The Safety Girl Pepper Spray Kit is a great way to get started using pepper spray and protect yourself at home, in your car, and while you’re out and about. To protect yourself at home, the kit includes a Sabre Red Home Defense Pepper Spray Fogger. To stay protected in the car, the kit includes the Mace Triple Action Police Pepper Spray. The kit also includes smaller canisters of pepper spray—the Lipstick pepper Spray and Sabre Pocket Self Defense Spray—that you can keep in your pocket or purse. For practice, the kit includes the Sabre Combo Keychain Self Defense Spray with an extra practice canister and two Pepper Spray Targets. Purchasing all these items as a kit saves you time and money and also allows you extra practice opportunities. This great kit is available at Safety Girl’s website for just $71.99.

Looking for a smaller kit that still offers practice opportunities? The Cold Steel Inferno Pepper Spray Kit for the Pen Unit includes one active pepper spray unit, two practice pepper sprays, and two targets all for just $21.99. Similar kits are also available for Cold Steel’s Key Chain Pepper Spray, 1.3-ounce Pepper Spray Kit, and 2.5-ounce Pepper Spray Kits at Safety Girl’s website.

Getting started with pepper spray has never been safer or easier! Order one of these great kits at Safety Girl’s online store today!

If you’re going out:

• Dress appropriately. You might be tempted to wear your stiletto heels, mini skirt or short dress, and leave your jacket at home, but if you live in a cold climate, that may not be safe. What if you get stranded on the side of the road or are suddenly in a situation where you’re vulnerable to an attacker? Being warm and able to move quickly and safely is always more important than wearing those high heeled shoes and strapless dress. If you’re looking for style, pull on a pair of nice (flat) boots and wear a long coat over your New Year’s Eve outfit.
• Appoint a designated driver. Plan ahead for your evening out by selecting a trusted friend to be a designated driver before you start drinking. Even if you think you’re OK to drive, always use your designated driver. Never drive if you have been drinking.

If you’re hosting a party:

• Collect your guests’ keys at the door. Make it clear to your guests that you don’t want them driving if they have been drinking. Collect everyone’s keys when they arrive and only give them back to your guests if they have either sobered up or have not been drinking at your house.
• Select a taxi service or plan for house guests. For guests who have been drinking, call a taxi to take them home or allow them to stay overnight at your house. This takes a little extra effort, but people’s lives could be at stake.

If you’re traveling:

• Have a winter survival kit in your car. New Year’s Eve is also a time when big winter storms hit across the United States. Be prepared for severe weather with a good ice scraper and brush, a flashlight, a small snow shovel, winter-grade windshield washing solution, jumper cables, an extra blanket, and anything else you may need in the event of severe weather.
• Keep your home safe. Break-ins can be common during the holiday season, so keep your home safe by installing a home alarm system and motion sensor lights, checking the batteries in your smoke alarms, and parking your car in the garage.

Create a reasonable resolution

• Choose one. Often we make the mistake of setting several goals. Choosing only one increases your chance of success and helps you stay focused.
• Make it meaningful. You’re most likely to stay committed to a goal that you really want to achieve for yourself. If your goal is to lose weight, for example, ask yourself if you really want to lose weight. If you’re only making your resolution to lose weight to please someone else—a spouse, partner, or significant other—you’re less likely to succeed.
• Write it down and share it. Writing down your goal and sharing it with a trusted friend or family member will help you feel accountable. Write your goal down in a notebook or journal, or even post it on the refrigerator door if it will help you stick to it. If you know you’ll need help achieving your goal, ask a family member or friend to help you stay motivated.

Make a plan

• Divide your resolution into baby steps. To increase your chances of success, outline smaller steps to help your achieve your big resolution. If you want to lose 20 pounds, for example, create a weekly diet and exercise plan that will help you lose 5 pounds each month.
• Think long-term. Think about your resolution as a lifestyle change or long-term commitment instead of one particular achievement. If you want to save money, make sure you are ready to commit to a new, long-term budgeting style. If you only save money for a few months and then go back to your old habits, you’re likely to spend the money you have saved.
• Expect to make mistakes and don’t let them get you down. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when working towards a challenging goal. If you get off track on your way to achieving your resolution, analyze your behaviors or actions and update your success plan accordingly.

