ON THE SET OF “CELEBRITY CLOSE CALLS”

Dominion Group Inc. was fortunate to sit in on the taping of “Celebrity Close Calls” which airs on the Biography channel Monday nights 10 pm est. This particular episode they were shooting was about Gary Busey and the motorcycle accident he was involved in on December 4, 1988 which he was not wearing a helmet. His skull was fractured, and doctors feared he suffered permanent brain damage. The motorcycle accident was reenacted by a stunt-man who luckily knew his craft very well.

We’d like to thank Alan Bruckner and the rest of the crew for showing us around the set.

CPR - THE PROPER WAY

Most of us have learned over the years (from Red Cross, Police or Military training) how important the proper use of CPR is when witnessing a possible cardiac arrest or being requested to assist in the application of CPR. This new CPR method is revolutionary, since it does not require mouth to mouth resuscitation and the method of chest compressions has changed dramatically. Thanks go to my old friend Ron D - a retired cop from Oregon and brother in arms for sending me this video.

Continuous Chest Compression CPR
Every three days, more Americansdie from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. You can lessen this recurring loss by learning Continuous Chest Compression CPR, a hands-only CPR method that doubles a person's chance of surviving cardiac arrest. It's easy and does not require mouth-to-mouth contact, making it more likely bystanders will try to help, and it was developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Please watch this new CPR procedure at The University of Arizona web site. This video was originally posted on YouTube April 2010.

THE PATRICK MIRACLE

An extreme case of animal cruelty has dog lovers up in arms. “Patrick” named by the Humane Society of Newark was brought to Garden State Veterinary Specialists where he is in the care of veterinary doctors. If you would like to donate to The Patrick Miracle click here.

Dominion Group Inc. has tried reaching out to the Humane Society for further information on the case and the individual guilty of this atrocity, we will update here when we have further information.

Using Firearms For Home Defense, Bad Idea?

Firearms are always a big topic when talking about home security or home defense. I personally carry a firearm and have several in my home; this does not mean I recommend everyone else do the same. I have experienced extensive training in the use of such weapons and have employed them correctly in real life situations; I am very comfortable with their use and am confident in my ability to keep them secured within my home. Many people do not have this level of training or ability to operate yet think that buying a pistol is the best way to defend themselves. This is the wrong answer in every situation.

Anyone with experience using firearms will tell you every time; the absolute best firearm for home defense is the shotgun. I use one myself and recommend the same to everyone who asks. Without serious training one will not be able to properly employ a pistol in a high tension situation, i.e. a burglar entering your home in the middle of the night. A shotgun is a simple weapon to operate and is approximately 275 times* more likely to hit the target in one of these tense situations.

Beyond the ease of use, the shotgun is a versatile weapon which enables you to use different types of rounds. This can reduce the chances of pass through. Maybe you live in an apartment, say you fire a handgun and miss your target, that round will continue until it hits something that stops it. It could easily pass through a wall and hit your neighbor sleeping on the other side (certain rounds can reduce this possibility). Buying a high number shot ammunition for your shotgun will allow you to miss and reduce the chances of such pass through. For those with a fear of killing such an intruder, less than lethal rounds are available for shotguns. A bean bag round will cause significant pain to the receiver of the shot but most likely will not kill the target. This allows a homeowner to gain control of the situation without the dread of taking a life on your conscious. A final point I always make about shotguns, the sound of a pump action shotgun being racked is generally enough to scare off any intruder. You don’t even have to have a round, perception is reality, and that sound strikes fear.

Other alternatives to firearms consist of pepper spray or tasers. These are legal for use in some states and outlawed in others. Obviously, it is the responsibility of the user to determine if the use of such a tool is permitted in their location. These can be useful tools when properly employed, training is still required.

For more information or a customized training event contact Brian at 516.554.9823 or email info@dominionsecure.com. Training can be conducted in Long Island, New York or can be arranged at a facility near you.

