Big Scare yesterday!

[KarenCurtis]

I am so afraid that these dogs would freak out and attack me or Bela in our own yard. I own a small .22 pistol, and am a good shot (I practice once a week), but am uncomfortable in "packing" when I am innocently just trying to walk my dog. I overheard these young men with the dogs make some comments about sending their dogs over to "mess up" Bela while we were out last week.

Good for you for owning that gun and knowing how to use it. I see no problem with that, and being armed. It is sad you have to do that- I hope you also take your cell phone.

 

[KarenCurtis]

Do you have a cell phone with an earpiece? If you don't have an ear piece, I would invest in one and wear it when walking. Even if you are not on a call, you could pretend to be in conversation with someone when you are approached. No one would ever know that there is no one on the other end of the call.

I agree with the others - be extremely cautious when dealing with those people who have the pit bulls.

The ear piece is a really good idea- can you only use it in only one ear so you can hear your surroundings?

 

[Jaynie]

Even when I feel relatively safe, I never go anywhere (indoors or out) without my cell phone. It's a good habit to cultivate. I have spinal problems and fall a lot and cannot get up on my own sometimes.

 

[Lysette85]

Even when I feel relatively safe, I never go anywhere (indoors or out) without my cell phone. It's a good habit to cultivate. I have spinal problems and fall a lot and cannot get up on my own sometimes.

What about that life alert thing? They shouldn't just advertise it for senior citizens...I'd like to be able to just push a button when I'm in trouble...cell phones can be a hassle when you're in a panic. If they could make one of those life alert things with a signal that gives off your location that would be awesome....especially for kids.

 

[Emmasmom]

The ear piece is a really good idea- can you only use it in only one ear so you can hear your surroundings?

It's made for use in one ear. We have to use handsfree here in Ontario when driving. This earpiece enables you to use your cell phone without actually having to dial or answer the phone. My boss (a surgeon) will wear his in the office when he is on call and he gets called a lot. He also uses it when he is biking back and forth to work. If I used my cell phone more, I would have one.

 

[Jaynie]

What about that life alert thing? They shouldn't just advertise it for senior citizens...I'd like to be able to just push a button when I'm in trouble...cell phones can be a hassle when you're in a panic. If they could make one of those life alert things with a signal that gives off your location that would be awesome....especially for kids.

I'm not too fond of the Life Alert and services like them. I had about two years of experience with one that was installed for my grandmother. She fell six times, and had to lie there for over an hour, with the paramedics HQ less than a block away. I can imagine the wait would be longer out in the boonies where I live. The cell phone is much more to my liking - I wear it in a little pouch around my neck that I made (I can crochet like a madwoman).

I've always had an idea for a GPS-assisted device that would automatically notifiy anyone you programed into it (email, telephone, pager, etc.) if you stayed in a fallen position for over two minutes or some preset time. The technology exists - it would just be a matter of putting it all together.

Oh, I also take my amateur radio walkie-talkie with me when I go out, and if anyone is communicating on our club's repeater, I announce that I'm going out, and when I come back in. I do this with my dad as well - I notify him when I leave home in my car, and when I arrive back at home.

Now, why don't I call my hubby? Well, when he's at home, I don't have much need of these safety practices (he's a big, tall guy anyone would think twice at messing with), but he works 12 hour days and commutes 2 hours a day. So I try to be as self-sufficient as possible.