It's Friday! Most Of Us Look Forward To Finally Relax and Enjoy the Weekend.

Let's face it, most of us love the fact that the end of the week is almost over. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day! Why? Because most of us will enjoy not having to work.

What will you do this weekend? Or what will you not do! Most of us will relax, go to the beach this summer, hang out with friends and party! We deserve relaxation...

I don't know who invented the weekend to relax, but I'm glad that there is such a thing at the end of the weekend! Perhaps you might want to go to the beach, read a book, check out a movie or just hang out with friends and see what comes around!

Even if you think you can't relax, give yourself a break and convince yourself that you are free to enjoy these wonderful days, called the...
Weekend!

A Hurricane is Coming Toward Us in Florida

I've lived through 3 hurricanes in my life and still remember the first one, when I was 6 years old.

As a kid, I loved the excitement of a hurricane coming. The family, including cousins would all get together for what I then thought was a party! We would choose the house that seemed the safest and got together for the storm. I particularly liked when the lights went out and the house was full of candles, since there wasn't any electricity in the house!

My cousin's and I all would all sleep on mattresses on the floor and giggle with excitement. Of course for me, I thought it was a big party! I particularly liked the day after, because all the trees in the back yard had fallen and us kids would have a ball, climbing on the fallen branches...

As an adult, I still feel the excitement, but now I'm cautious and know that it's not a party and that you can get hurt!

I hope all the citizens near the storm, will be well prepared for the hurricanes that are coming our way and protect themselves accordingly!

Valentine's Day Gift: Drink Guard, Date Rape Drug Detector

Every woman needs to be careful when she steps in a nightclub, bar or party... We all know that DATE RAPE is unacceptable, yet many women don't take the necessary cautions to prevent it. 

Date rape is prevalent among college women, as well as women who go to bars or parties. If there is any gift you can offer to women, it's the Drink Guard, Date Rape Drug Detector! Give your mother, daughter, sister or friends, one of these little envelopes that can protect them from date rape, besides just flowers!

What better than offering a lady, a test that can guard her from Date Rape? These little paper envelopes can protect your female friends from avoiding a date rape attack, if she's at a nightclub, bar or party! All they have to do is place a drop of their drink onto a small card and they will know if their drink has been compromised! The small Drink Guard envelope contains 20 tests. The test is easy and can be done by simply going to a restroom. All she has to do is place a drop of her drink, on one of the cards (each card contains 2 tests). After a few seconds the drug detector card will change colors and let her know if her drink is safe... Perfect for college women, too!

Will You Be Able To Detect Date Rape Drugs During The Holiday Party Drinking?

We all know that the season for drinking alcohol is just around the corner. You might go to a relative's or a friend's party, a nightclub or out on the streets during the New Year.

Photo by RJ Schmidt

Women, it's time to put your thinking caps on and be very aware of what alcoholic drinks you will have during all the hoopla! Date rape drugs will be rampant! You and your friends should be cautious as to what you drink at a nightclub. Always ask for an UNOPENED container when ordering soda or beer! If your refreshment is to be poured at a party, make sure you see it being poured and that the glass used was clean. Women should also try to get their own opened drink and NEVER pour a refreshment from a party punch bowl, no matter how colorful and tasty it might look!

Plus, in case some of you women weren't aware, there are ways to detect if a drink has been tampered with at a nightclub or party. We sell it on our website and it's called, Date Rape Drug Test Strips. These little cards are very convenient to carry in your purse or pocket, during the entire festive holidays. They are easy to use and will let you know if your refreshment has been compromised. If you don't want to let others know about your precautions, simply go to the bathroom or ladies room and test your refreshment privately. Using the Date Rape Drug Test Strips is the smartest way to have a carefree, festive holiday season!

Enjoy the holidays and seriously consider purchasing Date Rape Drug Test Strips for protection against tampered alcohol, sodas, punch or juice!

Looking Forward to Partying this Holiday Season?

Photo by The-Nancy-Minor-Team

December is no doubt, party month and most people are buying new clothes for the festivities, along with toys, alcohol and food!

