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Video Tips For Security
It is important to have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside each bedroom. If they are wired into the electrical system they should be interconnected. Newer homes will meet these requirements, but if you have an older home, it is important to make sure you have adequate smoke alarm protection.
Smoke detectors that are wired into the home’s electrical system will have a battery backup so the detectors will function if the power is out. Detectors that are added after the home was built often are battery-powered only.
The U.S. Consumer Product Commission recommends that you check your smoke detector batteries once a month. The alarms will have a test button that, when pushed, will cause the alarm to sound. If it does not, replace the battery immediately. You should install new batteries once a year. Pick a date, like a birthday or the change to daylight-savings time, and make sure all of the smoke detector batteries in the home are replaced.
If a smoke detector battery does run down or goes dead in a hard-wired system, the alarm will emit a regular chirping noise. Find the beeping alarm and replace the battery with a new one.
Some newer smoke alarms have 10-year lithium batteries. These alarms should be tested regularly and replaced if they do not respond. Replace the entire alarm after 10 years.
- More than 3,500 Americans die each year in fires, and approximately 20,000 are injured. Deaths resulting from failed emergency escapes are particularly avoidable.
- The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that having a sound escape plan will greatly reduce fire deaths and protect you and your family’s safety if a fire occurs.
Have a Sound Fire Escape Plan – In the event of a fire, remember – time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.
Practice Escaping From Every Room In The Home – Practice escape plans every month. The best plans have two ways to get out of each room. If the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke, you will need a second way out. A secondary route might be a window onto an adjacent roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows. Purchase only collapsible ladders evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly and that security bars can be properly opened. Also, practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
Immediately Leave The Home – When a fire occurs, do not waste any time saving property. Take the safest exit route, but if you must escape through smoke, remember to crawl low, under the smoke and keep your mouth covered. The smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you or, at worst, overcome you.
Never Open Doors That Are Hot To The Touch – When you come to a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame to make sure that fire is not on the other side. If it feels hot, use your secondary escape route. Even if the door feels cool, open it carefully. Brace your shoulder against the door and open it slowly. If heat and smoke come in, slam the door and make sure it is securely closed, then use your alternate escape route.
Designate A Meeting Place Outside and Take Attendance – Designate a meeting location away from the home, but not necessarily across the street. For example, meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway or front sidewalk to make sure everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt looking for someone who is already safe. Designate one person to go to a neighbor’s home to phone the fire department.
Once Out, Stay Out – Remember to escape first, and then notify the fire department using 911 or proper local emergency number in your area. Never go back into a burning building for any reason. Teach children not to hide from firefighters. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They are equipped to perform rescues safely.
Finally, having working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home dramatically increases your chances of survival. Smoke alarm batteries need to be tested every month and changed with new ones at least once a year. Also, consider replacing the entire smoke alarm every ten years, or as the manufacturer guidelines recommend.
Many people don’t realize that their basement windows present a significant security vulnerability. While most people are aware that burglars may enter through a ground-floor entry point, it’s also important to note that basement windows may allow an intruder to access your home by entering through the basement. Here are a few quick tips to guide you through improving the security of your basement windows.
Install Secure Locks
Since the construction of basement windows is usually different from standard windows, you will want to purchase a secure lock that is compatible. Basement window locks need to be durable, secure and impossible to tamper with from the outside. If possible, purchase a lock that will be unable to be manipulated from the outside, even if the window is broken. In many cases, you can find a secure lock for your basement window at your local hardware store. If you are unable to find a good security lock locally, you can always try ordering a product from an online retailer.
Shatter-Proof Glass
To improve the security of your basement windows, it can also be beneficial to have shatter-proof glass installed as a replacement for regular glass. Since basement windows are usually fairly small in size, installing shatter-proof glass can be relatively affordable. Unless you have experience in glass installation, it’s highly recommended that you hire a professional to upgrade the glass in your basement windows. Research professional glass installation services in your area, choosing a highly rated service that has positive customer reviews.
Installing Security Bars
Many people choose to install security bars on their basement windows. Since basement windows aren’t within normal viewing range, security bars can usually be installed without being too noticeable. If you have windows that open inward, install the security bars on the outside (between the screen and the window, if you have a screen). If you have a sliding basement window, you can place the bars on the interior of the window, and leave enough space so that the windows can still be easily opened. Though it is possible to find security bars that meet the specifications of your basement windows, you may have to have them custom-cut. Take an accurate measurement of the dimensions of your basement window, and take these measurements to your local hardware store. Most hardware stores will be able to custom-cut security bars to meet your specifications.
