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Here’s something that’ll help you breathe a little easier this school year: Revolar, a device that allows the user to simply press a button when they need you to send for help.

How many times have you panicked because your little one is taking too long to walk home from school, or your teenager won’t answer their phone? How about when you’re out for a run and you notice someone kind of sketchy following you? While 99% of the time, there are very plausible explanations for these situations, there’s still that 1% chance something could happen. That’s why Jacqueline Ros created Revolar.

After Jacqueline’s sister was assaulted as a teenager, all she could think about was how she could have saved her. How, if only there was a button her sister could’ve pressed that would have alerted someone of her dangerous situation, she wouldn’t have been assaulted. In order to prevent other people from similar situations, she created a small button that syncs to a smart phone, and allows up to 5 contacts to be alerted of your situation.

The set up is simple: just download the free app and connect the Revolar device to your phone. You can clip the device to your clothes or put it on a keychain. This allows you to keep the Revolar nearby while your phone is in a purse or backpack. When you do need to use it, Revolar works through WIFI or cellular data to send alerts.

There are two types of alerts: yellow and red. You can speak with the people in your contacts about what each one means. For example: yellow could mean your child just needs to be picked up maybe they’re walking home and are feeling uncomfortable. Red, on the other hand, means that they need emergency services and that you should call 911. Everyone’s alert means something different, so make sure to have clear definitions of what each alert signal represents when you get them set up!

Seeing as the device can fit in the palm of your hand, it’s small enough to clip to your kid’s jacket and to your running clothes. You can even use it when traveling abroad, again, as long as you have cellular data or WIFI! It’s also durable, with a long battery life and water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet or charging the battery.

Whether your kids are off to first grade or freshman year of college, this is the ideal way to keep everyone feeling safe and protected this school year and beyond! Pick one up at Bestbuy.com, Brookstone stores and at Revolar.com.

The post The Revolar Revolution: Keeping the Entire Family Connected appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

So what steps can you take now to prevent your family from becoming another accident statistic?

Forward collision warning and lane departure warning technology can be the difference between an average commute and a tragedy on the highway. The systems use radar technology to detect if you get too close to an obstacle or another vehicle, which signals the system to sound an alarm – providing up to five full seconds of extra reaction time. That may not seem like much, but imagine how far you can go in five seconds when speeding down the freeway at 60 mph.

This technology isn’t just available in new luxury cars. You can get it installed aftermarket in your current vehicle at a fraction of the cost.

Safe Drive Systems is leading the charge in helping drivers protect themselves and their families on the road by providing affordable forward collision and lane departure technology that can be outfitted into almost any car.

Here are just a few ways that collision avoidance systems can save you money in the short- and long-term while keeping you safe:

Don’t wait for mandatory collision-avoidance technology. Government and consumer advocacy groups are attempting to make forward collision warning technology mandatory in all new cars by 2022. However, you don’t need to wait to protect your family – the technology is available now. This potentially life-saving upgrade is available to all consumers, and getting it installed in your vehicle can provide you and your family a safer driving experience years before the auto dealers will begin manufacturing the technology in standard models – at a higher price point.

Upgrade your safety features without buying a new car. Most manufacturers and dealerships won’t add collision avoidance technology to a car that’s already been purchased. However, you don’t have to buy an expensive car to be safer on the road. Drivers need to be aware of cost-effective aftermarket solutions that can be installed in almost any automobile. This technology can add up to $4,000 to the price of a new car from the manufacturer, but consumers can install it in their current vehicle for half that cost. And with some aftermarket vendors offering interest-free financing, making it even more affordable, there is no need to wait for the government mandate or purchase a brand new vehicle.

Reduce accidents and prevent hikes on insurance premiums. When drivers get into a car accident, they can often expect to pay thousands in insurance surcharges and fees over time on top of repair costs. Avoid these costs by relying on technology that assures a reduction in accidents. Some collision-avoidance vendors are even willing to pay up to 50 percent of your insurance deductible if an accident should occur.

You’re not just surrounded by other drivers when you’re on the road, you’re surrounded by text messages, tweets and apps too. With 80 percent of today’s car accidents caused by driver inattention, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there’s no reason for waiting to take necessary and cost-effective steps to make your car safer.

For more information and tips on how to make your vehicle safer and reduce accidents, call 855-826-4234 or visit safedrivesystems.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

*FF

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According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, roughly 800,000 children are reported missing each year. That’s over 2,000 a day. Shocking, isn’t it?

When I was a kid, my friends and I spent our hours after school meandering the neighborhood. Mom and Dad had no idea where I was or what I was doing. In summer…sun up; I’m gone. I was a race car pulling in for a PB&J pit stop around noon, and dinner was just a distraction. I was gone for hours upon hours. No big deal. Today? Different world!