Everyone is focusing on having a good time and gathering with family and friends. The last thing on someone's mind is safety. But safety is crucial, if you want to really enjoy the Holidays. Nothing can be worse during the Holidays than having your gifts at home burglarized, your shopping money pick pocketed at the mall, your party turning into drunks fighting or even worse, someone getting date raped… These occurrences aren't unique and happen year round!

The Holiday season is not immune to your everyday crime. In fact, sometimes crime is escalated. Make sure you celebrate with safety guidelines, like not drinking too much, not leaving a party with a stranger, no matter how friendly and attractive they are. Always have a designated driver when you leave and please beware of drugs! Never drink out of a punch bowl or open container. Always open your own drink. Request that your friend or waiter bring it unopened!

When out shopping for gifts, make sure you carry your money or credit cards where pick-pockets cannot steal it. Find unique ways to carry your cash or credit cards. While in store parking lots, request an escort if possible. Especially if it is dark out!

One more thing, consider our WomenOnGuard.com website for products that protect your home and yourself from crime. Self defense products also make great, thoughtful and unique gifts that will be appreciated by family and friends.

We hope you have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season!

Memorial Day Safety for Women and Children

Photo by kirinqueen

The weather is finally getting warmer and Memorial Day is next Monday, announcing that Summer is just around the corner. Many of you are planning barbecues, parties or nightclub dancing for the extended weekend! As usual, we at WomenOnGuard, have our concerns regarding your safety during the festivities. Below are safety tips to think about.

First of all, if you are a mother of a small child or simply taking children with you to a barbecue or party this Memorial Day, keep the following in mind. Don't let them out of your site, especially if you don't know who some people are. Second, never let a toddler eat a whole hot dog, please cut it into small pieces before giving it to them. Many small children die of suffocation each year, do to hot dogs getting stuck in their throats! Also keep them away from the hot grill! Third, if there is a swimming pool at the barbecue, please focus and be watchful of all the kids in it. The above are the most common ways children can get into life threatening situations, but there are many more...

Party gatherings or nightclubbing will be everywhere on Memorial Day weekend. Here is where women are most of the time, victims of predators. Remember that a predator can also be someone you already know! Date rape drugs, run rampant at nightclubs and parties. Join the smart women and know the ropes, on how to party with safety in mind! Never drink from an open container that you personally didn't see it opened in front of you. Never drink from punch bowls. When you order a snack or dinner, make sure you tell the server to bring the beverage unopened. Another important thing for women to remember is to always introduce a person you met to your friends. Point out some specific features about the person, besides their full name. For example, aren't his blue eyes beautiful? Or, isn't that tattoo interesting? Point out things to your friends that they will be able to remember. This is in case you disappear afterwards and police want descriptions! Last but not least, never drive off with someone you just met at a nightclub, ever!

In general, try to practice common sense... Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and don't drink and drive!

Party Safety During the Holidays

Photo by Bruce Turner

There's excitement in the air, parties are being planned for the holidays and New Years. All over the world most people are getting prepared to get all dressed up and they are looking forward to having a great time with family and friends! With all the anticipation and hoopla, some people forget some common sense safety tips. Here's where WomenOnGuard, comes into the scene! We want everyone out there to remember some party safety tips for the holidays. Some tips you might recognize from previous posts, but there are also some new ones added...

Holiday and New Years Party Safety Tips

• When drinking any beverage, always keep an eye on your drink
• Never drink any kind of beverage from a punch bowl or open container
• Never share a drink
• If you order a drink from a waiter, request that it be in a closed container
• Don't accept an open drink from anyone, unless you watched them pour it
• Drugs used to spike drinks can be colorless and tasteless so you might not realize that anything has been added
• Be aware of the behavior of your friends. Is their behavior out of character? Do they seem too "out of it" for what they've drank, leave the party immediately and don't go back
• If you still want to be even more cautious, consider purchasing drink testing strips
• When meeting a new person, make sure to introduce him or her to your friends. Point out some features to your friends about this new person, example: "Doesn't he have beautiful green eyes and check out his tattoo!" (important police info)
• Never leave a party with someone you just met
• Choose your designated driver before you go to a party with a group
• If you're intoxicated, alone and leaving, have the host/bartender call a taxi

Please keep these safety tips in mind for the holidays and New Years, plus always take with you a self defense weapon!

