Remember when you’d sit in your dad’s car sans seat belt? Me, too. Well, Volvo’s working on adaptive seat belts that tighten or loosen based on your size and how serious the crash is. So if you’re smaller, it eases up to protect your ribs.
Kim’s picks to save your vacation
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Traveling soon? Don’t leave your common sense at home. These safety gadgets aren’t “nice to haves.” They’re the kind of gear you’ll wish you got before your bag went MIA (or worse).
Before you say, “Kim, I already took my summer vacation,” perfect. This is your last shot to snag these deals before prices head north for good. Let’s get you prepped.
✈️ Jet-set tech
- Juice on the go: This pocket-sized power bank (26% off) has built-in cables and a wall plug.
- Spot the spy: Sniff out sketchy devices in your hotel room with a hidden camera detector (43% off).
- Power without borders: Don’t be that guy caught without a plug adapter (20% off) abroad.
- Privacy, please: Turn unsafe public WiFi into your own safe, encrypted network with a travel router (25% off).
💸 Outsmart digital pickpockets
- Trackable & stackable: Built-in AirTag holder, RFID protection, this men’s smart wallet (33% off) feels like peace of mind.
- Safety meets style: This women’s RFID wallet (24% off) is slim enough for your smallest bags.
- Don’t lose your identity: An RFID blocking passport holder (6% off) is equipped for the long haul.
- Hackers hate these: These data blockers ($13, four-pack) let you charge safely at public ports.
📍 Track it or lose it
- Find it fast: Lost your bag? Not with an Apple AirTag (10% off). Open the Find My app and follow the dot.
- Ditch the hide-and-seek: Android crew, a Tile Bluetooth tracker (7% off) is your “where’d I put that?” fixer.
- Wimpy wires? Braided fast-charging cables (35% off, two-pack) won’t fray. 4.6 stars and 32,000+ reviews.
- Traveling with the fam? These kids’ AirTag holders ($10, four-pack) keep track when they invisibly wander off.
🔒 Lock it down
- Mini safe, big relief: Toss your valuables in a portable lock box (17% off). Set the combo and relax.
- Clip it and zip it: An anti-theft backpack lock (7% off) is a must-have on busy streets.
- TSA MVPs: These spill-proof toiletry bags (10% off, two-pack) let you breeze through security.
- Double the defense: A portable door lock & alarm combo (16% off) is your travel-sized security system.
🧳 Pack more, stress less
- Need options? I got you. This five-piece luggage set (14% off) has 4.4 stars and 27,000+ reviews.
- Bye, paper tags: Hello smart QR code luggage tags (10% off, two-pack) that work with GPS.
- Weigh before you go: Repacking at the check-in counter? Skip the embarrassment with a luggage scale ($11).
- Buckle up: These adjustable straps ($12) add a layer of TSA-approved protection.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Inspector Gadget, who?
🧰 If your tools are ghosting you mid-project, start here:
- 🔦 Power outage MVP: This rechargeable flashlight (20% off) shines for up to 15 hours. Zoomable and waterproof.
- 🪓 Tool that rules: Screw, hammer, cut and more with a 14-in-1 multitool (11% off). 4.7 stars and 18,000+ reviews.
- 🎁 Gift-wrapping stress? A paper roll dispenser and cutter ($39.99) makes clean slices every time.
- 📐 Tilted shelves? Use a laser level (20% off) with a 150-foot range. Retire your shaky hands already.
- 🖌️ Fix that nick: Forget rollers, this touch-up paint pen (25% off) tackles scuffs without trays, mess or regret.
- 😎 Shield your eyes: Anti-fog safety glasses (19% off) fit over your readers to block UV, blue light and bad decisions.
❤️ Love these? You’ll find even more in my storefront. There’s a new DIY page waiting for you there.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🏊🏼 Never saw this coming: A new male birth control pill just passed its first human safety trial, and it’s nonhormonal. Instead, it blocks sperm production by messing with vitamin A (??). It’s reversible, daily and allegedly won’t tank your mood or libido. Still extremely early days, but finally, a way for men to forget Father’s Day on purpose.
