5 Apps You Must Have in Case of an Emergency

5 Apps You Must Have in Case of an Emergency

Smartphones, like security cameras, have taken over the world. Everyone seems to be on their phone or mobile device everywhere you look. If you think smartphones are becoming an issue as people are less social, that may be. But smartphones, just like security camera systems, have increased the safety of individuals in remarkable ways. This short article will inform you of the top five apps you must have in case of an emergency.

1. Be Safe

If you happen to find yourself being followed as you walk down a dark alleyway or if you are a runner that has someone matching your pace slightly behind you, BSafe may be the app for you. Although it is not security camera systems, it does act as a safety provision by alerting the contacts you have pre-selected and provides them with your GPS location. It will send an SOS message after you tap the emergency button on your phone.

2. ICE

ICE stands for In Case of Emergency and it is a very handy app to have in an emergency. If you have been hurt and become unconscious, the paramedic or nurse that is assisting you can find out pertinent information that is important in their care for you. It lists your allergies, medications you currently take, and medical history. In addition, it has your emergency contact, so hospital personnel or the authorities can call your loved ones. If you are at home when you become unconscious and have a security camera in place, medical staff or the police can watch the footage to see what you may have been doing when you collapsed to help determine the cause of your injuries.

3. First Aid

First Aid is a great app to have in case of an emergency. If you are a hiker or are in a remote location and have an accident occur, you will want to have the First Aid app. The app contains information regarding first aid that you need when injured. The best part about the First Aid app is that it downloads to your SD card so you can have access to it even without being connected. This is especially important for individuals who are in remote locations or are on a section or thru-hike.

4. Google Maps

Google Maps is a great app to have in an emergency because it can give you the shortest route to the hospital if you or a loved one are injured while visiting a new location. It can also be a lifesaver if you are being followed and need to get away from your potential attacker. It can give you the nearest businesses and the time in minutes to get there to get away from the creep who may be following you. If you are lost, Google Maps is also to the rescue. Just put in a known location, and it will get you there in the shortest amount of time possible.

5. Disaster Readiness

The disaster preparedness app from the American Red Cross is another great app to have in an emergency. It can give you pertinent information on what to do if inclement weather or a natural disaster strikes. If you live in a region that has tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes, make sure to download this app. If you are at home while experiencing a natural disaster, make sure to have a security camera installed in your home if you live alone or have family members that are frequently gone. Most security camera systems have a way to notify the police if you have been injured once the natural disaster has ceased.

As you can see, although smartphones may be taking away our ability to enjoy the moment as we always need to be taking a selfie or a video, they have increased our safety be creating apps that can assist us when we need help. If you follow our advice on the top five apps you must have in case of an emergency, you and your family members will be safe alone and in the most remote areas as long as they have a signal.

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5 Things to Consider Before Installing Security Cameras

When you make the decision to install security cameras, you need to consider a lot of information. You want to ensure you get the best possible equipment to keep your family safe. In this short guide, you will learn the top five things to consider before installing security cameras.

1. Cost

Cost considerations are always important when determining a new install of anything. In this case, the camera itself, whether wired or wireless, will cost approximately the same. The cost will differ in the install, and that needs to be a priority decision. Wired cameras are going to cost much more than wireless cameras because the installer has to run wire all over your home. They will need to cut into your walls as well to make this happen.

If you choose wireless technology, the cost will be much less because wires do not need to be run. There are pros and cons to both wired and wireless technology so make sure to investigate on your own before purchasing and installing your cameras.

2. Location

Where will you place the security cameras? Are you going to install them on the inside and the outside of the home? The location generally determines how well you will be monitored. Do you want a camera in every room of the house or just at the main exits? Since there is a multitude of information to digest, choosing the location can be overwhelming. You can get help with this by asking the company you will be purchasing the security camera systems from and they can assist you in placement.

3. Technology

Another important consideration when you are thinking about installing security cameras is what type of technology you want running the cameras. You can choose from wired or wireless, and they both have their pros and cons. Wired cameras usually are more stable than wireless because they cannot be hacked into as quickly and they will not lose signal. Wireless though is the wave of the future, and you want the most current technology on the market. It also is much easier to install and therefore will be easier on the wallet.

4. Field of View

Another less known item to consider when thinking about installing security camera systems is the field of view. What is the camera going to pick-up? How broad of a view that the camera elicits is an important consideration because you want to see as much as possible. If a burglar is on your lawn and you can only see a small space on the field of view, the criminal may sneak by the camera without you noticing or even being caught on film.

5. Lighting

The last point to consider when contemplating camera installation is the lighting. Are you going to have a dark, grainy image because you have no lighting set up next to the camera? If placed outside, motion sensors would be a great idea as the camera will pick up the image that set off the sensors and you will capture the intruder on film.  If you have the cameras installed inside your home, do you need to purchase infrared cameras so that the images will be obtained without any lights on? Make sure you investigate lighting before installing your security cameras.

As you can see, there is much information to consider when thinking about installing security camera systems. If you follow our advice on the top five things to consider before installing security cameras, you will make the best choice possible to keep your family safe and secure for years to come!

Tips for Buying the Best Night Vision Cameras

Many times, a home or business is broken into under the cover of darkness. To record these incidents, you are going to need night vision cameras around your property. The night vision cameras you pick will affect how effective the cameras will be once you install them. When you are buying night visions cameras, there are some pitfalls that you can encounter. To avoid these pitfalls, here are some tips to buying the right night vision cameras for your property. 

1. Get an Infrared Camera that has an IR that is Strong Enough

IR is a very important number to compare in night vision cameras. However, this can be hard to get right. All IR will be quoted a maximum range. For most night vision cameras, the range will fall into 5m to 100m (15-300 Feet). You should remember that this is the maximum range, and at this range, the quality of the image will not be great. The best option is to buy an infrared camera that has a longer range.

2. Do Not Go With an IR that Is Too Powerful

While having extra IR range is recommended when buying night vision cameras, you can buy one that is too powerful. Having an IR camera that is too powerful will cause bad image quality. The reason is night vision cameras cannot adjust the IR brightness. This extra brightness will cause the image to be overly bright and washed out.

3. Know Where You are Mounting The Night Vision Cameras

When you are considering the power of your night vision cameras, you need to keep in mind when, and how high you are mounting each infrared camera. The height that you are mounting it at will affect the distance from the item you are watching. So adding extra range to the cameras you buy will ensure that the cameras will have sight of your property.

4. IR Needs an Item to Reflect Light Off 

Night vision cameras need to reflect light off of something, or they will not work. There are many night vision cameras that are pointed at empty fields, which mean that the image shows nothing but darkness. This darkness is not based on that fact the IR is not working, as subjects will be visible when they are in the range of the camera. Adding some lights or items to reflect light off of will make the darkness in the image less, and make the night vision cameras work like they are meant to. 

5. Many night vision cameras also feature Smart IR (smart infrared). This adjusts the infrared 

light emitted by the camera as the subject moves closer to or further away allowing the camera to 

deliver a clear image that isn’t washed out at close range and is not too dark at longer distances.

There are many great options for night visions cameras.  So this can make finding the best option for you a challenge. Knowing what you are looking for, and planning ahead can help you find a great option quickly.