January Marks Human Trafficking Month

Even though we have come a long way in this world, we still are dealing with the horrible crimes that surround human trafficking. That is why January marks Human Trafficking Month and is a reminder that we are still fighting to get rid of these crimes from occurring and ultimately protecting all citizens from this happening to them.

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is considered modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. People that become victims of human traffic are all genders, ages, races, countries, socioeconomic statuses and more- basically it can happen to anyone in a vulnerable situation such as people who might be homeless or young.

Human trafficking includes different types such as sex trafficking, forced labor and domestic servitude. With sex trafficking, victims can be forced, threatened, and manipulated by promises of love or affection to engage in sex acts for money. If a person is under the age of 18 and involved in a commercial sex act, then they are also a victim of human trafficking.

What Can You Do to Help?

Human trafficking is sadly everywhere and it’s important that communities come together to stop it. The Department of Homeland Security has a campaign called the Blue Campaign. It provides several opportunities for individuals and organizations to raise awareness about this serious issue.

They have posters, videos, and infographics you can utilize for free and download easily from their website to help raise awareness about human trafficking. They even have training, cards, pamphlets, and toolkits. On January 31^st, you can participate in a Thunderclap, which is a way to raise your virtual voice about this important issue. You can find out more about that by visiting the Blue Campaign website.

Make sure you do your part to help stop these terrible crimes from occurring and spread the awareness message.

Some Important 2019 Resolutions from Cell Phone Sally

A New Year means a new chance to be more prepared and aware. When it comes to knowledge of emergency services, you can never be too prepared. That’s why Cell Phone Sally has put some tips together to start and continue your 2019 off on the right path!

Tips for a Successful Safe and Healthy 2019:

·      Always Know Your Location. The easiest way to do this is to be aware of your surroundings. Look for street names, landmarks and anything else that might help a 9-1-1 operator find where you are during an emergency. Practicing awareness is key!

·     Teach Kids for to dial 911 from a cell phone. Most children don’t not know how to dial 911 in case an emergency happens. Make sure to teach them to push the 911 numbers and then the green send button. Or most smart phones now also have a button on the main screen that says emergency and children can use this to dial 911 by pushing the green button after pushing the numbers 911.  

·       Be prepared for any emergency. Do you have an emergency plan in place for your family? If you don’t, now is the time to make a plan. It could be a matter of life or death. Visit www.ready.gov for all the ins and outs on disaster preparedness!

·       Be aware of unsafe products and recalls. Keep your family safe from potentially dangerous products. You can find out about unsafe products at this website: http://www.cpsc.gov/

·       Get Involved in Health and Wellness! It is important to keep your family healthy and a great website for ideas on staying fit is right here: http://health.discovery.com/

·       Know the number to Poison Control Services! Not sure if you can mix certain medications? Having an allergic reaction to something and not sure if you should go to the emergency room? Get bit by a spider and not sure if it is poisonous? All of these questions can get answered and more- fee of charge! So memorize this number and save it in your phone: 1-800-222-1222. Visit their website here for more info on poison control issues: http://www.poisoncontrol.org/

These are just a few tips to ensure your new year will be the best it can be! And as always, remember- if you are ever in an emergency and need help, please do not hesitate to dial 9-1-1!