Latest news with #homeSafety
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Every second counts: Augmented reality tool helps train Canadians for home fire emergencies
Kidde's Cause For Alarm 'Prepare. Plan. Practice.', a first-of-its-kind digital simulator, brings fire safety training into the home — no downloads required. The following joint news release has been issued on behalf of Kidde, the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, and the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE). TORONTO, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home fires now burn with alarming speed, up to 8 times faster than 50 years ago¹, yet many Canadians are unprepared to react quickly enough. Almost 7 out 10 Canadians (69%) believe they have more time to escape than what fire experts say is the reality: 2 minutes or less. This dangerous misconception means many won't be ready for a fire at home, and when every second counts, being prepared with working smoke alarms and an escape plan could be the difference between life and death. Kidde, a trusted leader in fire safety for more than 100 years, is expanding its annual Cause For Alarm™ campaign, a global fire safety education initiative, with the launch of Prepare. Plan. Practice., a free tool that uses augmented reality (AR) technology to bring fire safety to life. It offers a first-of-its-kind at-home digital fire drill simulator that helps users build essential skills, improve awareness and learn how to react quickly in a home fire emergency. 'By leveraging cutting-edge AR technology, this tool makes essential fire safety education more accessible, engaging, and actionable,' explains Ivanette Bonilla, Kidde's Chief Communications and Government Relations Officer. 'Children may participate in up to 10 fire drills at school each year, but few families practice fire safety at home where fires are more likely to happen — underscoring the need to bring this experience into households to help families prepare together.' Prepare. Plan. Practice. is accessible to anyone through any smartphone or tablet browser, with no downloads, purchases or apps required. This gives Canadians a safe, yet realistic way to experience a home fire, learn room-by-room safety tips and practice an escape in real time against a 2-minute countdown. The experience features the following modes: Demonstration Mode kicks off the journey, using AR technology to simulate what a fire would look like in the user's own room. This dramatization shows how quickly a fire can grow and spread in just two minutes. Learn Mode lets users explore a digital home and click through fire hazards, smoke alarm tips, carbon monoxide safety and more. Practice Mode guides users through creating a personalized escape plan, then simulates a fire with sound effects and a live 2-minute timer. There's even a 'Kid Mode' for families with younger children, offering a less intense but equally educational version of the simulation. The tool also features a Safety Hub; upon users completing their experience, they are directed to this central resource hub that provides links to additional fire safety information, printable checklists, escape plan templates and other educational materials. This tool was developed in consultation and collaboration with leading Canadian and international fire safety organizations who play a critical role in ensuring its accuracy, relevance and alignment with the fire safety needs of Canadians. Prepare. Plan. Practice. has the support of these organizations, including: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE) 'It's crucial that we continue to evolve the way we educate and prepare people for emergencies. Prepare. Plan. Practice. serves as a powerful example of how technology can be leveraged to help make life-saving fire safety knowledge more engaging, accessible, and actionable for today's families,' says Laura King, Canadian Director, National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®). 'We're proud to see messaging from NFPA's Educational Messaging Advisory Committee Desk Reference — the global resource for public education messaging — incorporated into innovative solutions that help advance public safety.' 'At the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, one of our goals has always been to make fire and life safety education widely accessible,' says Jamie Kovacs, Executive Director at the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council. 'This invaluable new tool supports that mission by engaging families directly in their homes. It's a powerful way to reinforce what kids learn at school and help close the gap in fire preparedness at home.' Visit to access the free tool and take a critical step toward protecting yourself and your loved ones. You'll also find a full suite of fire safety resources which include a children's book titled Safety Saves the Day!, a children's fire safety song, 'Beeps that Last Get Out Fast', and Kidde's Fire Safety Toolkit, which is available in seven different languages. Sources: ¹ FSRI, Comparison of Natural and Synthetic Home Furnishings, ² Study commissioned by Kidde, facilitated by Maru Blue September 2024 ³ Statistics Canada. 'Incident-based fire statistics, by type of fire incident and type of structure,' 2017 to 2021. ⁴ Statistics Canada. 'Unintentional fire-related deaths in Canada.' 