Safe-Home.com

Question about the Breakout Safety Tool Super Value BK-350

Q:"How does a BreakOut Safety Tool Differ from a LifeHammer or Res-Q-Me? Thanks, Dave"

Answer: The BreakOut escape tools come in several models. All are black. Some have LED lights. All can easily slip over your sun visor for easy access in the event of an auto accident or, in the case of the LED units, when you need a map or emergency light. Regardless of the model, each units has two seat belt cutter blades and a two headed unit for glass breaking.

Only the BreakOut, some models, has an LED light.  The LifeHammer should be permanently mounted in your vehicle within easy reach of the driver and front seat passenger. It is similar to the BreakOut tool as breaking the window requires the user to strike the window with some force using one of the two breaker heads. The Res-Q-Me goes where you go as it fits on your keychain. The Res-Q-Me has a spring loaded head with a force of 12 lbs or less to break out a window.. The BreakOut can be clipped onto either or both of the sun visors on a car, truck or RV.

The BreakOut is Made in USA, the Res-Q-Me is Made in USA and the LifeHammer is Made in the Netherlands.

BreakOut Models Include:

• Breakout Safety Tool Standard BK-101 which has 2 stainless steel blades for cutting seat belts, 2 stainless steel breaker points for emergency entry or exit, sun visor clips for fast and easy acquisition and has a totally ambidextrous internal finger grasp for maximum impact.
• Breakout Safety Tool Standard BK-202. This unit also has two rare earth magnets so it can be attached to metal rather than just over a visor.
• Breakout Safety Tool Standard BK-303 All the features except the magnets plus 1 LED light.
• Breakout Safety Tool Super Value BK-350 which has the two magnets plus 1 LED light.
• Breakout Safety Tool Standard BK-404 No Magnets, Has 3 LED lights.
• Breakout Safety Tool Deluxe BK-505 2 Magnets, 3 LEDs

So all are black, can slide over the sun visor, have two stainless steel cutting blades for seat belts, two stainless steel breaker points for entry or exit and a hand grip that works for right or left handed persons.

We recommend the units with magnets and LED's for those who do more rural travel where lights may be needed to change a tire, etc.

These units also can be personalized for giveaways with quantity pricing available.

Thanks you for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Original Orange LifeHammer Escape Tool

Q:"What options do I have to the orange Life Hammer? The orange really clashes with the maroon interior of my expensive car. I do want to have it permanently installed. I don't want my car to look like a highway safety vehicle! Thanks. Howard.

Answer: Lifehammers are now made in black and in pink. Part of the profits from every pink LifeHammer are given to support Breast Cancer Awareness month with free exams for those who cannot afford them otherwise.

If you travel a lot and use rental cars, we do suggest that you add a Res-Q-Me to your keyring. We currently sell these smaller auto safety devices in several colors. A Res-Q-Me has a spring activated window breaker plus a sharp seat belt cutter blade. The available colors include black, orange, pink,red, yellow, and blue

The Res-Q-Me units and the LifeHammers can be personalized for give aways. The Res-Q-Me's are Made in USA while the LifeHammers are made in the Netherlands.

Thank you for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Res-Q-Me Escape Tool.

Q:"I work for a major company that provides mass transportation across the nation. We've decided that giving Res-Q-Me escape tools or Life Hammers will be part of our acknowledging the safety record of one of our divisions. I need 300 units with our company logo imprinted on each units plus a brief acknowledgment of their accomplishments. We prefer the Res-Q-Me units as they can fit on our employees' keychains. Is this possible? How long does it take? Can you give me some ball-park figures on additional costs?" Thanks from Steve.

Answer: Both the Life Hammer and the Res-Q-Me can be personalized to be sold to support a school, fire department, etc. or as a give-away to employees, customers, etc. The cost is related to number of color of inks used, how quickly they are needed and whether the color you choose is in stock. The minimum for personalizing or imprinting is 100 units. At this time, April 2010, the set-up fee is $75 to $125 and the rush fee is $100 for 48 hour service just for the imprinting. What we need is a high resolution logo and/or high resolution printing. Figure on a minimum of $1.25 extra per unit at this time (April 2010) with ground shipping for one color in minimums of 100 units. Typical lead time for imprinting is 21 days to 14 days plus shipping time (4 t0 5 business days.)