Tactical Landscaping
To help limit access to your basement windows, you can also use tactical landscaping methods. Plant low, thorny bushes around your basement windows, making them difficult or nearly impossible for an intruder to access. If you are worried about the appearance of your home, you can use Hawthorne, Rosebushes or Barberry bushes to create a visually pleasing “barrier” around your basement window area. If you need to have access to your basement windows, you can also use thick, thorn-free shrubbery that still provides limited access.
Tips for Making Emergency Plans
The first thing to do is identify an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to make a long distance call around town, so a long-distance contact may be in a better position to communicate. Phone lines in the local area could become jammed. Make sure every family member knows to call that out-of-town contact and the means to do it.
Create ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts on your cell phone, and let your family and friends know that you have made them emergency contacts. Emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings to get a hold of someone you know.
Teach family members how to use text messaging. Texts can get through when phone calls often can't, and many communities have instant text messaging or e-mail systems to let you know about bad weather, road closings and local emergencies. Sign up to receive these alerts by visiting your local office of emergency management website.
You may also want to inquire about emergency plans where you and your family most often spend their time; for instance, work, daycare or school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Find out what kinds of disasters are most common or more likely to occur in your area. Also, how will you be notified? One common method is to broadcast via emergency via emergency radio or television. The information transmitted will help you decide whether to stay or evacuate. Use the new online family emergency planning tool created by the Ready Campaign in conjunction with the Ad Council to prepare a printable, comprehensive emergency plan. This information can be found at http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp .
Please join me next week when I give you some additional safety tips to better protect your home and your family.
Tips on how to screen workers or contractors who will perform work in your home.
This can be daunting. The first thing you can do is to make sure the company you hire is licensed and bonded. Also be sure that these companies do background checks on all of their employees. Also, check to be sure the company has insurance in case an injury occurs on your property. We recommend that you make sure to have an agreement, in writing, listing exactly what type of work will be performed for what cost. This will help avoid any understandings you may have later on.
A quick and easy resource for finding good service people is talking to people that you already know and trust, such as freinds and family members. Getting recommendations from people you are already familiar with is the best way to assess new services. Plus, you can observe the quality of the work firsthand.
Good chemistry with your contractor is also essential. This person may be in your midst for several months and you may need to haggle about certain issues. Ask whether your job will be the only one on their plate or whether they will be managing several jobs simultaneously. Will they be on site to supervise the job or will it be handed off to a foreman.
Make sure that your plans are thought out completely. For example, who is responsible for demolition, clean up and trash collection. It is fair for a contractor to charge you for changes and modifications that are not in the plans, particularly changes that require more work or more expensive materials.
Join us next week for more tips on how to better protect your home and your family.
It’s important to learn how to operate a fire extinguisher before an emergency occurs. While most fire extinguishers work the same way, they are actually divided into four classes with four specific uses.
- Class A – these are for common combustible materials such as paper, wood and most plastics.
- Class B – these are for combustible liquid materials such as gasoline, oil and grease.
- Class C – these are for electrical equipment such as wiring, outlets, circuit breakers and appliances
- Class D – these are only used for chemical fires
When an emergency does occure, it’s helpful to remember the simple acronym, PASS, to help you properly and safely operate the extinguisher.
- Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher.
- Aim at the base of the fire not the flames.
- Squeeze lever slowly.
- Sweep from side to side.
In addition, here are a few other tips to keep in mind to ensure your safety:
- Operate the extinguisher at a safe distance from the fire.
- Once the fire is out, watch the area for a few minutes to be sure nothing re-ignites.
- Always recharge a fire extinguisher immediately after use.
- Keep it in the same, accessible place in the house every time.
Here are some quick tips for helping to organize a neighborhood watch program in your area. Neighborhood watch programs have been known to be an extremely effective crime deterrent and lower the number of crimes in a neighborhood:
- Attention to neighborhood safety not only reduces crime but also brings citizens together.
- The more people that are informed and alert about crime prevention, the less opportunity there is for burglary, vandalism, kidnapping or other neighborhood crimes to occur.
- First, you should research facts about crime in your neighborhood. Examine police reports and local newspapers to get a better understanding about the types of crimes that are prevalent in your area.
- ask your neighbors about their perception of your neighborhood’s safety. This way, you can gear your program toward addressing the issues that your neighbors are most dissatisfied about.
- You could go door-to-door telling neighbors about the new program and asking them to volunteer. If your community communicates through a newsletter or has meetings, use these tools in order to spread the word about the safety program.
