SUPPORTING THOSE WHO PROTECT US

Normally, my company is all about protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our possessions.  But today, one week before Veteran’s Day, I want to focus on the men and women of our military who protect us…the Veterans who have served in the past and those presently deployed.

For years now I have been a community advocate for a non-profit organization called Soldiers’ Angels.  It began when military mom, Patti Patton-Bader discovered that her son’s fellow soldiers were not receiving the homefront support they needed.  It quickly spread from a mom and her circle of friends supporting one army unit with care packages, to a worldwide organization with hundreds of thousands of volunteers supporting American service members of every branch in a myriad of ways.

You can check out how awesome and well run this organization is at their website: www.soldiersangels.org.  In addition to their Adopt a Soldier program, they have so many ways that you can support our amazing military men and women.  With the holidays now upon us, the soldiers will tell you that it’s one of the most difficult times for them to be away from their loved ones and therefore, they have some special ways that you can help with Holiday Cards & Letters and Cookies for Soldiers.  There is also a

 “6 Months of Christmas Care Package Program” you might like to partake in.

For this week before Veteran’s Day, KISS SURVIVAL SERVICES is going to donate 50% of all profits from all orders to Soldiers’ Angels to be used specifically for the  Veterans’ Affairs Support Team.  Below is a shortened description of what this Team does.  For the full description, please visit their website.

“The Soldiers Angels Veteran Affairs Support Team assists patients at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, nursing homes and Stand Downs.  This support can range from visiting patients to providing comfort items and clothing, to sponsoring special events like BBQs or assisting VA facilities with large-scale efforts to improve in-patients' quality of life.

The VA Team was formed in 2007, in the aftermath of news stories about Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.  Reports had highlighted the poor living conditions some of the patients faced at the hospital, and Soldiers' Angels Founder Patti Bader immediately looked for how Soldiers' Angels could do to help. In response, the VA Team was formed.  We are now a nationally-recognized VSO (Veterans Service Organization), which means we are included in VA facility meetings that help us stay informed on the needs of facilities and patients”.

So, if you can have any need for any of the products that KISS Survival Services (www.kisssurvivalservices.com)  sells you can now “Support Those Who Protect Us” . When you make your purchase 50% of the profit will be donated to the Veterans through the program at Soldiers’ Angels. With the holidays coming up, it’s a great time to buy a present not only for yourself  but your loved one…to help keep them safe…and support our veterans also.  If I get a good response I will keep this going past Veterans’ Day all the way through the month of November.  I will be more than thrilled and happy to donate 50% of my profits to the Veterans.  After all, they fought and were willing to give their lives, if necessary, for me.

Even if you do not purchase from our company, I encourage you to visit their website at:

www.soldiersangels.org and browse the site for a way that you can help our military men and women. They have so many programs that there is at least one way that every person can do something.  In fact, some of my teacher friends had their children hand make thank you cards to send to wounded soldiers.  Can you imagine how encouraging it must have been for a soldier, who wass recovering in a military hospital to receive one of those cards, complete with hand drawn pictures,  from an elementary student telling them thank you for their bravery and keeping us safe?  So if little children can do something, then surely each of us can find some way to take the time and effort to show our support and appreciation.

As a survival specialist, I am not only interested in being able to survive in a self protection situation but in all areas of life.  Therefore, I am…a Prepper.  Yes, I’m one of “those”.  I come by it naturally since I have lived in So. Florida my whole life and have experienced quite a lot of hurricanes.  Prepping just kind of evolved from there.

In prepping one of the things that you’ll always hear about is the BOB…otherwise known as the Bug Out Bag. It’s the all important bag that you always have packed and ready to grab in case you have to “bug out” quickly.

Well, I think that, as ladies, we have another important bag that we need to have prepped and ready for every day use and it is our purse.  It is amazing the things that we feel we need to carry in our purses and yet, if we find ourselves in a dangerous situation, what do we have in our purses that we can use to protect ourselves with?  So ladies, it’s time to open up those purses, re-evaluate what you have in them, and make sure you have at least a few self protection weapons. 

For myself, I start with my favorite brand/type of purse which is called the Miche purse.  Miche makes a purse which is a base bag with interchangeable outside shells. This way when you want a different look to go with an outfit you don’t have to take everything out of your purse and reload it all back into another.  You simply change the shell.  They have 3 main sizes, the Classic, which is the smaller one; the Demi, which is the medium size; and the Prima, the larger one. 

To make it even easier, Miche makes an organizer so that you can fit almost (depending on what you carry in your purse) all of your stuff in it and then, not only is it super easy to find whatever you want or need in your purse, you can change from a different size purse easily.  Check out Miche purses at my friend, Tricia McFarland’s website: www.triciam.miche.com.