For larger quantities, we do have quantity pricing available. On the Res-Q-Me, both the clip and the unit itself can have lettering or logo's imprinted. Due to the small size of the unit, larger more complicated logos might not work well. Both products have seat belt cutters and glass break devices for escape from cars, trucks, etc.

The Life Hammer has more room for imprinting due to its larger size. Currently, the colors available in the Res-Q-Me are bright orange, pink with part of each sale going to fight breast cancer, red, blue, black and yellow. The Life Hammer is now available in original bright orange, pink (part of each sale going to breast cancer research) and black.

Thank you very much for your question and your order!

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the XP3 Electronic Deer Hornet.

Q: "What makes this deer repeller device better than the less expensive "deer horns" you can install on your front bumper? Could I install this myself? I have a motorcycle plus two cars. Some of my friends recommend this device, especially in the fall during rutting season. Please advise." Thanks. Joe.

Answer: Joe, I will list some basic reasons that this unit is superior over the plastic whistle devices you can fix to your car.

1. Power: Hornet: Electric sound generator versus vehicle speed pushing air through plastic tubes.
2. Mounting Angle: Hornet sound generator, 45 degree angle to road. Plastic whistles: aim straight ahead.
3. Secure Mount versus glue or tape: Hornet won't be pulled off or broken off in a car wash.
4. Variable Mounting Height: Hornet: mount 3 inches to 6 feet above the road surface; plastic mount on front
5. Mounting Damage to Car: With EZ Mount Bracket, the Hornet can be mounted to the license plate holder without drilling a single hole.
6. Intensity of Sound: Hornet's is the same at any speed. Precision tuned sonic generator produces a high pitched, directional sonic wave that reflects off the road surface of a moving vehicle and produces a virtual sonic echo effect.
7. Deer and Other Animals Get Advance Warning: Due to intensity of sound. Deer are skittish. More likely to bolt in the other direction if they approach this sound.

70% less likely to have a deer accident if you install this unit on your vehicle and keep your eyes open.

Yes, you can install this unit yourself. There is a motorcycle wiring harness kit available which allows installation without any holes being drilled. Most of our motorcycle customers buy the XP3 Hornet in Chrome. The inventor developed this unit after a friend was killed on a motorcycle after hitting a deer and then he himself hit a deer with his car the next week. These units are also installed on train engines particularly in the Northeast and Japan (our sales).

For motorhomes, RV's and freight trucks, the larger dual horn Interstate Hornet is a better choice as it has an effective range of about 1000 feet. Several large trucking companies are regular customers. In rural areas, especially on interstate highways, these are much superior to the smaller units.

Thanks for your question. Safe Roads to you from Safe Home Products.

Sincerely, Barbara

 

 

Question about the AlcoHawk 11000 by Q3 Innovations.

Q: "What is the recovery time between tests with this product? How many
tests can be done in a five minute period?" Jason.

Answer: The answer is 4 tests in 5 minutes since we recommend waiting 1 minute between each test performed using the AlcoHAWK® unit. The AlcoHawk Pro or unit uses a semiconductor oxide sensor and meets DOT Standards as a breath alcohol screener.  A single 9 volt battery can power about 300 tests.

Some AlcoHawk features:
Warm-Up Time: 20 Seconds 
Blowing Time: 5 Seconds 
Response Time: 3 Seconds 
Digital Display: 3 Digits in numeric readout. 
Operating Temperature: 10-40° C 
Detection Range: 0.00 - 0.40% BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) 
Air Sample: 5 Seconds 
Sensor Accuracy: 0.01% at 0.10 % B.A.C. 
Calibration: Required Periodically. (Send to manufacturer or to designated recalibration facility)
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about alcohol blood level breathalyzers for personal use.