My daughter is almost 10. If she is three minutes late from a bike ride, her mom and I are freaking out. We lose sight of her at the park and we panic. On vacation? When I am not playing with her, I am a CIA agent scanning the crowd for suspicious characters.

So how can we keep our kids safe in today’s modern world? No tool or device will keep your kids safe 100% of the time, but here are five things you can do to mitigate the risks:

1.  Family Talk – Take time to talk to your children about safety and abduction prevention. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has an excellent campaign called Take 25 (http://www.take25.org/) that provides free tools such as safety tips, conversation starters, and mini-lessons to help trusted adults begin conversations with children about safety.

2.  ID Card – Create and give each child a laminated ID card with his or her name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, etc. If your child is too young or otherwise unable to speak for him or herself, consider writing the information somewhere on his or her clothing in permanent marker.

3.  Child ID Kit – Prepare an ID kit for each child in the event that he or she is missing. The kit should include a physical description (nickname, date of birth, height, weight, gender, fingerprints, hair and eye colors, etc.), any identifying features (glasses, braces, scars, birthmarks, piercings, etc.), any medical information (conditions, disorders, diseases, medications, etc.), and, most importantly, an up-to-date, good quality digital photo. Be sure to take your kits with you on trips and vacations.

4.  Emergency Hot Spots – Whether you are at a playground, amusement park, ski slope, vacation resort, or any crowded location, always identify the nearest help and information centers, emergency stations, and police posts. Inform your children where to go and what to do in case of an emergency or if they get lost.

5.  kidsport GPS Tracking Device – The kidsport GPS band is a GPS tracking device developed specifically for kids that allows parents to locate their kids on their cell phones, iPads or computers. It features an alert button that sends you an immediate text if your child needs you; a secure latch to prevent unintended removal; a removal alert that texts you when the band is taken off; and a Geo-Fence Boundary Alert that sends you a text if the boundary you set is crossed. To find out more about kidsport GPS, visit www.kidsportGPS.com. (Bands are currently on sale now as pre-orders and will be available this fall.)

No parent I know can imagine what it is like to have a child go missing. It is our greatest fear. But by educating a children and taking safety precautions, we can help reduce the chances of that ever happening. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com) has a lot of excellent information on child safety and what you can do as a parent or guardian. 

About Eric Long – Eric Long is a dad and co-founder of Precise Innovation, a creative idea company that developed the kidsport GPS tracking band for kids. Our company is based on one word…FUN. We believe the best ideas come from simple, everyday need and that we are most creative and innovative when we are having fun. Our goal is to create products that make sense; make consumers’ lives better; and make a positive impact. To learn more or to pre-order your kidsport GPS, go to www.kidsportgps.com. 

The post 5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

As you rush from store to store this holiday season, making your list and checking it twice, you may not be giving careful attention to safeguarding your cellphone. Distracted shoppers make easy targets for mischief and even simple careless losses.

Each year, the percentage of claims filed for lost or stolen cellphones increases in November, December and January, according to claims data from Asurion, a mobile protection and solutions company that partners with wireless providers around the globe. New Year’s Eve is the most dangerous holiday for phones, with an 83 percent increase in claims.

“The risk of theft increases during the holidays, and consumers need to consider a more comprehensive approach to protecting their smartphones and the valuable information on them,” said Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion. “Purchasing cellphone protection can save customers hundreds of dollars on a replacement device and reconnect them quickly to friends, family and coworkers during the holiday season.”

Technology-based tools are available that can perform a wide range of functions. These include location-based services that help you find a missing device, remotely lock it and even erase the data should a device land in the wrong hands.

To help keep your smartphone and the personal, irreplaceable information it contains safe this holiday season, keep the following tips in mind:

• Back up your content regularly, whether to your computer or through a reputable cloud service.
• Update your phone’s software regularly to ensure you are protected from the latest security vulnerabilities.
• Enable password protection, especially if your phone provides access to banking or credit accounts.
• If your phone and provider offer them, enable location-based services that will let you track down your phone if it gets lost.
• Insure your phone. The best buys are comprehensive policies that safeguard you from loss, theft, damage and malfunction.
• Avoid using your phone to log into personal accounts, such as online banking, while using an unsecured public wireless network.
• Carry your phone in a deep pocket or in a purse with a zipper or other secure closure to prevent it from slipping out while you’re busy perusing gift ideas.
• Make a habit of checking for your phone as you leave a store or location. While this won’t prevent it from getting stolen, it will narrow the search field if it goes missing.