Inside my organizer I carry: my wallet, a small notepad, pen, pencil, pack of tissues, a couple of lipsticks, credit/debit cards on the outside slots, a small flashlight, a nail file, a small screwdriver with both a flat and Phillips head on it and the following self protection items: a stun gun, a Screecher, a lipstick pepper spray, a knife pen and an electronic whistle. 

I don’t know about you but I think my purse is pretty well prepped (and organized and concise) for just about any emergency situation.  Also note that some of the items like the screwdriver, the nail file, the pen and the pencil can also be improvised weapons.

On our website, we have recently added Bundles in different categories and we have two  “In Your Purse Bundles”.  Not only do you save money when you buy a Bundle, but they come with all the batteries that are needed for any of the items and it’s shipped for free.  There is also a video of me showing you how I prep my purse using our products and the Miche organizer and handbag.

So ladies…be prepped, be organized and be fashionable…all at the same time. Find yourself a beautiful fashionable purse at: www.triciam.miche.com and go into the Products/Bundles portion of our website at: www.kisssurvivalservices.com and get those purses prepped!!!

I have just posted two scheduled workshops.  If you are in the South Florida area, I'd love for you to join us. It's 2 hours of learning how to protect yourself, your loved one and your possessions.  Definitely fun and informative.  You can view the schedule on our website by clicking on "Workshops" or by visitng our Facebook page.

No, no, no, I am not talking about using a stun gun on you...LOL. This is serious and may give you a glimpse into why I have chosen the self protection field.
 Go to www.crimereports.com and put in your address or any address that might interest you and see what pops up. It will give you a map with little icons. Click on an icon and it will give you current crime incidents that were committed and the basic address (will not give you a person's exact house address). BUT, what you will see the most of are red triangular shaped icons...those are registered sex offenders in the area. Click on each icon and it will give you a pic of the offender, their name, d/o/b and their address. What is so shocking? THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM....and one could be your next door neighbor or at least on the same street. Go ahead and check it out.  I, of course, cannot verify that there is high number of offenders in every area, but I live in South FL and I was very suprised at not only the amount of registered offenders and that some were neighbors, but in certain areas, there seems to be clusters of them.  I welcome any comments to this post as to your reaction to what you find

Of all the products that I sell, I get asked the most questions about stun guns.  So I thought that I would use the blog today to address some of those questions.   What is a stun gun?
A stun gun  is a hand-held, battery-powered device designed to deliver an electric shock to an attacker. They are not guns in the traditional sense, because they don’t shoot anything or anybody. A stun gun has two prongs at the end of the device. Touching an attacker with the prongs and pulling the trigger will cause an electrical current to go from the prongs through the attacker’s clothes into his body. 

The pulsed current causes muscles to work super fast, depleting them of needed blood sugars. It also interrupts the tiny neurological impulses that control muscle movement. The results are disorientation and loss of balance. The entire process takes only a few seconds and is very painful. It can disable a person for up to 30 minutes. 

Although the voltage can be high , the amperage is low, so it will not cause any permanent damage to the person who receives the shock. A stun gun is a great protection device.



How does a stun gun work? The stun gun works on the muscular and neural system. It does not rely on high amperage or pain for results. The stun gun dumps its energy into the muscles at a high pulse frequency. This makes the muscles work very rapidly which results in energy loss. It also interrupts the tiny neurological impulses that travel through the whole body to control and direct voluntary muscle movement. This causes disorientation and loss of balance and leaves the attacker in a passive and confused condition for several minutes.

Generally speaking, a one second contact with the device will repel, startle and cause muscle contraction. One to two seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed state. Three or more seconds will cause loss of balance and muscle control, mental confusion and severe disorientation. The attacker will be unable to recover for several minutes and effects may last for up to fifteen minutes


Will I be shocked if the attacker touches me when the device is applied?

No! The electrical current is absorbed in the muscles and will not pass through to the user, regardless of the conditions. Even if the assailant is holding you, there is no way the current will pass to you.


Are stun guns safe?

Stun guns have been proven safe. They cause no permanent damage to an attacker. There is no evidence that the electrical charge of the stun gun has adverse psychological or neurological effects. The effects on the heart or other major organs are very insignificant.

Stun guns will not permanently injure or kill anyone because of the voltage. One amp will kill a person. Most stun guns deliver only 3 milliamps. That is far below the amperage that could do any lasting damage to an individual. 

Do stun guns have safety switches to prevent accidental activation? Most models we carry include a safety switch to prevent accidental activation. The unit cannot produce a shock unless the safety switch is activated AND the On/Off switch is turned ON.

How do I use a stun gun?