Q: "I want to buy a personal alcohol blood level screening device for tailgate parties and home parties. I want to be able to serve alcoholic beverages and avoid problems with friends or family inadvertently driving under the influence. What units do you suggest? If someone "blows" a significant number on the breathalyzer and insists on driving, am I still liable?"-Tom

Answer: Please consult an attorney or law enforcement person in your state about liability issues related to alcohol you furnish to adults. Remember, criminal charges are filed every day for adults serving alcohol to minors and incarceration is not unusual.

The Alcohawk breathalyzer units we sell were originally developed after a University of Iowa law student interned with a DUI lawyer and realized that an affordable breathalyzer could help prevent persons from driving drunk. Do remember that alcohol levels can continue to rise even if the person blows a legal limit into an alcohol-screening device, eventually pushing alcohol levels over the legal limit. There are now some Alcohawk units that are DOD certified and used by law enforcement for helping to determine if a person is over the legal limit.

Currently, there are three main types of Alcohawks:

1. Alcohawk 1: a single test unit that uses crystals to indicate the Blood Alcohol Concentration. These are inexpensive: better to buy a reusable one if you plan to screen multiple persons. Currently about $5 each.
   
2. Alcohawk Elite, Precision and Slim: portable, reusable, extra mouth pieces available (mouthpieces can be sanitized). Prices range from about $60 to $125 at this time. Some are DOT (Department of Transportation) Conforming.
   
3. Alcohawk PT500 Professional: visual and auditory alerts. About $200.

• Adjustable Blowing Time (Professional Kit Only): The AlcoHAWK PT500 is the first AlcoHAWK that allows to adjust the blowing time from 3 to 8 seconds. The blowing time may be adjusted for testing subjects with poor lung capacity, such as a smoker, or for testing subjects with a large lung capacity, such as a high-endurance runner. This makes the AlcoHAWK PT500 ideal for accurate and reliable testing of a variety of individuals.
  
• Easy-to-Read LCD Display: The AlcoHAWK PT500 offers a large, easy-to-read LCD display to make the unit the most informative and understandable AlcoHAWK Series product on the market.
• Pressure Scan Sensor: Ensures that the user blows with enough force to start a test and also ensures that they continue to blow through the unit throughout the entire test.
• Sensor Recognition Technology: This DOT/NHTSA conforming Breath Alcohol Screener uses new PT Core ™ Fuel-cell Sensor Technology which enhances accuracy over the traditional semi-conductor sensors.
• Warning Level Indicator: The AlcoHAWK PT500 features an audible and visual warning when a subject's BAC surpasses the adjustable BAC alarm point.

How fast can someone metabolize alcohol and be safe to drive? When I was a certified addictions counselor working for the Department of the Army, the accepted criteria was that a healthy 150 pound man could usually metabolize one drink, defined as 12 ounces of beer, 6 ounces or wine or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits in about one hour. To be safe to drive, the recommendation was to wait one more hour. A woman's physiology differs: metabolism takes longer due to less water (more fatty tissue) in her body to "dilute" the alcoho: a 150 pound woman is more effected by even one drink. Whether you drink on an empty stomach or have eaten a full meal changes metabolism as well. Drinking and eating actually slows down the metabolism! And how healthy your liver is or is not is another variable.

A wise host or hostess serves alcoholic beverages to adults in a manner that encourages prudent enjoyment of the beverages, perhaps cocktails, beer or wine with dinner and coffee or tea with dessert. Depending upon your group, having a breathalyzer on hand and "trying it out" may be quite acceptable. One customer last fall bought one for tailgating parties at the U. of Texas: his mature group of friends encouraged that action.

The fear is that immature adults or teens might use the unit to see how high a number can be blown before the person passes out, etc. People do die from alcohol poisoning, i.e. when the breathing response is effected and/or the person goes into a coma-like state.

Thank you for your questions. We hope this introduction to breathalyzers has been helpful.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Dog Life Vests for boating.