- Partnering with your local police department not only gives credibility to your neighborhood safety program, but it is also provides a source of critical information and possibly training.
- create a webpage, forum, blog or even Facebook and Twitter accounts for your neighborhood safety program. Not only are these strategies cost effective, they give residents an opportunity to discuss neighborhood safety.
Hi, my name is Leilani Wells, I represent Gaylord Security Systems one of the nation’s leading ADT dealers.
I am here today to inform you on some of the most common ways a burglar breaks into your home and things that you can do to better protect the people and things you value most!
- The doors to your home are the most common areas that are looked at by a thief.
- Front Doors are the most popular entrance into your home. They are able to gain entry by picking locks or breaking the door in. Many household doors are made from hollow wood which renders them unable to withstand large amounts pressure.
- Back doors, side doors, and sliding doors are also very vulnerable. And any doors to your home that may be hidden do to shrubs, a tall fence, or trees. Take notice to your home and its surroundings. If there is a place around your home that is not visible from the outside than you need to take the proper precautions to clear out any debris from the area.
- First floor windows are the next obvious choice an open window, cracked window, or a window that is hiding are likely candidates. Window that are seemly in tacked can still be quickly and relatively quietly broken to gain entry.
- If you have balcony that is easily accessible, such as stairs or anything that could quickly be used to climb up to the second level are places that are often over looked. Many people leave second floors windows and sliding glass doors open or unlocked not think that it is accessible for a burglar. But the easier you make it for a burglar increases your chances that a burglary will happen to you.
- Also something that is overlooked is the interior doors inside a garage. Many people leave these doors open or unlocked either way it is an open invitation for someone to come into your home!
- The best thing you can do to protect your home is to secure these entrances with a home security system by ADT because door and window sensors and glass breakage detectors alert authorities if a burglar attempts to break into your home even if you aren’t there.
Again, my name is Leilani Wells, your Gaylord Security representative. I hope you come back next week when I give you vital information about what to do if a break in does occur!
Hi, my name is Leilani Wells, I represent Gaylord Security Systems one of the nation’s leading ADT dealers.
I am here to share with you today some important information about what to do if a break in does occur at your home.
- If you return to your home and you suspect a break in, DO NOT enter the home. Go to a neighbor’s house and call 911.
- Do not inspect your home before the police arrive.
- Do not touch or remove any items from your home before an investigation has been done to see if there is anything missing.
- Doing these things can tamper any evidence that may still be at the scene
- When you go in with the police notify them of anything that may be missing. Something that can make this process easier is if you are able to do an inventory of your home and its valuables before a situation like this occurs. This may seem tedious but in the heat of the moment you emotions are racing and you could over look something.
- Also notify the police of anything that you see that is not yours. The police do not know you or your home and could over look something and this could be evidence to help with their investigation.
- Also contact your insurance company for information on what you need to do with them regarding your rates and any items that may be gone.
- Be prepared to provide the police with detailed descriptions, serial numbers, etc of the missing items. This will be so much easier if you do a home inventory before something like this happens.
- Finally install an ADT home security system that can monitor your home even when you are away.
Again, my name is Leilani Wells, Your Gaylord Security representative. I hope you join me next week when I’ll be sharing with you landscaping tips that can improve your homes security.
I’m here today to share with you what everyone really needs to know about securing your home when you plan to leave on vacation.
- Creating the illusion that you are home greatly reduces the chance that a thief will target your house. A thief wants an easy target if they think that someone is home they are likely to move right along to the next house.
- Before leaving for a trip, turn on an inside or outside light near the front and back door. These are two of the most common ways criminals get into your home.
- To save money on your energy bill, set the light to a timer so that it shuts off during the day and turns back on at dusk. It would also be a good idea to have another light set to a timer somewhere else in the house so it looks more like someone’s home.
- Something that you might not have thought of is play a radio inside while you are away- this noise especially recorded household sounds, like a dog barking or a person laughing, make it seem like your family is still home
- Make sure you lock all entry ways into your home including windows and double check, Also make sure to set your home alarm system. People often leave in a rush and forget.
- Alert newspaper, to stop your delivery service while you are away so that newspapers don’t pile up out front giving the hint that no one is home.
- Also, ask a trusted neighbor or family member to check on your home periodically do a walk around and walk through and to grab your mail for you. You could even have someone house sit for you.
Again, my name is Leilani Wells, Your Gaylord Security representative. I hope you come back next week when I share some important tips on what you need to do after a break-in.