Safety Girl is at your side with a few tips for a stress-free holiday season.

Host a better dinner or party. Make bringing family members and friends together for Christmas dinner tension-free:

• Mix friends and family. Guests are more likely to act with kindness and civility when they are unfamiliar with some of the other guests. If you know friends who are staying in town for the holidays and don’t have anywhere to go, invite them to your party. Not only will they act as buffers for any difficult family members, but they also might be overjoyed to be invited to celebrate with your family.
• Rely on the funny guy (or girl). Everyone’s family has a joker, so rely on him or her to break the ice with a joke or humorous comment. A little bit of laughter will make everyone feel more at ease.
• Smile. It’s the holiday season, after all. Numerous studies have shown that smiling, whether you’re happy or not, can make you feel happier and less anxious. Studies have also shown that smiling creates a positive and comforting effect for those around you.

Say the right thing. Some topics just shouldn’t be up for discussion at a Christmas party. If you know what sets your mother-in-law off, for example, don’t have that conversation. Touchy subjects usually include, tense sibling relationships, other family members’ relationship problems (including divorce and separation), money, religion, politics, and past arguments.

Take a break. Whether you’re a house guest or if you’re hosting, it’s important to take time for yourself, whether you feel like you need it or not. If you need a break, go in the other room and call a friend, take a walk or jog, listen to music, or even offer to run to the grocery store. When you return, you’ll feel ready to engage with your family 100%.

Here’s a list of simple tips to stay safe during the last two weeks of the holiday season:

• Shop during daylight hours. Crimes are more likely to happen in the evenings or at night, so shop during the day when possible. Crimes against women are also more likely to happen to women who are alone, so if you absolutely must shop at night, shop with a family member or friend.
• Dress casually. Minimizing the amount of attention you draw to yourself maximizes your safety. By dressing conspicuously, wearing fancy clothing and expensive jewelry, you are more likely to be the victim of an attack. When you’re shopping this holiday season, be sure to leave expensive jewelry at home. Also be sure to wear comfortable shoes, so you can run for help, if needed, without tripping over your stilettos.
• Don’t carry a purse if you don’t have to. The best way to avoid having your purse stolen is to leave it at home. If you can fit your driver’s license, credit cards, and other necessary belongings in your pants pocket, you’ll minimize your risk of theft. If you have to carry a purse, the best type to carry is a bag with a long shoulder strip that can fit across your body, as these are more difficult for muggers to steal.
• Don’t use cash. The safest way to pay for holiday purchases is with a credit card. Cash can be easily stolen, and, in case of fraud, credit cards are the easiest form of payment to dispute. If you must carry cash, only take what you need and try to be discreet when paying.
• Be aware of your surroundings. If you see something suspicious, alert a mall security guard. If you feel uncomfortable walking to your car, don’t be afraid to ask the security guard to escort you to your vehicle.

The Pink Roadside Emergency Tool Kit contains everything you need in the event of car trouble. To remedy a dead battery, for example, the tool kit contains seven-foot booster cables. If you’re worried about tire pressure, the kit contains a tire gauge. The tool kit includes a vast assortment of tools, including an eight-inch adjustable wrench, voltage tester, air compressor, ratcheting bit driver and 20 drill bits, wire brush, electrical tape, and slip joint pliers. If you need to call for help, the kit includes a help flag. Best of all, if you make a mess and want to clean it up, the kit includes a mini car vacuum to keep your car free of debris.

This Pink Roadside Emergency Tool Kit from Apollo will help keep any woman safe this holiday season. The kit also makes a great gift for any woman you know who travels, whether she is a college student, busy working professional, or a mom traveling with kids. This tool kit is available at Safety Girl’s website for a low price of just $59.99, a savings of $12 off the list price. Discounts are also available for purchasing two or more kits!

Not only will the Pink Roadside Emergency Tool Kit keep you and women you love safe, but for every purchase of one of these tool kits, Apollo will donate a percentage of the proceeds to breast cancer research, so you can stay safe and support a great cause.