6 feet
That’s how far we thought standing apart would save us from germs. Turns out, not so much. New research says our beloved 6-foot safety bubble might just be hot air, literally. It seems the typical indoor temps of 72°F to 86°F create a perfect petri dish for those pesky particles to lurk around your face.
🚑 Add emergency contacts to your lock screen: This lets first responders call important numbers without unlocking your phone. On iPhone, go to Health > Medical ID, add your emergency contacts, and enable Show When Locked. On Android, go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Emergency Contacts and add them there.
Don’t panic, shopper
🛟 From power outages to self-defense, you’ll want this gear.
- Stay charged up and get alerts with a hand-crank radio (17% off).
- A smoke & carbon monoxide detector (25% off) lets you act fast.
- Roadside trouble? Keep a car safety tool ($29) in your glove box.
- This first aid kit ($40) has everything for bumps, cuts and burns.
- Clip one of these personal alarm sirens ($19) to your key chain.
- The meals in this emergency food bucket (5% off) last 25 years.
🚨 Don’t stop now: Stock up smart with more emergency must-haves on my page to stay prepped for anything.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Hide shady content on X: Don’t want NSFW stuff popping up in your feed? Go to Settings > Privacy and safety > Content you see and turn off Display media that may contain sensitive content. Then, under Content you see, tap Search settings and switch on Hide sensitive content.
Make your X account private: Only want your followers to see your posts? Log in to X > go to More (bottom left) > Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Audience, media and tagging > and tick Protect your posts. On mobile, tap your profile icon and go to Settings to do the same.
📢 Check for recalls: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site is worth checking now and then. You can search by categories, filter by date or hazard and sometimes get a refund or replacement. And if there’s ever a big recall, don’t worry, I’ll warn you here in my newsletter, too.
🫖 Tea gets scalding hot: An app called Tea lets you anonymously review your exes. Think: “Would not date again, bad communicator, great dog.” That five-star smile? It’s got a one-star past. The app is gaining steam with women as a dating safety tool, but critics warn it’s a defamation lawsuit waiting to happen.
🚨 Fix Or Repair Daily = Ford: Ford’s racked up 88 safety recalls in six months. That’s more than any other automaker hits in a year. Some are small issues, others are major safety flaws, including one affecting 850,000+ vehicles. The company has doubled their safety teams, tied 70% of exec bonuses to “quality,” and still, the recall parade goes on.
🔐 Wyze’s new safety feature: “VerifiedView” tags every video, image or live feed with a unique ID tied to your account. If someone tries to watch your footage, the app checks whether their ID matches the one in the video. If it doesn’t, they’ll get a 403 error. Update your Wyze app and firmware to enable it.
☣️ OpenAI issues a bioweapon warning: This is frightening. OpenAI says its next-gen models might be dangerously helpful, like “here’s how to cook up a bioweapon” helpful. They’re beefing up safety tests as models approach high-risk territory, where even amateurs could make deadly agents. So yes, your AI intern might someday help someone go full Bond villain. We wanted cancer cures, not anthrax recipes.
Reason #452 why I sold my Tesla: FSD was a pile of poopy hype. In repeated trials, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving feature rolled past stop signs and mowed down child-size mannequins like a GTA side quest. Elon says safety is top priority, which is reassuring to the mannequins’ plastic parents.
🏊 Pool safety tip: Drowning is the top cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4. Sadly, 88% happen with an adult nearby. That’s why the Y-M-C-A launched Phones Down, Eyes Up. Take their pledge and get a free lock screen reminder, pool safety tips and a “Water Watcher” lanyard for the grown-up keeping watch.
📵 Phones down, eyes up: That’s the YMCA’s new water safety campaign for parents this summer. Why? Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4, and it often happens within 25 yards of a distracted parent. It’s usually silent, with no splashes, and can happen in 30 seconds or less. I know there’s someone you need to share this with.
🛡️ App armor: Fake Google Play Store links are out there. One wrong tap and you’ve downloaded an app full of malware. Turning on Improve harmful app detection lets Google scan shady apps for a safety check. Open the app, tap your profile icon (top right) > Play Protect > Settings > toggle it on.