To use a stun gun, hold the electrodes firmly against an attacker. Target an area that is harder and slower to move like the upper shoulder or the upper hip. The arms or hands are not good attack points because they can be moved away too quickly. To completely subdue the attacker, the stun gun must be continuously applied for a few seconds. More time is required if the person is large, or you are using a low voltage model.


What difference does the voltage make?

Generally, the higher the voltage, the quicker the full effect of the stun gun, thus more effective. Besides voltage, the delivery method and the amperage of the charge are also important. A lower voltage stun gun with a better method of delivery may be more effective then the stun gun with higher voltage.


Can I travel with a stun gun?

When traveling, stun guns should be packed in CHECKED luggage only. They are not allowed in terminal areas of any airport, or in any carry-on luggage. Never attempt to enter a courthouse, government building, public meeting, or sporting event area with a stun device.


Should I choose stun gun or pepper spray?

Stun guns and pepper spray both have advantages and disadvantages. A stun gun can only be used at close contact with an attacker, while pepper spray can put a safe distance between you and an attacker (5-10 feet depending on model). Pepper spray must be sprayed in the eyes or inhaled directly to be effective, while stun gun works anywhere on the body. The effectiveness of pepper spray may be affected by wind and rain, and stun gun effectiveness depends on how long you keep the gun on the attacker. It is strongly recommended that you carry both. Do not rely on just one form of defense.  

My blog today is not written by me but was written by a friend of a friend who used all the survival skills of Awareness, Trusting Her Instincts, & Common Sense to avoid what could have been a deadly attack on her and her child. I am totally amazed at this lady’s mindset and how strong it was….she didn’t let fear get the best of her but responded with all the right actions.  This is not a made up story…it was a real incident and it happened in the Houston, TX area. 

“Last night was the scariest night of my life. I've been trying to find the words to tell everyone all day. I feel everyone needs to know how close to home this can hit. So here it goes...
After the game last night we stayed at the stadium late visiting with family like we always do. Then Avery and I decided to get something to eat in the area while we waited to pick up Jordan from eating with her friends. We went to DQ on Louetta close to Stuebner Airline. The dining room was closed but the drive thru and outside eating area was open. So we decided to have a picnic...one of Avery's favorite things to do. I'm always very aware of my surroundings and decided to park where I could see my car from where we were sitting in the outside courtyard. It was across the parking lot from us but in a well lit area and I had backed in so I could easily leave if I needed to. (Always thinking ahead) We ate, talked and even posted on FB about the great game. As I hit send on that post, a white cargo type van pulled in on my left side with the window down and a big, white male in his 30's wearing a dark blue shirt and a dark hat of some sort in the drivers seat. His stare was cold and at that second my gut told me we needed to get out of there. I looked at Avery and said in my stern but calm voice "Avery we have to leave right now. Grab your stuff and stay right beside me." She instantly knew something was wrong and started doing what I said. She asked what was wrong and I told her "It is going to be okay but I need you to listen to me and do exactly what I say." At that time the van circled around to my right and he was still starring at us. We began moving quickly towards the exit to my left and I told Avery "If I tell you to run, you run as fast as you can to the car, get in and lock the doors." The van sped around to the exit where we were. It came to a screeching halt on my left side (thinking my car was to the left by the entrance I'm sure instead of across the parking lot) He was trying to block us from our car. The man was grabbing at his door and I saw the hat he was wearing was actually a beanie/ski mask type that he had pulled up. At that point I yelled at Avery to RUN and she did. I positioned myself between her and the van with the man getting out and ran behind her. She did exactly what I asked and I got in right after her, started the car and took off as he was still trying to get to us. We got away, drove a few miles and called the police. He was gone when they got there of course. Avery was shaking,terrified and I was too but trying to stay strong for her. I'm sure he thought I was an easy target because I'm still in the boot and shouldn't be able to run fast. He obviously didn't take into account that a stupid boot isn't going to slow me down and keep me from protecting my daughter. I keep thinking that if certain things were different, the outcome could have been devastating. Had I not been paying attention to my surroundings, had Avery not listened and done exactly what I said, had I parked by the door instead of under the light... The outcome would have been tragic. I don't know what he was after... Avery, me or both. I didn't have my purse or my wallet... Only a phone. I know better than to make myself a target. But I am also the person who has no problem going to the store late at night by myself or being out on my own. That has definitely changed! These things are happening every where and you cannot be too cautious. I hope this never happens to anyone you know or love. I hope my story will help every one to think twice, be aware and don't take unnecessary chances. We were lucky. I am forever changed with a new amount of fear in my heart and mind because of this evil man. We had angels looking out for us last night for sure! I won't take our safety for granted again”.

 

Pepper spray is an easy to carry weapon that can deter an attacker from a distance.   

 However if you are going to carry one, it is important that you know how to use it properly.