The one correct indicator of pepper spray potency, as recognized by the EPA & US Federal Government, is Major Capsaicinoids (MC). MC represents the strength of the entire formulation within your pepper spray. Typical sprays range from 0.18 to 1.33% MC. The higher the MC of the pepper spray the greater the potency. Sprays with higher MC are more effective as well. A good example, Gasoline, is typically 87, 89 or 91 Octane. The higher the gasoline’s octane rating, the greater the fuels performance. Proof, another example, is the measure of liquor strength. The higher the proof, the stronger the liquor.

Bear Attack Deterrent Sprays measure between 1.0% and 2.0% Major Capsaicinoids.

The two inaccurate measures of pepper spray strength are Oleoresin Capsicum percentages (OC%) & Scoville Heat Units (SHUs). Pepper sprays contains anywhere from 2-10% OC, but OC% only measures the amount of raw pepper or Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) within the pepper spray formulation. The OC% does not take into account the actual potency of that OC. SHUs are an inaccurate measure because they only measure the strength of the previously mentioned raw OC, which is then diluted from 90 to 98% because OC only measures between 2-10% of the formulation. Here is an example of how SHU can be misleading: a 5.3 Million SHU spray with 2% OC measures only 0.71% MC. while a 2 Million SHU spray with 10% OC measures 1.33% MC. Which spray is more potent? The 1.33 MC pepper spray is nearly twice the strength.

So when purchasing pepper spray, remember major capsaicinoids equals strength!

It is also relied upon daily by over 40,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. The reason being and the great thing about pepper spray, is it does not necessarily rely on pain to incapacitate. So whether an individual is on drugs or alcohol or emotionally disturbed, the aforementioned inflammatory effects go to work no matter the situation causing the eyes to slam shut.

If ever in a position where you are forced to use your pepper spray, make sure you aim for the eyes. When instructing law enforcement we typically recommend spraying ear to ear across the eyes (stream delivery).

So whether you’re a police officer, college student or anything in between; be prepared! Safety Girl urges all to have a plan. Be a hard target, and keep your pepper spray accessible and you’ll become far less vulnerable!

The Brutus Self Defense Key Chain gives more power to your punch when faced with an attacker. Designed in the shape of a bulldog’s face, just put your fingers through the eyeholes when confronted with an attacker and let Brutus’s ears do the talking. This key chain is made of tough, impact resistant plastic, and even though they’re small, the pointy tips of Brutus’s ears will cause your attacker great pain.

Aside from Brutus’s incredible power, its keychain feature allows for easy carrying. To stay as safe as possible, carry your keys with you when walking to or from your car or home: you won’t have time to fish around in your purse for your Brutus when you need him.

Finally, Brutus’s best feature is his style. The Brutus keychain actually features a dog’s face down to the nose and whiskers. Best of all, the Brutus keychain is available in seven colors, including black, blue, yellow, purple, pink, brown, and red, so you can protect yourself in style.

The Brutus Self Defense Keychain is one of the most cost-effective ways to defend yourself against an attacker. At Safety Girl’s website, you can purchase one of these great keychains for just $5.99. Unlike pepper spray, Brutus never needs refilling! At a price this low, order extras for your friends and family members, too!

Kimberley Kayler and Kari Moosmann co-founded the Women in Concrete Alliance. The ten-member advisory board meets bi-monthly to ensure that WICA women are provided with meaningful information and networking opportunities and to discuss ways to continuously improve WICA.

At the WICA website, women can find a listing of news and events for women in the construction industry, a spotlight section and resources.

Recent news and events for women in the construction industry:

• An invitation for WICA members to participate in a dialogue about women working in blue-collar transportation jobs.
• An article about the sixth annual Women in Concrete Luncheon and Forum.
• An article about increasing leadership opportunities for women working in the concrete industry.

In the “spotlight” section, WICA women can find inspiring question-and-answer articles about women who are leaders in the concrete industry. Articles include interviews with powerful women executives, managers, and directors, such as Kitty Hoyle (owner of Wellington Hamrick), Janet Ong (marketing director of CTS Cement Manufacturing), Shelby Mitchell (managing editor of The Concrete Producer), and Cheryl Sment (President of Interstate Sealant and Concrete, Inc.).

The resources section includes links to two important publications for women in the concrete construction industry, The Concrete Producer and Construction Business Owner as well as a link to a listing of national and regional concrete organizations.