime because he or she is concerned that relatives may come to the conclusion that the victim no longer has the mental capacity to take care of his or her own financial affairs.
4) When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. The con-man knows the effects of age on memory and he/she is counting on the fact that the elderly victim will not be able to supply enough detailed information to investigators such as: How many times did the fraudster call? What time of day did he/she call? Did he provide a call back number or address? Was it always the same person? Did you meet in person? What did the fraudster look like? Did he/she have any recognizable accent? Where did you send the money? What did you receive if anything and how was it delivered? What promises were made and when? Did you keep any notes of your conversations?
The victims' realization that they have been victimized may take weeks or, more likely, months after contact with the con-man. This extended time frame will test the memory of almost anyone.
5) Lastly, when it comes to products that promise increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties and so on, older Americans make up the segment of the population most concerned about these issues. In a country where new cures and vaccinations for old diseases have given every American hope for a long and fruitful life, it is not so unbelievable that the products offered by these con-men can do what they say they can do.
***What to Look For and How to Protect Yourself and Your Family***
Health Insurance Frauds:
1) Medical Equipment Fraud.
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.
2) "Rolling Lab" Schemes.
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.
3) Services Not Performed.
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.
4) Medicare Fraud.
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con-artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Health Insurance Frauds***
1) Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
2) Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
3) Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
4) Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement.
5) Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
6) Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
7) Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
8) Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
9) Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs***
1) Be mindful of appearance. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert of any changes from one prescription to the next.
2) Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious.
3) Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve.
4) Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.
5) Product promotions or cost reductions and other "special deals" may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Funeral and Cemetery Fraud***
1) Be an informed consumer. Take time to call and shop around before making a purchase. Take a friend with you who may offer some perspective to help make difficult decisions. Funeral homes are required to provide detailed general price lists over the phone or in writing.
3) Educate yourself fully about caskets before you buy one and understand that caskets are not required for direct cremations.
4) Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services.
5) You should know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalming is not legally required for direct cremations.
6) Carefully read all contracts and purchasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing.
7) Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.
8) Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed. When you do make a plan for yourself, share your specific wishes with those close to you.
9) And, as a general rule governing all of your interactions as a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured by vendors into making purchases, signing contracts, or committing funds. These decisions are yours and yours alone.
There are more helpful tips for you at http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/seniorsfam.htm
Stay safe and alert out there!
It has been the experience of the FBI that the elderly are targeted for fraud for several reasons:
1) Older American citizens are most likely to have a "nest egg," own their home and/or have excellent credit all of which the con-man will try to tap into. The fraudster will focus his/her efforts on the segment of the population most likely to be in a financial position to buy something.
2) Individuals who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Two very important and positive personality traits, except when it comes to dealing with a con-man. The con-man will exploit these traits knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say "no" or just hang up the phone.
3) Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don't know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or do not know they have been scammed. In some cases, an elderly victim may not report the crime because he or she is concerned that relatives may come to the conclusion that the victim no longer has the mental capacity to take care of his or her own financial affairs.
4) When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. The con-man knows the effects of age on memory and he/she is counting on the fact that the elderly victim will not be able to supply enough detailed information to investigators such as: How many times did the fraudster call? What time of day did he/she call? Did he provide a call back number or address? Was it always the same person? Did you meet in person? What did the fraudster look like? Did he/she have any recognizable accent? Where did you send the money? What did you receive if anything and how was it delivered? What promises were made and when? Did you keep any notes of your conversations?
The victims' realization that they have been victimized may take weeks or, more likely, months after contact with the con-man. This extended time frame will test the memory of almost anyone.
5) Lastly, when it comes to products that promise increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties and so on, older Americans make up the segment of the population most concerned about these issues. In a country where new cures and vaccinations for old diseases have given every American hope for a long and fruitful life, it is not so unbelievable that the products offered by these con-men can do what they say they can do.
***What to Look For and How to Protect Yourself and Your Family***
Health Insurance Frauds:
1) Medical Equipment Fraud.
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.
2) "Rolling Lab" Schemes.
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.
3) Services Not Performed.
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.
4) Medicare Fraud.
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con-artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Health Insurance Frauds***
1) Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
2) Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
3) Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
4) Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement.
5) Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
6) Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
7) Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
8) Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
9) Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs***
1) Be mindful of appearance. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert of any changes from one prescription to the next.
2) Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious.
3) Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve.
4) Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.
5) Product promotions or cost reductions and other "special deals" may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.
***Some Tips to Avoiding Funeral and Cemetery Fraud***
1) Be an informed consumer. Take time to call and shop around before making a purchase. Take a friend with you who may offer some perspective to help make difficult decisions. Funeral homes are required to provide detailed general price lists over the phone or in writing.
3) Educate yourself fully about caskets before you buy one and understand that caskets are not required for direct cremations.
4) Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services.
5) You should know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalming is not legally required for direct cremations.
6) Carefully read all contracts and purchasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing.
7) Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.
8) Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed. When you do make a plan for yourself, share your specific wishes with those close to you.
9) And, as a general rule governing all of your interactions as a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured by vendors into making purchases, signing contracts, or committing funds. These decisions are yours and yours alone.
There are more helpful tips for you at http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/seniorsfam.htm
Stay safe and alert out there!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Gun Safety
If you are one of the 60 million plus Americans owning guns for personal protection, or are considering becoming a gun owner, it will pay off in spades for have and follow firearms safety rules when handling, using and cleaning guns.
The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
1. Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap.
2. Think first. Shoot second.
Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
3. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
4. Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
5. Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
6. Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
7. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
8. Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
9. Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.
Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun's action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.
The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
1. Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap.
2. Think first. Shoot second.
Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
3. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
4. Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
5. Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
6. Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
7. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
8. Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
9. Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.
Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun's action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.
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