Home Safety and Security Tips

Home Safety and Security Tips

Installing a quality home alarm system is only half of what it will take to keep your home secure and safe. The other half is making sure that your family members are prepared and you have a successful plan that you can execute when actual safety problems arise. To make your home security system is holistic, you must be able to protect your home and your family from intruders as well as from other safety, health and security hazards.

We have some home safety and security tips to help you out.

If you have children – even small kids, introduce them to your home security system. The idea is not to scare them, but to prepare them and create a safe environment where they are educated on safety and security topics including firearms, answering the door or phone, keeping doors and windows locked, staying in the home or designated play area, operating a fire extinguisher, and escape plans in the even of a fire or earthquake. If they are able to memorize the password and the panic password, they should do so. Regularly review your security plans and procedures with them.

Take extra safety precautions if there is an elderly living in your home. Take into consideration the risk of falls and trips or sudden onset medical emergencies, their vulnerability to assault and burglaries, and hearing impairment that may prevent them from hearing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Did you find these home safety and security tips helpful? Here’s more.

Here are some more home safety and security tips:

• Do a “mock burglary” to discover any weaknesses in your security system.
• Always lock your home, even if you are only stepping out for a few minutes.
• Be sure to change all locks and tumblers when you move into a new house.
• Conceal all wiring of your burglar system so no one can disconnect it.
• Make your house appear occupied even when you’re not home by using timers to switch lights and radios on and off.
• If your alarm is faulty and goes off all the time, get it fixed right away. Also tell your neighbors that it’s been fixed so they don’t ignore it in case it actually goes off to alarm an emergency.
• A deadbolt lock is safest compared to a spring-latch lock, which can be depressed and unlocked bu slipping a plastic credit card against the latch tongue (called “loiding”).
• Change your locks immediately if you lose your keys, or if someone whom you do not want to have access to the house has a copy (i.e. a previous helper, gardener or guest who slept over).
• Do a thorough background check on your house cleaner and other helpers who have full access to your home.
• Here’s one of the best home safety and security tips: wrap your spare key in foil or put it in a film can and bury it somewhere where you can easily find it — instead of putting it under the doormat or a potted plant.
• Do not tape notes to family members, friends or service people on your door where everyone can see it.
• Light up the entrances to your home.
• If you notice strangers or suspicious vehicles hanging around, make sure your neighbors are aware.
• Take your landscaping plans into consideration when your get your security system installed. Trees or shrubs that cover windows can also  hide burglars from view.
• Ask for credentials from sales people wanting to enter your home. Do not hesitate to check with their office if you have any doubts.
• Only use the initial of your first name and your last name in your mailbox or your telephone book entry.
• If a stranger asks to use your phone to call a mechanic or the police, keep your doors lock an make the call yourself.
• Having a dog can be an effective way to scare off burglars. Train your pets to make noise when they see strangers.
• Replace rotting door frames. They are easy to break.
• Keep your garage door closed even when your car is not in.
• Put a peephole in the door between the house and the garage so you can easily check if you hear suspicious sounds without opening the door.

These home safety and security tips are meant to be used as guidelines. Make sure your alarm system or CCTVs are installed by professionals. Call us today for installation and more home safety and security tips.