This timely message addresses an issue that most of us probably haven’t really thought about. As residents of the Desert Southwest being prepared to handle a catastrophe isn’t high on our priority list. While we are less likely to experience some of these recent disasters, planning for an unforeseen emergency is still an important consideration.

We thought it was important to share information on how to prepare for an unforeseen disaster. This includes having an emergency kit, putting together an emergency plan and communicating this information to family members. These are important tips that we hope you find helpful. You need to be ready should an emergency presents itself.

Earthquakes Strike Quickly

Should a disaster strike, you probably won’t have the time needed to put together a survival/emergency kit. It is recommended that you put together several emergency kits including; an Emergency Car Kit, a 72-Hour Emergency Kit and a Medical Kit and store them in easily accessible areas. A good 72-Hour Emergency Kit should include:

• First aid kit (click here to see American Red Cross suggestions)
• LED flashlight and extra batteries
• 3-day supply of water for each family member
• 3-day supply of food and snacks (nonperishable food items are suggested)
• Prescription medications (keep an eye on expiration dates)
• Maps of surrounding areas
• Waterproof bags, boxes or containers
• Wet towelettes and personal sanitary items
• Whistle to signal for help
• Matches or lighter in a waterproof container
• Cell phone with extra battery and charger
• Tools (wrench, pliers, hammer, can opener, etc.)
• Change of clothing (climate appropriate)
• Blankets and sleeping bag
• Cash in small bills and coins ($200 or more)

These are essentials when preparing an emergency kit. Depending on the types of emergencies you could encounter, you will want to pack additional supplies that match those needs.

You should also develop an emergency plan. This plan should take into consideration your location, situation and emergencies you could encounter. Share this plan with family members to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do in an emergency. Your emergency plan should include a meeting location and plan for when everyone isn’t together, important phone numbers and an out-of-state contact. Equally important, inquire about emergency plans for both your child’s school and your work.

It’s important to have both an emergency kit and plan in case you are forced to evacuate your area quickly. Having an easily accessible and pre-made emergency kit and meet up location for family members can help in this process. Always try to have plenty of gas in your vehicle and know your local routes (as some may be blocked due to heavy raining, flooding and/or heavy traffic.

The first step is realizing that almost anything can happen at any time. Planning for the unexpected improves the chances that you and your family remain safe. While many of us don’t like to think about bad things happening, being prepared for when they do is smart. Follow these steps to make sure you are ready should the unexpected occur. Share these with friends and family members so that they are too.

Our number one mission at Safeguard is to help keep our customers safe. We encourage you to become independent and better prepared to stay safe during an emergency.

Rising Waters During a Flood

Safeguard will be there all weekend, in the Agriculture Building at booth #923. Our friendly staff will be showcasing a variety of security systems, surveillance cameras and other newest products; including Enhanced Security. Make sure to stop by and say hi. We would love to answer any questions  that you may have about equipping your home with a security system.

Enhanced Security Combines Security and Home Automation

It’s important in today’s home market to invest what you can afford into your home. When making improvements to your home, it’s equally important to secure those with a security system. During these troubling economic times, having protection for you and your family is also critical. To help you accomplish this, Safeguard has developed many programs to lower the cost of equipping your home with such protection. If you are at the show, stop by and ask a friendly Safeguard representative about how we can provide you the premiere protection Safeguard is known for.

We hope to see you out at the show!

Safeguard does not like to promote our involvement with charitable organizations often. If it’s promoted too often, it is our belief that it actually lessens the sincerity of that contribution. Still, we made a donation to a local elementary school last week that we really wanted to share.

Safeguard employees held an internal school supplies drive leading up to our Holiday Party. Our employees were provided a list of supplies that one lucky local school needed for their students’ classrooms. This school, Santa Fe Elementary School, was chosen after we had held an essay contest to share how the supplies would be utilized by the Students and Teachers. Collection boxes were placed throughout Safeguard, employees were allowed to make cash donations and we even had a “Dunk Tank” where various Management Team members took turns getting soaked by employees that made a charitable contribution.

Managers Getting Soaked for a Good Cause

Safeguard employees raised nearly $2,000! Even more special, Safeguard owner John Jennings matched the contribution. In all, Safeguard was able to raise $4,000 to purchase the school supplies that Santa Fe so desperately needed.

Our contribution really hit home when we delivered all of the supplies to the school. The students made signs thanking Safeguard for their help, ABC 15 came out to view the event, and we were able to deliver the materials to the students in their classes. Looking at their faces light up upon receiving these donations helped us to truly understand the difference we had made.

While Safeguard protects many of our local schools with Fire Alarm, Sprinkler, Access Control, Security, Surveillance Camera and other security related systems – this was a contribution that truly helped the school. Making a difference in someone’s life, helping a child get a better education and helping a school that struggles with ever-shrinking education budgets was pretty special.

To view ABC 15′s mentioning of this event, please click here.

To view pictures of  Safeguard delivering the school supplies, please click here.

The man told the homeowner that Safeguard had recently sent a letter advising clients that technicians would be coming out to upgrade their alarm system.  The client explained that she never received a letter and that she only lets those with a scheduled appointment into her home.

Taking note of this suspicious activity, the client then contacted the Phoenix Police Department to file a report.  When the police officers arrived, they checked with a neighbor and were told that the same individuals offered them a lower monthly rate if they agreed to a system upgrade.  Although those neighbors weren’t currently our customers, the two suspicious individuals represented themselves again as our personnel that could provide them with discounted service and rates.