Q:" I adopted a 40 lb. Lab mix from the animal shelter. I like to spend my week-ends in the summer boating. My friends say she needs a life vest. I thought dogs were natural swimmers. Is this really necessary? If it is, what do you suggest?" Thanks Joe.

Answer: I, too, recommend a life vest. Our 40 pound pound puppy loved to ride in my Dad's boat on Crooked Creek in Western Pennsylvania. Crooked Creek was 200 to 400 feet wide in most places. Sometimes, Rinty jumped into the water when the boat slowed for passing boats, swimmers, etc. Usually he swam to shore and raced us home along the bank except when the bank was steep or he swam in circles. Getting a wet 40 pound dog into the boat was a struggle: sometimes we waited until he was exhausted to drag him in.

Most dogs enjoy boating. The problem comes when the dog jumps or falls into the water and the shore is distant or it takes time to return to get your dog. A doggie life jacket keeps the dog floating if she is tired or injured from the jump and makes it easier to pull her into the boat.

Life jackets are sized according to the weight and girth of the dog. So you have sizes extra small (dogs up to 15 lbs.), small for dogs 15 to 19 pounds, medium for dogs 20 to 50 pounds, largefor dogs 40 to 70 pounds and extra large for dogs over 70 pounds. Measure the girth to determine the size if your dog falls into several size categories.

The bright orange color let you see her better in the water. Do consider if you have the physical strength to pull a dog from the water. Dogs are prone to struggle making the task harder.

We recommend the life jackets with a grab handle to help pull the dog from the water. The Kyjen are made of tough 600 denier nylon fabric with adjustable chest and neck Velcro flaps. There are quick release buckles and a Neoprene belly band to help keep your dog warm in the water.

Hope this helps with your situation. Remember the importance of restraining a dog when in a moving vehicle of any kind. We recommend dog car seats with restraints for smaller dogs and car seat vests for larger animals. Both have safety straps that attach to car seat belts.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about John Sterling security window guards, Max Guards, Fixed Guards and Swing Open Guards .

Q:" Hi I am in need of some expertise here. I am interested in window guards to prevent theft through an open window. If I was to purchase this item ,how do they prevent theft on windows that are open?" A US Navy Chief Gunner Wife.

Answer: The security window guards that we sell are mounted on the inside of the home, apartment or other building. Guards can be mounted to protect only the window opening or the entire window. There are three styles: fixed, removable and swing open. The fixed are not for escape: in some places they are banned and in others they are required in non-sleeping rooms for safety. The Max guards remove completely from the mounting bars. The swing open units do just that.

The two kinds that open have a hole for either a clip or a lock so they cannot be opened from outside the building. The bar spacings vary from 3.5 to 4 inches so a hand could get between the bars but removing anything of any size would be difficult. And removing the clip or lock would be difficult to impossible from the outside. The bars are made of steel. The diameter/size varies from a round bar to the angle type bar of the MAX guards.

Please go to our website to figure out which size or sizes of guards would protect your windows. If you have questions, please send us your window measurements and types of windows and we'll guide you.

Thanks for your question.
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Oversized Lookout I Dog Car Seat, NO Drawer.

Q: "Does the Snoozer dog seat connect to a car seat?"

Answer: Yes. To connect the Snoozer, take your seat belt/harness and hook it over the back of the dog seat in the grooves. Connect the dog's harness to the restraining strap (included with the car seat) which attaches to the car seat belt.

Thank you for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the product: Original Life Hammer Escape Hammer (Orange Product Code: : SM-IN-LH002

Q: "Could this product be used in a ground floor office building? We would like to have these available in our office to ensure persons an exit in an emergency. We would likely mount this devise on the wall. Would this product be able to break double paned glass? do you have other products that can perform this task for us. Thank you for your assistance. Lisa "

Answer: We contacted the USA master distributor for his input. Here is his response:

"The LifeHammer is designed to break safety glass or tempered glass for autos. However it can be applied to other purposes if the type of the glass / windows have the same characteristics. Your client should first try to find out about the glass they use (from the builder or from the fire department of the city)."

We hope that this helps.

Sincerely,
Barbara