2011 to 2020. About Kidde Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and safety accessories, has been keeping the world a safer place for over 100 years. Kidde produced the first integrated smoke detection system a century ago and continues its legacy today by delivering advanced fire-safety technology. Kidde is a part of Kidde Global Solutions, a global leader in fire and life safety solutions. For more information, visit or follow @KiddeCanada on Facebook and Instagram. About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at About the FMPFSC The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) is a registered charity organization in Ontario dedicated to promoting fire prevention and public education across the province. Established in 1993, the Council collaborates with fire departments, community organizations, and private sector partners to enhance fire safety awareness and training initiatives. About the OAFE The Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE) is a professional organization dedicated to supporting fire and life safety educators across the province. OAFE develops and delivers effective public education resources, advocates for fire safety awareness, and fosters professional growth through training, collaboration, and a strong provincial network. For more information about: Cause For Alarm, visit NFPA, visit FMPFSC, visit OAFE, visit Media Contact: Stephanie Berzinski A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
CNET
25-06-2025
- CNET
7 Security Tips and Gadgets When You're Living Solo
Living by yourself comes with benefits -- lots of free space, impromptu dance parties and your choice of comfortwear. But it can also raise safety issues for some people. You may feel more exposed when spending time at home along, at greater risk of break-ins or other issues. Let's take care of that part. Basic practices like staying in touch with your neighbors and keeping windows covered after dark can help anyone feel safer. But today's home security gadgets and smart home tools can also change how you go solo. Simple additions like connected lights, cheap locks and motion detectors give you more control and enhance your home while improving protection. Here are my favorite picks. Read more: Essential Security Tips When Staying at an Airbnb or Rental 1. Install a motion sensor or tinkly bell A basic motion sensor is a cheap way to tell if anyone is around. Amazon/HTZSAFE/CNET One of the best safety measures to take when living alone is to know when someone else is around. A traditional option is attaching a string of bells to your door handle, but we have more dependable choices these days like this $12 light-up LED motion sensor. If you prefer an outdoor alert or a motion sensor that can cover a long hallway/open floor plan, then you can choose this $35 weather-resistant sensor and hub with an adjustable chime instead. This tip works especially well for those living alone because detectors old or new can be easily triggered by kids or partners, creating more confusion than confidence. You'll want to put them at locations and heights pets can't reach or activate too. 2. Grab a portable door lock to give a room extra protection Portable locks aren't just for traveling: They can make bedrooms, home offices and other areas feel safer. Amazon/PASSDONE/CNET Portable locks can give any traditional, non-deadbolt door an extra lock that's harder to force through, for people truly worried about a violent breakin. You can easily put them on bedroom doors, rental doors or any other door where you want more defense – no matter what other security the house has. It's a useful, versatile solution if you're not sure how long you'll be living alone and you want something extra for a specific room. Portable locks are affordable too. Here's a two-pack for only $16. And if you want a more substantial upgrade, you can always choose a smart lock with app controls. 3. Pick a portable cam you can move wherever you need Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistant option to watch from any location. Tyler Lacoma/CNET A security cam can be a welcome eye on your home if you're living alone, but our experts recommend a portable, wireless indoor model in this case. You can move a portable cam to watch over whatever room you want or any particular hallway, corner or shadow that's giving you the creeps. Our favorite cams for these purposes include the Google Nest indoor/outdoor camera ($176) and the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery ($80). Both these cams can work outside as well if you're worried about a dark yard. 4. Equip the main door with a video doorbell Blink's affordable doorbell is well-rounded cheap pick. Blink/Amazon A video doorbell alerts you when someone is approaching, allows you to talk with a visitor remotely and can even sound sirens or speak up with automated messages. It's an all-in-one security device that's especially useful if you're home alone, and we have a full guide on the best models for your door. If you're keeping an eye on your wallet, we can also recommend several excellent cheap video doorbells. Keep in mind, most doorbells require a subscription or microSD card to store video footage. Some even allow you to set the doorbell to recognize familiar faces and warn about an unfamiliar face, which users may prefer. 