The officers applauded the customer’s judgment for not letting the strangers into her home. They specifically mentioned the importance of having a security system and using it regularly. The officers were planning a “crime sweep” in the area and have advised her to call 9-1-1 if the individuals return. They believe that those individuals could very likely been trying to perform a home invasion or casing the home to rob it later.

Again, we’d like to remind you to never let unauthorized or unscheduled individuals into your home. It is important to not only have a security system, but to use it regularly. There are many scam artists and criminals that will pose as service technicians, for all types of trades and services, to get access into your home. Do not be fooled and do not let them in.  The client mentioned in this story had a strict protocol to never allow unscheduled visits into her home, and this may have saved her life.  Though preparation may seem to be a hassle at times, imagine the much larger hassle it can prevent.

Safeguard reminds you to use your security system regularly, and to use caution in the constant protection of your home.  Your safety is our priority.  If you ever feel unsafe, please to not hesitate to contact us for additional tips and safety plans.

Safeguard

As a single mother to Carson, Heather was selected by Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills to receive a new home. To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home, prospects must be able to pay for the house, be willing to put in between 200 to 400 hours of work into the home and be a U.S. resident.

New Habitat Homeowner Heather is seen in the middle

Kurt Warner and his organization, First Things First Foundation, donated the furnishings for the home.

Safeguard provided services to first protect the home and all of the new furnishings and appliances as it was being built. We then provided the system and free monitoring for 6 months to help keep Heather and Carson safe in their new home.

Now, Carson has room to play and be active in a large backyard.  In addition to this, Heather is able to raise her son without the fear of living in an unsafe home.  Special thanks to Habitat for Humanity for allowing us to contribute to this very special cause!

1. Organization is the most important step.

2. Choose a date, guest list, and theme early.

3. Plan an interesting menu.

4. Remember the details! Do you have drink mixers, garnishes, and appetizers?

5. Find a sommelier (or just a wino!) for assistance selecting the evening’s wine.

6.  Plan your table decorations.

7. Plan your dishes – keep them interesting!

8. Take the risk – use your good stuff!

9.  Choose lighting and background music to match your desired ambiance.

10. Prepare, prepare, prepare.  A lot of cooking can be done in advance!

They left this one out of the top ten list, but we think it is just as important: don’t forget to enjoy the company of your guests.  Isn’t that the reason you invited them in the first place?  Your friends, family, and loved ones are the most important aspects of the evening.  Don’t let the other details prevent you from having a little fun! Enjoy the holidays!

My lead flight attendant came to me and said,  “We have an H.R. on this flight.” (H.R. stands for human remains.) “Are they military?” I asked.

‘Yes’, she said.

‘Is there an escort?’ I asked.

‘Yes, I already assigned him a seat’.

‘Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck. You can board him early,” I said.

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck.  He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier.

He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.  The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

‘My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,’ he said.

He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.  I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers.

The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand.  He left the   flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure.

About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.

‘I just found out  the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board’, she said.  She then proceeded to tell me that  the father, mother, wife and 2-year old  daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the  soldier told the flight   attendant that  knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was  anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do.. ‘I’m on it’, I said. I told her that I would get back  to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of  e-mail like messages.

I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio.

There  is a radio operator in the operations   control center who  connects you to the telephone of the  dispatcher.

I was  in direct contact with the dispatcher.. I explained the situation I had on board with the  family and what it was the family wanted.

He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from   the dispatcher.  We  were going to get busy soon and I needed to know  what to tell the  family.

I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the  text:

‘Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on  this now and I had to check on a few things.

Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.

The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side.  A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The  family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only.

When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.  Captain,  most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.’

I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the  lead flight attendant to pass on to the father.  The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, ‘You have no idea how much this will mean to them.’

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing.  After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area.

The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway.  It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit.

When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

‘There is a team in place to meet the aircraft’, we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane.  As we approached our gate, I asked the copilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers.  He did that and the ramp controller said, ‘Take your time.’

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake.  I pushed the public address button and said,  ‘Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have  stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement.  We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.

His Name is Private XXXXXX, a  soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold.  Escorting him today is Army Sergeant  XXXXXXX.

Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.’

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown  procedures.

A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door.  I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see.

I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in  their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands.

Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping.

Words of ‘God  Bless You’, I’m sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind  words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.  They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I  had made.

They were just words, I told  them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .

Safeguard Security wishes you and yours our sincerest wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

• Start an Emergency Fund: Before your bundle of joy comes along, be sure you have some extra savings that are not to be touched.  A healthy habit to protect your home and family is to keep emergency funds based on calculated risk.  In other words, a new baby, home, or pet can all increase the possibility of trauma, and thus, all warrant an increase of an emergency fund.
• Create a Budget: Naturally, especially for first-timers, this is likely to change.  It is rather unrealistic to assume no expense will go unforgotten, but it is definitely worth a try! Consider all the necessities, and figure out how to make it work.  Then, in your first few months, you can adjust for reality.
• Purchase Life Insurance: No new parent wants to consider the possibility of a loss in the family.  However, purchasing life insurance now could save you money and sorrow later.  Remember, our priority is your safety, and this is an absolute necessity.
• Protect Your Home: In the hustle and bustle of buying diapers, bottles, and car seats, it is easy to skim over other things.  You know what those other things are: the ones that you know in the back of your mind you should do, but you just don’t have time for? An important tip: make time for them now.  Having a baby only means more responsibility and less time to catch up on those little things.  Luckily, you can call us at (480) 609-6200, and we’ll make sure the process is quick and painless.

As many of us at Safeguard are parents ourselves, these tips are tried and true.  What financial tips have you found successful? Let us know in the comments, or tell us on Facebook or Twitter!