*Figure is based on the average spread of a 12 gauge shotgun at 3 meters compared to the size of a 9mm pistol round. This does not take into account the increased control over a shotgun compared to a pistol which would increase this number significantly. Trained users would experience a slimmer difference in hit percentages.

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Personal Security at Your Home

If there is one place in this world that you should be able to feel 100% safe, it is inside your own home. Whether it is a condo, apartment, or a multilevel house, you should have a sense of security when you are home. Of course many of us do not always have this feeling, it may be due to the neighborhood we live in, the new neighbors that moved in, or our own paranoid self-conscious. If you are feeling any of these, there are several ways to increase security within your castle.

When I was younger, a teacher of mine told me he hung a moose head just inside his front door, suggesting that a burglar would move to the next house assuming that he had a gun and knew how to use it. I was not sure I agreed with the logic at the time and to a certain degree I still find it a bit ridiculous. However, perception is reality and making someone think that breaking into your home is a bad idea is just about as good as really making it so.

Using a moose head in your foyer may not suit you, placing ADT or some other well known security system’s stickers on your windows and doors may be an alternative. Presenting the illusion that you have a security system, even if you don’t want to spend the $30 or more a month, plus installation, can be a great deterrent to the opportunistic burglar. If you want to subscribe to the idea that a burglar avoids homes in which the occupants have firearms, a nice National Rifle Association sticker on your front door may serve your purpose well.

Burglaries are more common in empty homes rather than when someone is home. You would probably rather someone break-in when you are gone anyway, who wants to experience something like that. A good idea is to either leave lights on or purchase an inexpensive timer which will turn the lights on at a certain time each evening if you get home a bit later. Keep the doors and windows locked. It is nice to get fresh air, many windows these days have a method of opening a few inches and locking so that someone cannot simply crawl in through the open window. Depending on the area, a closed window may not be enough to stop a criminal. You may need to install steel bars over windows and the door. It should be remembered that even the strongest barrier is only as strong as what it is attached to. If you take a seriously sturdy bar and attach it to sheetrock, you will find that it is quickly removed.

To reduce the visibility of barricades (maybe you want extra security without the appearance of a jail or prison) there are a few inexpensive steps you may take. A simple door stop can be used to prevent a door from being kicked-in. This consists of a bar attaching against the inside of the door and attaching to something inside the home, behind the door. This will absorb significant impact and will most likely prevent entry as the perpetrator will move on after a few unsuccessful attempts. Arranging landscaping to prevent easy access to windows is another tool to discourage entry. If they cannot walk up to a window it will significantly lower the chance that someone will even attempt to break-in. People tend to take the path of least resistance, making your home just a little more difficult to breech could be the difference between being a victim and sleeping peacefully.

These suggestions cannot guarantee safety or that your home will not become the target of a criminal. I make them in order to provide an added layer of security which is non-existent in most cases. A security audit of your home by a professional should be performed if you have serious security concerns. These measures are intended to deter opportunistic criminals, if someone has deemed you or your home a target, a significantly higher level of security should be explored. Dominion Group Inc. prides itself in offering state of the art security systems and solid advice to clients. Nothing can match a customized audit of your security needs from a professional with years in the industry. Visit Dominion Group Inc. or call 516.554.9823 to learn more.

Living in New York city or Long Island? We can arrange a free consultation onsite.

The next discussion will explore self defense within the home. Are firearms a necessity or dangerous weapons to be avoided?

Farrah Montgomery FOUND!

Thank-you all for your concern and sharing Farrah's flyer in an effort to bring attention to her disappearance. Farrah was being held against her will in Texas by several individuals. Her captors viewed information about her disappearnce on the internet, fearing being caught these individuals released her-enabling her to contact police.

Thanks to Rescue Ink for their assistance to Dominion Group Inc. in the effort to find Farrah Montgomery.

The suspected captors are being held by the authorities in connection with this case. Thank-you to everyone who made an effort to find Farrah, we could not have made it happen without you!