HOW TO SURVIVE AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION: A sad fact of modern life is that we too often see the news stories about an active shooter at the "fill in the blank" . I'm sure that those involved never thought that it would happen to them. Acording to the FBI, most active shooter situations last 5 minutes or less. Law enforcement usually cannot get to you in 5 minutes, so you need to do something yourself to survive until help does arrive. We in law enforcement are taught the OODA Loop (observe, orient yourself, decide on an action, and act) The 3 basic steps when you hear shooting where there shouldn't be shooting is to (1) RUN IF POSSIBLE. Do not freeze.. Know ahead of time where the exits are and where possible hiding places are. Do this everytime you go anywhere-movies, shopping centers, school, church,etc. Visualize what you would do in different scenarios. IF RUNNING is not an option, (2) HIDE. Find a room that can be locked from the inside, hide, turn off the lights if possible and remain still and silent until help arrives. Use closets, bathrooms, under desks, etc. If possible , call 911 from your cell phone. Put your cell ringer on silent. If you cannot RUN or HIDE, the last resort is to (3) FIGHT. Remember OODA-OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS, ORIENT YOURSELF TO YOUR SITUATION, DECIDE ON A PLAN, AND THEN ACT WITHOUT HESITATION. Hopefully you will never need to use this information, but it's kinda like a life jacket, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have/know it.

IT IS A STAGGERING STATISTIC TO ME but studies show that before the age of 18 : 1 out of every 4 girls and 1 out of every 6 boys is sexually abused. Some studies place this number even higher. About 90% are abused by someone that they know, love, and trust. Add to that fact, that 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited through the internet and it's enough to send parents into a panic where you are fearful to trust anyone. We can't live in fear but we must be observant. Talk with your children. Make them feel comfortable enough to tell you if something is wrong. Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems often lasting into adulthood. I am not jaded ,even after 30 years in this job, and I have come to accept that there will always be those that lie, cheat , and steal in this world , but I cannot and will not accept these heinous acts being committed against our innocent children. Please report abuse.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WITH DEMENTIA: 6 in 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer's may not remember his or her name or address, and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Anyone who has memory problems and is able to walk is at risk for wandering. Even in the early stages of dementia, a person can become disoriented or confused . It's important to plan ahead for this type of situation. Wandering and getting lost is common among people with dementia and can happen during any stage of the disease. Things to watch for: Returns from a regular walk or drive later than usual. Tries to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work. Tries or wants to "go home," even when at home. Asks the whereabouts of current or past friends and family. Appears lost in a new or changed environment Wandering can happen, even if you are the most diligent of caregivers . To help, you may decide to use child proof door knobs. Use devices that signal when a door or window is opened. This can be as simple as a bell placed above a door or as sophisticated as an electronic home alarm. Provide supervision . Never lock the person with dementia in at home alone or leave him or her in a car without supervision. Keep car keys out of sight. A person with dementia may drive off and be at risk of potential harm to themselves or others. Have a plan in place beforehand, .Keep a list of people to call on for help. Have telephone numbers easily accessible. When someone with dementia is missing, begin search-and-rescue efforts immediately. Call 911. Ninety-four percent of people who wander are found within 1.5 miles of where they disappeared. Ask neighbors, friends and family to call if they see the person alone. Keep a recent, close-up photo and updated medical information on hand to give to deputies .Know your neighborhood. Pinpoint dangerous areas near the home, such as bodies of water, open stairwells, dense foliage, tunnels, bus stops and roads with heavy traffic. Is the individual right or left-handed? Wandering generally follows the direction of the dominant hand. Keep a list of places where the person may wander This could include past jobs, former homes, places of worship or a restaurant. Provide the person with ID jewelry.