Holiday Party Safety Tips

We all love to party during the Holidays and New Years! You can enjoy your parties even more if you take some precautions. Unfortunately where there are parties, there is alcohol. Where there is alcohol, there is sometimes violence. Violence  during the Holidays is common and prevention is key, in order to enjoy the season. Unfortunately, women more than men, are victims of rape or sexual assault crimes during the Holidays, at New Years Eve parties or in nightclubs for that matter. Please remember the following safety tips that may prevent sexual assaults or other crimes:

Party or Nightclub Safety Tips

• Never share drinks.
• Only accept drinks from closed containers.
• Never pour a drink from a punch bowl or pitcher.
• Get your own drink and watch the bartender pour it.
• Always introduce a stranger you just met, to your friends at a party or nightclub.
• Never accept to leave with a stranger or a person you just met.
• If there is not a designated driver, call a taxi or stay at a nearby hotel.

Before you go to a party or any other event, always carry a self defense weapon, besides remembering the safety tips. This should not just apply to Holiday parties but to year-round errands, work, school, nightclubs, concerts, etc. Just like you wear a seat belt while driving, you need to carry a pepper spray, stun gun, taser, rape whistle or personal alarm, while you are out and about. ALWAYS be prepared to defend yourself. DON'T be a victim of sexual assault or any other crime.

Halloween Safety Tips for Children & Adults

It's getting close to Halloween again! Kids are getting excited and grownups are planing parties. We all have fun and eat sweets during and long after Halloween is over!

Like all social events, there are always some concerns. Halloween, unfortunately carries with it some extra dangers. The fact that most people conceal their identity by wearing masks or makeup, makes it even more worrisome. Below we included some Halloween safety tips for children and adults:

Safety tips for Trick or Treating Children

• Children should never enter the house or car of a stranger to get treats
• Never eat treats that are unwrapped or any kind of fruit
• Wear bright clothes or carry a flashlight so cars can see you
• Avoid porches or homes that are dark
• Take a personal alarm or cell phone, in case you are in danger
• Go trick or treating in groups, preferably w/ adult supervision

Safety tips for Partying Adults

• Always get your own drink at a party
• Never take your eyes off of your drink
• Never pour yourself a drink from an open container such as a punch bowl
• Never accept a drink from someone you don't know, unless it is sealed
• Introduce a person you just met, to your friends
• Never leave the party with a person you just met
• When leaving, always have a known designated adult, sober driver or call a taxi
• Always carry a self defense weapon, such as pepper spray, to a party or nightclub

There you have it. Just remember to follow your instincts; if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Domestic Violence Shelter Receives Pepper Spray from Women On Guard™

Women On Guard™ donated pepper spray to the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico, in Espanola, New Mexico.

Pompano Beach, FL, August 2, 2010. Women On Guard™ is an e-commerce website that sells self defense products such as pepper spray, mace, tasers, stun guns and personal alarms. The owners of WomenOnGuard.com, Susan Eaton and Martha Z. Martinez, regularly make pepper spray donations to women’s crisis centers or similar causes around the country. The website which was started in 2006, also offers Hotlines and Safety Tips, among other information regarding self defense.

The mission of the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico is to impact the cycle of domestic violence by providing crisis intervention with short and long-term programs in the service areas of Rio Arriba, Los Alamos and Northern Santa Fe counties of New Mexico. They provide a safe haven (shelter) for persons who have sustained physical, sexual, psychological violence or a combination thereof without prejudice to age, race, creed, gender, color or sexual preference. The Crisis Center also provides counseling, advocacy, education and other services as needed to accomplish the mission. It also provides public education and information relating to the nature of physical, sexual and psychological domestic violence.

Susan Eaton, one of the owners of Women On Guard, expressed her concerns about violence during the summer months. She mentioned, “The rate of sexual assaults unfortunately increases when many people take time off from work or school. This is mostly due to more social interaction, be it at parties, walking down city streets while enjoying the weather or just at a barbecue in a park. Many times there is alcohol involved that result in people making silly decisions, like leaving a party with a complete stranger or accepting a drink that contains a date rape drug.”