5. Set your indoor/outdoor lights to turn on at night Ring smart lighting lets a home seem active and full. Ring Most random trespassers or burglars don't know you're home alone. You can make the illusion even more convincing with smart lighting that turns on at scheduled times to make it look like more people are arriving home and active in multiple rooms. It's a lot more effective than trying to mimic a flashing TV or other old-fashioned tactics. Smart bulbs are more affordable than ever, with options like this Amazon Basics 4-pack available for $36. They're made to fit into standard home sockets, and many no longer require hubs to work so they're very flexible. Set and forget a "turn on" schedule to keep your home looking busy no matter what's happening. And take a look at my picks for the best LED floodlights for larger options. 6. Change the passwords for your device and lock logins Change the password on your wireless network for extra security. CNET People living alone, especially women, are far more likely to be attacked by someone they know when they are at home. So I recommend that when your living situation changes, you should prioritize changing the passwords on your security apps, Wi-Fi routers, security cameras and even your phone. Don't forget to change codes for your locks and garage door, if necessary. This is a basic security step that's all-too-easy to forget when you're getting used to living alone. Read more: We Asked a Criminologist About The Most Common Ways Burglars Break In 7. Choose a high-quality keychain pepper spray A keychain pepper spray isn't only useful outside if you're living alone. Sabre You never want to be in a situation where you feel physically threatened by someone, but if it happens it's great to have a little can of Mace or pepper spray close by. This Sabre spray is available for $10 and attaches to your keychain so you always have it nearby. You could even loop it to some phone cases, purses or belts. It has a quick detach clasp for easy access, plus a twist lock for safety. Bonus tip: Invest in a panic button A panic button is a more expensive option for solo living, but gives you immediate emergency access. Ring If you want to go the extra mile for solo safety, you pick up a panic button that you can carry with you or set nearby to immediately contact responders whenever you need to. These panic buttons are a common part of home security systems. Ring Alarm offers one for $30, while SimpliSafe has a wall-mounted $20 model. Systems like ADT Plus combine panic buttons with their access fobs, and you can even find standalone models from brands like Silent Beacon. These devices take a subscription to work properly and aren't for every wallet, but they do complete your home security when no one else is around (or home safety for a loved one in a similar situation). For more spot-on security tips, check out if you can use a security cam in an apartment building, how to deter burglars from your home, if a dog is good for home security and the worst places to put a security camera.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police are at my door. Do I need to answer? What to know if law enforcement knocks in Texas
Knock! Knock! Knock! There's a stranger at your doorstep. You rush to the peephole to see who's there. It's the police. They ask you to open the door. Your next move could be costly. Do you open the door, ask questions, or ignore them? Following what prosecutors have described as the "political assassination" of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband — part of an attack that also injured Sen. John Hoffman and his wife — many Americans are now questioning their legal and practical options in response to the incident. The suspect in the case, Vance Boelter, 57, was dressed in a police officer's attire, complete with a black tactical vest, and carried a flashlight, as an officer would, according to an affidavit filed in federal court and written by Special Agent Terry Getsch of the FBI. Boelter was also driving an SUV equipped with a fake "POLICE" license plate and "law enforcement-style emergency lights," the affidavit said. "This is the police. Open the door," Boelter shouted outside at around 2 a.m. on June 14, according to Hoffman's family members, Getsch wrote in the affidavit. Here's what to know about answering the door for law enforcement in Texas. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution offers safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures, granting your home the greatest degree of protection. As a result, law enforcement officers cannot enter your residence without valid legal authority. If the police knock on your door, you're not obligated to answer or let them in. According to this tactic, known as a 'knock and talk,' is designed to begin a voluntary conversation, but your participation is entirely optional. Law enforcement knocking on your door can be intimidating. Most people's first inclination is to answer the door for them. However, that doesn't mean you have to. Here are five things to keep in mind if police officers knock on your door: You don't have to open the door unless they have a warrant. If officers don't present a search or arrest warrant, you're not legally obligated to let them in. Ask if they have a warrant — and see it. If they claim to have one, you can request to see it through a window or have them slide it under the door before opening up. Don't step outside your home or invite them in unless you want to. Once you open the door or step outside, you may unintentionally waive some of your Fourth Amendment protections. Stay calm and polite — but say little. You have the right to remain silent. You can simply say, 'I don't wish to speak without a lawyer,' and that's enough. If they don't have a warrant, they can't enter unless there's an emergency. This includes things like hearing screams, seeing someone in danger, or suspecting a crime is actively happening inside. According to the Texas Constitution Search & Seizures §9, the law says the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. According to Texas law, there are situations of "exigent circumstances," also known as warrantless search and seizure in Texas. Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the law authorizes officers to enter homes without a warrant in exigent circumstances. Examples of this include: Protection of life (first aid, extracting children who appear to be in danger, protecting an undercover officer or informant). Protection of property (such as extinguishing a fire or stopping a burglary). Preventing destruction of evidence. Pursuing a fleeing felon ('hot pursuit'). According to the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, exigent circumstances can justify an officer's initial entry into a residence, especially when the goal is to help someone in danger or ensure public safety. However, once the immediate emergency is under control, officers are no longer permitted to continue searching without legal authority. A warrant or another specific exception must be in place to allow further examination of the premises, though officers may secure the location while obtaining one. Notably, the exigent circumstances rule does not create a blanket exception for murder scenes that would permit unrestricted searches; entry is only permitted to assist victims or locate an attacker. -USA TODAY Network Amanda Lee Myers contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: If police knock on your door, do you need to open? What Texas law says
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Someone Might Be Watching You Through Your Home Security Camera. Here's What To Know.
It's unsettling to think your home may not be the safe space you intend it to be. As rewarding as technology is, it also carries home safety and privacy threats. You've probably heard stories of people and companies listening to your conversations through smart speakers or smartphones. (Yes, this really happens.) Maybe you've even heard about nightmare scenarios where people get access to a home camera system, which is a growing concern as in-home cameras from any number of brands — Blink, SimpliSafe, Ring, Nest, and Arlo — grow in popularity. Folks use these cameras in their homes to check in on kids, seniors, and pets. They also use them to monitor their homes for threats. Unfortunately, hackers can gain access to this footage, too. When it comes to hackers getting into your home camera systems, there are two possible scenarios: Someone accesses the live feed and watches you in real time, or someone hacks into your recorded videos from the past weeks, months or years, experts told HuffPost. How does this happen? And what can you do to protect yourself? Here's what security experts say: If you don't change the default password after buying your camera, it's more subject to hacking. Most people's home security cameras won't get hacked, but it does happen in certain scenarios. And, typically, when you talk about getting into in-home cameras, it's because of a bad password, said Dave Chronister, the CEO of Parameter Security. First, if you use a default password for your home camera, it's more vulnerable to nefarious activity, said Alex Hamerstone, the advisory solutions director for TrustedSec, an ethical hacking company. Your camera generally comes with a default username and password when you buy it, he explained. 'And hackers know, and scammers know, the default username and password so they can log into cameras if you have not changed the default username and password,' Hamerstone said. 'There's a site called Shodan that people oftentimes share links to, and what Shodan does is it goes on and looks for items with default passwords,' he added. 'So, whether it's a webcam or a router or something like that... it posts the footage from the cameras.' Hackers can also scan for default passwords associated with cameras to get into your system, Chronister said. 'We have found this in a lot of areas,' he said. Particularly, hackers will steal illicit videos of people in their homes and go on to share the footage on public websites and adult websites. If you are the target of a scam, you may also be at risk. Your camera could also be compromised if someone is targeting you or you're a victim of a phishing scandal, said Hamerstone. 'If I'm a specific target, somebody may try to phish me and find out my passwords whether it's for the camera or something else,' he said. 'And then they may, accurately, guess that someone's using the same password for all the different accounts, including cameras, and then log in that way,' he added. Then, they can gain access to your feed and any saved videos. In most cases, if you are being actively watched, the camera light should turn on. According to Chronister, the light that flashes on when you turn on a camera should turn on whenever that camera is in use, even when a hacker is in control. But, there may be camera manufacturers out there that don't have this feature — or, there could be a way to disable the light from turning on, he added. If you see your camera light turn on when you aren't actively using it, that's clearly a red flag — but isn't the only sign that someone is in your system. Bad actors can also get into your camera's files and look back through your recorded videos, which may not cause the light to switch on. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself: While you may never be victim to camera hacking, the risk is still there. 'My big thing is I just want people to be aware of the risk and then make an informed choice,' Hamerstone said. While having cameras in your house does mean someone could access your videos, there are a few things you can do to bolster your security. 'Number one, the biggest thing is disable any default passwords,' said Chronister. This is true for cameras and with anything else you buy, Hamerstone added. 'Hackers are lazy. If there are 10,000 cameras out there and 9,000 have the default password, they're not going to try to crack the other 1,000,' noted Chronister. Don't use your go-to password for your camera system. Really, you should never reuse old passwords, said Hamerstone, but especially for crucial things like cameras and banking. 'For most of us, if we have cameras we can go on our phone and log into that account and see [the footage or live feed],' Hamerstone said. You should turn on multi-factor authentication, like receiving a text code, when logging into the camera app. This makes the app more secure. Chronister said it's also important to keep your camera systems up-to-date. 'They are mini-computers. There should be an ability to update them to new firmware when needed,' Chronister said. Software can have vulnerabilities that require system updates to address the vulnerability and keep your account secure. If you have a camera in your home that has been installed yet unused for years and years, take it down, said Chronister. These cameras are old and outdated, which can open them up to security threats, he noted. Old cameras and old software don't have the same safety protections as newer alternatives. And make sure you don't have your cameras in the more private spaces in your home. It may sound like an oxymoron, but if you are going to have in-home cameras, keep them in the more public spaces in your home, said Hamerstone. 'So, maybe keep them in the kitchen, but not your bedroom or something like that,' he said. It may go without saying, but you should also keep cameras out of your bathroom, Chronister said. The risk outweighs the benefit when it comes to having cameras in your bedroom and bathroom, he added. If someone does access your in-home camera footage, you don't want it to be recordings of your most private moments. Someone watches you walk in your front door? Fine. Someone watches you have sex with your partner? Not fine. If you do install in-home cameras to watch loved ones or monitor your security, be sure to do it in the spaces that won't lead to problems if a bad actor eventually gets their hands on the article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Abu Dhabi to activate early fire detection systems in homes
The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority and e& have partnered to activate early fire detection systems in homes by installing, operating and managing the 'Hassantuk for Homes' electronic system, thereby enhancing preventive safety standards within homes across the UAE capital. The partnership covers the provision of smart infrastructure capable of detecting fires in their earliest stages and reinforces home safety by installing an AI-enhanced Hassantuk smart system, with direct connectivity to control rooms. The collaboration highlights the use of artificial intelligence to identify potential hazards in their earliest stages, significantly reducing risks to life and property. It also supports the broader goal of achieving the highest civil safety standards through innovative sensing technologies. The UAE Cabinet had mandated the installation of Hassantuk systems in all existing and under-construction residential villas from January 1, 2024. As of 2024, Hassantuk for homes covered over 50,000 villas in the UAE and successfully detected over 400 fires. The Hassantuk programme aims to support the achievement of the UAE National Agenda 2021 in becoming one of the safest countries in the world as well as sustaining the reduction of the rate of fires and fire related deaths compared to numerous countries worldwide. It is largest and first project of its kind, targeting over 500,000 buildings and private housing at a Federal level. How does it work? The system raises alarms when a fire or life safety event is detected to allow the occupants to react and evacuate as quickly as possible. It automatically sends the alarm to the central Alarm Receiving Centre within seconds and to verifying it as true or false. It provides the exact location of the fire and the fastest route to reach it. It automatically informing emergency services control rooms and civil defence centres to dispatch urgent assistance to the scene. Pricing According to the Ministry of Interior website, residents have two payment options — 12 months and 34 months. The 12-month plan costs Dh416.85, including VAT, and Dh1,000 upfront charges. The 24-month plan costs Dh233.10, including VAT, and Dh1,000 upfront charges. There is a one-time payment of Dh5,903.10, which is inclusive of VAT. The plan is ideal for villas with three bedrooms and includes 1 fire alarm panel, 9 wireless smoke detectors, 1 wireless heat detector. Installation, monitoring and maintenance are also included in the plan, according to the MOI website. The name Hassantuk is inspired by the UAE national anthem meaning "secure and protect you." Abu Dhabi
