Using The Web To Safeguard Families (NAPSA)—From educational Web sites that help teach fire safety to background check services that can be used whenhiring a babysitter, experts say there are a number of ways by which the Web can help keep families safe. Try thesetips: Emergency Preparedness You can visit Web sites that help you prepare for storms and other natural disasters. For instance, www.fema.gov includes sample emergency supply lists and evacuation plans, as well as tips for staying in touch with loved ones should disaster strike. Identity Theft You can find Web-based services that automatically monitor yourcredit, alerting you whenever a change occurs that affects your credit score. First Aid The Mayo Clinic’s Web site offers first aid tips to help families deal with cuts, bruises, burns and scrapes. It also provides advice on determining what injuries can be treated at home and which need a doctor’s attention. Guarding Your Home You can even use the Internet to keep an eye on your home, rental property, vacation home or business when you’re not there. A new Web-based service called eSecure from Protection One, Inc., lets subscribers monitor and control their security systems using any Internet-connected computer, PDA or text-enabled cell phone There are ways to use the Web to help keep your family safe. and delivers real-time notifica- tions of important events via emails or text messages. It can notify a customer of alarm events such as break-ins or the presence of smoke or carbon monoxide, but also provides notifications for nonalarm events such as the opening of medicine cabinet doors, pool gates or gun cabinets— an important service for those who have small children in the house. It even alerts customers when environmental accidents such as water leaks and temperature extremes—which may damage valuables or hurt pets—occur. For instance, if your furnace were to shut down while you were away during the winter, the service would send you a text message alerting you to the temperature drop, helping you to prevent the pipes from freezing. For more information, visit www.protectionone.com/esecure.