First of all, never warn an attacker that you have pepper spray and are planning on using it on him.  Even though your intention may be to scare him away, you may just be alerting him to its presence and giving him a chance to grab it away and use it on you.

Never allow a potential attacker to get closer than 10 feet.  Pepper spray doesn’t work as well close up.  It needs a bit of distance.

Another reason for the distance is that the effects of pepper spray are not immediate.  It needs a few seconds before the full effects are felt.

Make sure to turn the nozzle to spray (if it’s designed that way) and hold your arm out straight as far as you can to avoid having the spray come back onto you.

We carry a variety of pepper sprays.  There is the Wildfire Gel that I blogged about a few days ago.  This is one of my favorites as it leaves a gel on the attacker’s face.

We have ones that fit on the visor in your vehicle in case you are attacked in your vehicle.

There are ones that double as key chains and come in various colors and then there are the covert ones…those designed as pens and/or lipsticks.

There is such a variety, that there is one for every person and every use.  So check them out in the product section of our website.  www.kisssurvivalservices.com. 


Remember, some of them are on sale and they all ship for FREE!!! 

Pen knives are a unique way to conceal a knife on your person, and an easy self defense item to carry with you at all times.  

They are not just disguised as a pen, the pen really writes…so not only will you have a weapon but you’ll have a writing tool available when needed also.

The main thing you need to be careful about with these pens is when it runs out of ink, don’t forget that it’s also a knife and throw it away.  Sounds funny?  Well, how do you think I know this…Yep! I did that once.  Embarrassing, but funny.  I kept it in my purse with a couple of other pens and a mechanical pencil, took it out to use it as a pen, it no long had ink and totally forgot that it was a knife and threw it away.  Luckily they are so affordable…only $5.00 so you can easily replace it or better yet, buy several so that you’ll always have one available.

You can carry it in your purse, or clip to a notebook or pad of paper that you might carry.  Keep one at your desk at your job.  Violence at work places is becoming more and more an every day occurrence…but make sure everyone knows that it’s your “special” or “favorite” pen that you do not allow anyone else to use it.  After all, you don’t want them walking off with it.

It is really the perfect item to quickly pull out of your purse if all of a sudden you find that you need to walk from work or a store and the parking lot is dark and you for any reason feel uncomfortable realizing that you look like an easy target to some scum bag who is looking to take advantage of you.  Even if you carry a very small purse or just a wallet, where you feel that a stun gun or even a pepper spray is too cumbersome…this pen fits right in.

These pens should be as necessary an accessory to a lady as her jewelry is.

I am sure that most of you are well aware of Pepper Spray and how it works and what it does.  BUT...do you know about this?
WILDFIRE 18% PEPPER GEL STICKY PEPPER SPRAY!!!!!
This stuff is just so cool! … Why? Because after it is sprayed, this Pepper Gel acts like glue to your poor, unfortunate assailant’s face. If the attacker attempts to wipe or rub the Pepper Gel away, it begins to permeate the skin leaving your attacker in even more pain and discomfort. However, just as all pepper sprays, they do not cause any long term harm or damage, but they sure do “mess up” a guy, while the person can escape to safety, instead of being another statistic!

Right now you can buy this great pepper spray on sale and pay no shipping charge!                                                                             

Ladies,  buy one for yourself and keep yourself safer.  Men, buy one or for your wife and/or your daughter(s)…wouldn’t you feel so much better knowing that they will be safer?

And what better time to purchase it…ON SALE & NO SHIPPING!! .  It’s a win, win, win!!

I am asked quite a bit about using wasp and hornet spray as a self-defense tool.  The best answer is one I read (but forgot who wrote it) and will quote it here:  “While it IS effective at hurting people, I view it’s effectiveness about the same as using a white phosphorous grenade to defend yourself from an attacker in an elevator. Will it stop your attacker? Most likely. Will it also hurt you? VERY likely if your attacker is within realistic attack distance”.

That pretty much explains it.  Wasp and hornet spray is VERY powerful but it also has a wide range which means it has a good chance of harming you also.  That’s why we don’t recommend it.  This same person goes on to say:

“If your attacker uses a bullhorn when they’re 50 feet downwind in an open parking lot to announce that they’re going to walk over and attack you, then it might be a good solution. But if you’re within smelling distance, in a vehicle, around other people, at your front door, or in your home, you might want to seriously consider using something non-toxic like pepper spray”.

Bottom line…pepper sprays are much better for self defense. However, remember, even with pepper sprays, you need to hold it as far away from your face as possible.  If you are at home and attacked and there is a can of wasp and hornet spray close by and it’s all you have, then use it…but it is not my suggested use of a self protection weapon.  On the other hand, given this type of scenario, any aerosol sprayed in an attacker’s eyes makes a good improvised weapon.