Visit www.asurion.com for additional information on smartphone insurance and technologies to protect your information and device.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

*Family Features

The post Cellphone Safety During the Holidays appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Today, a majority of kids in the US have mobile phones, and while the devices can help families stay in touch, the proliferation of mobile phones among the school-age set poses new challenges for busy moms and dads. It’s tough for parents to keep tabs on who their kids are calling and texting now that children have their own phones – gone are the days when mom could keep track of kids’ contacts by simply answering a central family phone.

And with hundreds of thousands of apps out there and more being launched every day, parents also have to worry about kids downloading unsuitable or unsafe apps. Another dilemma is how to monitor phone usage. Kids tend to carry their mobile phones everywhere they go, and it can be difficult to make sure they don’t use them at all hours. Data usage is another issue: Failure to keep track can result in an unpleasant surprise when the monthly phone bill arrives.

So how can busy moms keep tabs on kids’ mobile phone activities, short of reading through texts, listening in on calls and conducting daily app inspections? Now there’s a new option: the MobileKids app from Bipper. Available in Android and iPhone versions, MobileKids lets parents monitor their children’s mobile phone activities, set limits on cell phone usage, restrict data consumption and keep kids safer with GPS tracking features and an SOS button.

Installed on both the parents’ and children’s mobile phones, the MobileKids app has filtering features that allow parents to review and approve or block downloads and new contacts. The MobileKids app provides parents with daily and weekly reports on phone usage and activities. Children can also view the settings, which helps them understand their parents’ expectations.

MobileKids has time control features that allow moms to restrict mobile phone usage – at bedtime or during homework time, for example – as well as usage controls that enable parents to place limits on minutes, texts, Wi-Fi, MMS and data consumption to control phone bills.

The app also provides GPS tracking and safety features that give peace of mind to moms and kids alike: Children can use the SOS button to alert parents with a single click if they are lost or feel unsafe. Moms and dads can then use the app’s real-time tracking capabilities to locate their children. The GPS tracking feature can also be used by parents who want to make sure kids are where they are supposed to be at any given time.  

mobile communications revolution provides unprecedented capabilities and opportunities for keeping in touch, but it can also make a mom’s job a lot tougher. MobileKids can help with tools that allow busy parents to conveniently monitor and control usage and keep kids safe. Find out more at www.mobilekids.com.

The post Generation Mobile: Setting Limits and Keeping Kids Safe appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

*Make a time and place to meet if you split up-or get separated. Make sure the kids know to seek out someone in a uniform who is working should they get lost. Make sure they have the name, phone number and address of where you are staying as well as your cell phone numbers.

*Never force a child to ride an attraction if they are frightened-even if you’ve waited in line. Never tease a child about their fear. You can always return later-or next year. LEGOLAND Florida has developed tips for parents of first-time Coaster riders.

*Don’t fudge the height rules for young children. They’re in place for your child’s safety. Nor should a child ride an attraction he’s outgrown.

*Seat a younger child on the inside and make sure they keep their hands and feet inside at all times.

*Carry reusable water bottles and snacks so that you don’t have to wait in long lines when the kids are hungry. It will be cheaper, healthier and greener.

*Slather on sunscreen! Be prepared for changes in weather with jackets, rain gear and hats.  

*Leave when the kids-and you-have had enough, even if you haven’t seen everything or ridden every ride. There will always be another visit.

*Allow lots of down time at the hotel and in the pool. Remember, this is vacation!

Check out other great family travel tips from Eileen Ogintz at www.takingthekids.com

The post Theme Park Smarts: Tips for Safety and Fun appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Little Pim, winner of 20 awards, makes it fun and easy to introduce kids to a foreign language. Give your kids a head start with Little Pim! 10 languages available. www.LittlePim.com

Me Art capture’s your child in a way that’s modern and hip. Me Art turns photos into one-of-a–kind, custom works of art, designed by you. They also take piles of your kid’s art and turn them into one masterpiece. Go create at www.MeArt.com

Birthday Keepsakes® time capsules are beautiful color prints, bursting with great facts about the day your child was born! See more personalized products at www.bkeepsakes.com and use Coupon Code AKA11 for 10% savings.

KidKusion Driveway Guard
Use our Driveway Guard to set boundaries for your children and neighborhood traffic! This bright orange net creates a visual boundary for your children. Available in both a Retractable and Non Retractable Net. KidKusion.com

Modern-twist Kidz Placemat
Made from silky food-grade, hand silk-screened silicone, the mats won’t crease or rip. The mats are ideal for travel and mealtime activities and they feature creative, playful designs that will amuse and inspire little tikes. All Modern-twist
products are free of BPA, latex + chemicals, and perfect for an eco-friendly home. www.modern-twist.com

These amazing toddler shoes can be worn both indoors and outdoors. They promote healthy development of growing feet while providing the child with the freedom of movement, traction and protection. Shop online at:
www.mySkidders.com Use coupon code Skid20 to recieve 20% discount.

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