Assistance

Winter Safety

At Home:

1. Have an emergency supply of water and non-perishable food on hand for yourself and pets.  Include a manual can-opener.
2. Put together an emergency kit containing flashlight, battery-powered radio, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, and extra prescription medicine.
3. Have at least one phone, which is connected to the wall.
4. Make sure your house is prepared for winter. Insulate, caulk and weather-strip. Have your furnace checked annually.

In the Car:

1. Keep your gas tank full of gas and keep an auto disaster kit in your car.  Include extra mittens, hats, water-proof boots, extra blankets, sand or kitty-litter for traction, flashlight, and non-perishable snacks. Remember basic items such as window scraper, tow chains, battery cables, a road map and first-aid kit.
2. Take winter driving seriously. If storms are forecast, stay home unless absolutely necessary.
3. If your car is stranded, stay in the car. Run the engine for short periods (10 minutes per hour).
4. Let someone know your destination, route and when you are leaving.

Outdoors:

1. Layers of protective clothing are warmer than a single heavy layer.  Gloves are warmer than mittens. Wear a hat since most body heat is lost through the head.
2. Keep steps and sidewalks cleared of ice and snow to prevent falls.
3. Understand the hazards of extreme cold on exposed skin.
4. Be careful to not over-exert when shoveling snow. Lifting heavy snow puts extra strain on the heart.

During a Power Outage:

1. Never use charcoal, gas or propane heaters indoors. Doing so can increase the risk of fire and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Unplug sensitive electrical equipment to eliminate the impact of any damage from power surge.
3. Electrical power may be out for several days. Consider relocating to a shelter or home where heat and power are available.
4. Alert someone if your health depends on electrical equipment.

To check the Wisconsin 's Top 10 consumer complaints go to www.datcp.state.wi.us  The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit wants to remind consumers about protecting their identity.

Identity theft occurs when someone obtains and uses a person's identifying information, name, address, date of birth, social security number or mother's maiden name to commit fraud.

WARNING SIGNS:

1. Your monthly credit card and bank statements stop arriving.

2. You are denied credit for no apparent reason.

3. You start getting bills from companies you do not recognize.

4. Credit collection agencies try to collect on debts that do not belong to you.

How to protect yourself

1. Ask your bank, doctor's office and other businesses how they protect your personal information.

2. Never carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport unless necessary.

3. Do not give out your address, telephone number or driver's license unless necessary.

4. Limit the information you put on your personal checks.

5. Shred all personal documents before placing them in the trash.

6. Get a credit report every year. Equifax 1-800-525-6285, Experian 1-888-397-37452, Trans Union 1-800-680-7289.

7. Keep financial records out of site.

8. Check monthly statements closely for accuracy.

9. Keep a list in a safe place of credit cards, bank accounts.

10. If you suspect fraud, close account, destroy checks and credit cards and open new accounts.

11. Notify all creditors and financial institutions.

12. Notify you're local law enforcement agency and report it.

13. Information provided by Call for Action Inc.

14. For further information contact Deputy Steven L. Herman at 920-236-7309.

ONGUARD ONLINE, your safety net

7 Practices for Safer Computing

Being on guard online helps you protect your information, your computer, even yourself.  To be safer and more secure online, adopt these seven practices.

1. Protect your personal information.  It’s valuable.  To minimize your risk of identity theft, don’t share your personal information unless you know how it will be used and protected.  Don’t reply to or click on links in any email asking for your personal information.

2. Know who you’re dealing with.  When shopping online, look for a seller’s physical address and a working telephone number.  Before downloading free software, read the fine print-some downloads come with spyware.

3. Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and update both regularly.  Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses, as well as older ones; and updates automatically.  If your firewall was shipped in the “off” mode, turn it on, and be sure to set it up properly.

4. Be, and sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly update them regularly.  Select security settings high enough to reduce your risk of being hacked.  Make sure to regularly update your system with the latest patches.

5. Protect your passwords.  Keep your passwords in a secure place, and don’t share them on the Internet, over email, or on the phone.

6. Back up important files.  If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc, and store it in a safe place.

7. Learn who to contact if something goes wrong online.  Visit OnGuardOnline.gov and click on “File a Complaint” to learn how to respond if problems occur when you’re online.

Stop – Think – Click

To learn more, visit OnGuardOnline.gov

INFORMATION FROM NEENAH/MENASHA/OSHKOSH AREA TRIADS

WHAT IS TRIAD?

A local TRIAD consists of Law Enforcement Officers and older retired individuals in our community who agree to work together to reduce criminal victimization and the quality of life issues for seniors.

ONE PERSON DEFINED TRIAD AS:

• THE

• RIGHT

• INFORMATION

• AND

• DIRECTION

WHAT DO TRIADS DO?

1. Educate

2. Assist

3. Emphasize

4. Communicate

5. Involve

Please Join Us:

• 2^nd Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the Oshkosh Senior Center

• 2^nd Thursday of one month at 1:00 p.m. at the Omro Area Community Center the following month at the Riverside Apartments in Winneconne

• 3^rd Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Menasha Senior Center

For further information about the TRIAD program in your area please call: