The Key to Safety is Prevention...BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER |
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In fact, just last week at school, all of my kids practiced some sort of fire safety drill with their classes. Look, the chances of a fire happening are slim, but we have fire extinguishers and alarms and know how to exit the house in case of one because of that slim chance. The point is we must prepare ourselves and our families with a plan to stay safe. At the USCCA, we’re always talking about the importance of being prepared. You know the old saying about guns: “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.” The same can be applied, I think, to the simple idea of being prepared. In the Schmidt household, we used Fire Prevention Week at school as a reminder to practice our family plan for emergencies at home. Despite the initial grunts and eye rolls from everyone, we checked all the batteries in our fire detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and went over our meeting point outside in case of a fire. It only seemed logical that we reviewed “other” safety procedures, too...like what to do in the event of a home invasion, and how to check and clear handguns, shotguns, and rifles. As far as I know, there is no Firearm Safety Month. But there should be. You and I have heard stories in the media that make us shake our heads. “Brother Kills Sister with Loaded Gun.” All the more reason to be sure our children know the importance of gun safety. It’s not enough to just talk to them about it. We have to show them. And practice it with them. And keep practicing it with them, even when it becomes second nature. Even when it becomes�dare I say�tedious. . Frankly, I will take all the time in the world to practice and prepare if it means preventing or thwarting an attack of any kind�firee or felon. If YOU want to improve your chances of surviving a fire or a home invasion or anything else that threatens the lives and livelihood of those you love, you need a plan. And you need to practice. End of story. Take Care and Stay Safe,
Tim Schmidt |