Women On Guard also wanted to make sure that people, especially women, take precautions during this summer. Below is a short list of some of their safety tips:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Never walk alone at night, no matter how safe it may seem. Ask someone to go w/you.
• Exercise routines such as walking or running outdoors, should have a variable schedule, don’t be too predictable for a potential attacker.
• Always get your own drink at parties or bars. Watch it being poured, keep an eye on it and never leave your drink unattended. Don’t drink out of a punch bowl. When ordering beer, it’s best to get it in a sealed bottle. 
• Never accept to leave a nightclub or party with a stranger. If you are intoxicated, have the barkeeper or host of the party, call for a taxi.
• Keep in mind that intoxicated individuals are potential victims for attackers. Criminals take advantage of people who have their guard down.

Holiday Party Safety Tips

We are getting closer to that special time of the year when people get closer together and share their love and friendship with each other. This includes parties, dinners and an overall joyful experience for the most part. But what about the times when it isn't so joyful? What about the time when someone drinks too much or someone gets into an unwanted situation? Below you will find some handy tips to keep in mind so your Holiday can be safe and enjoyable.

Party Safety Tips
It's not a party if there is no drinking! Obviously the main rule to remember is to not drink and drive! But also keep in mind this Holiday that with all the hoopla, some people like to take advantage of others. A big concern, is someone putting something in your drink that can harm or impair your judgement or even worst, make you unconscious. Below are some safety tips to remember when you are at a party or nightclub.

• Never get a drink from the punch bowl.
• Accept drinks that are from other people, waitresses or waiters only if they are sealed or in closed containers.
• If getting your drink from the bartender, keep an eye on him or her until they give you your drink.
• While you are interacting with others, always keep an eye on your opened drink.
• Have a designated sober driver picked from your group before you go out together for drinks.
• If you are going to a party alone and consume alcohol, call a taxi cab or phone someone you know that is not drinking to take you home. You can also use public transportation or stay at a hotel close by overnight.
• If you are walking home alone, avoid going through dark pathways and try to choose places where there are other people around. It's always good to carry a self defense weapon such as pepper spray or a stun gun.

Of course these safety tips are not only good during the Holidays, but all year round! Enjoy the season safely!

Party Safety Tips

As summer approaches many people begin to think about barbeques and parties. However, they are not thinking about the danger that could be involved when people get together and do what naturally comes with this summer pastime… the consumption of alcohol. The most important tip we can offer for party safety is to be aware of the danger signs and plot an escape route. If you have to drink, remember, alcohol can affect your ability to make decisions. Manage how much you consume and look out for your friends. Here are a few safety tips you should familiarize yourself with when going to or throwing your own party.

Going To A Party? Remember these tips!

• Always get your own drink or watch it being poured.
  
• Don't leave your drink unattended and do not drink or taste anyone else's drink.
  
• Don't accept drinks from anyone else.
  
• Dispose of your drink if you think it tastes odd. If you just leave it, someone else may drink it.
  Drugs used to spike drinks can be colorless, tasteless and odorless, so you might not realize that something has been added to your drink.
• If your friend’s behavior is out of character, or they seem too "out of it" for what they have had, their drink might have been spiked.
  
• Watch out for your friends and make sure they are making safe decisions.
• If your friend needs to sober up check to see if they are alone, or is someone with them and are they safe.
• Encourage people who are drunk to drink water, which will help lessen the concentration of the alcohol in their system or eat something. Keep an eye on them and do not let them leave the party with their car keys.
• If you are going home with someone you do not know too well, introduce them to your friends before you leave.

Throwing A Party? Keep Your Guests Safe!

• Create a safe atmosphere. If you know that someone is harassing or intimidating someone else, then do something about it by letting them know you are watching, ask the person to stop or leave, find a safe place for the victim and do not be afraid to call 911.
• Know whom you have invited to the party and plan what you will do if someone crashes it.
• Provide food and drink spacers, such as water, soft drinks, or juice.
• Keep an eye on your guests. Make sure they are safe and having a good time.
• Offer to call a taxi for your guests and make note of the taxi company you’ve called.

Please follow these and other simple safety tips. Also consider taking a self defense product, especially if you don't know most of the people attending the party. Enjoy your summer!