Our thanks to Kris Lutz, of http://www.windowanddoorguys.com/ for sending this infographic. We all must be more aware of keeping our possessions more secure.
Tag Archives: doors
TOP SIX SAFETY TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUNG CHILDREN SAFE (GUEST POST)
Home must be the safest place for all especially for kids. If there are young kids in the family then the importance of precautionary measures increased. Children from 6 months to 7 years should be treated equally in terms of safety. They love to explore everything around and in this search often they meet accidents and injuries. Here are some of the top safety tips to make your home safe for young kids:
1. Don’t leave them near Water
Kids love to play with water but it would be the most dangerous thing is to leave them alone with. Playing with water is always fun for kids no matter what their age is. For toddlers and small kids you must be more careful for possible water hazards. You have to be careful not only forpools but water buckets, tubs, paddling pools. Toilets and sinks are a great source of danger and kids should not be left unattended around them. Drowning takes only few seconds and prevention is always better than cure or even grief. Don’t make your children afraid of water but warn them of the possible dangers.
2. Don’t Put Chemicals or Medications in their Range
Keep any item with chemicals out of the reach of young children. This includes toiletries, detergents and other household products. Even the cosmetics, deodorants, perfumes, shampoos and face wash can be harmful for them if swallowed. It’s suggested to install cabinet guards for all cleaning items and higher cupboards for cosmetics. This is also suggested for medications to keep them lock. Many sugar coated tablets and capsules look like sweets and kids like to reach and eat them. Do not let them be easily accessible for children.
3. Protect them from Electrical Appliances and Wiring
Electrical appliances should be kept on higher, locked or safe places to keep them away from kids. The natural curiosity of kids compels them to check every item within their reach. Electrical shocks can cause serious injuries even death. Use electrical safety devices for sure in your home. Cover all the sockets with plastic covers. Do not keep water near electrical appliances. Keep the wiring system safe and do not leave any damaged cords or electrical equipment in house.
4. Watch for the Small Items including Toy Parts
Limit the possibilities of choking which is one of the greater causes of injury to children. Use extra cautions while buying toys for them. Don’t buy those with many small parts. There is no particular rule to suggest which thing should be considered to keep away from kids. Any small item can be dangerous for them either to put in mouth or even in nostrils including coins, nuts, buttons, pins, jelly beans, crystal balls, popcorns, latex balloons, hard candies, grapes etc. Don’t leave toddlers with any small item around.
5. Secure Windows, Doors & Stairways
It’s important to protect your kids from accidental falls. Kids falling from windows or stairways are the most common home accidents. Prevent the sudden fall by keeping windows and doors locked when there are young kids in home. Don’t leave any higher object chair, table, sofa, bench etc. near a window. Pay close attention to toddlers learning to use stairs.
6. Keep Tools Away
Scissors, knives, hammers, screwdrivers, pliers etc. should not be in kids’ range. Kids love to copy the elders and they certainly try to use the tools and apparatus if you forget to keep them safe and away.
We thank Mark Stewart for sending this article. Most of the time, we focus on work-related safety; however, the safety of our children should be first and foremost. pb
LIVING ALONE: STEPS WOMEN SHOULD TAKE TO STAY SAFE (GUEST POST)
With increased financial independence, more and more women prefer to stay alone. The idea of living alone has its own perks that most women find very appealing. You can live on your own terms, feel emancipated and enjoy absolute freedom. However, such a life also comes with its own share of disadvantages in the form of security issues. Increasing crime against women has made it imperative for women to adopt means to ensure their safety. If you are a woman living alone, here are the things that will make sure that you stay safe and enjoy your life.
Choose a neighborhood with care
The safety measures you undertake should start from looking for a safe neighborhood. Check out the crime rate in the neighborhood and talk to the people and local businesses. These people will give you a fair idea about the area and also whether it is safe or not.
Once you move in, establish a rapport with your neighbors. Keep in touch always so that you are aware of the happenings in the area and can take steps accordingly.
You should know the layout of the neighborhood also. Familiarize yourself with the places so that you know the areas that tend to remain dark or deserted at night. If you have an erratic work schedule you will know which areas to avoid and when.
Secure your home
Burglars look for homes that they can break in easily. Homes with wooden doors and windows are their easy targets. To ensure your security, you should replace old wooden doors with reinforced steel. If possible, install security grilles. Invest in deadbolt locks for the exterior doors. The windows also require special attention. Hire a specialized locksmith service and get your entire house inspected and adopt their suggestions to bolster the security system. But also remain aware of ghost locksmiths as Nashville lock maker 456lock points out. Simple things like door chains and spy holes go a long way in making you feel safe and secured.
Beware of strangers
You can install an intercom at the door to identify people who visit your home. Never open the door if you are not sure about who is on the other side. Use the door chain to slightly open the door while attending to strangers. The incidents where the innocuous pizza delivery boy or a courier guy has tried to break in or molest women staying alone necessitate you to be alert always.
Get canine company
A dog is not only a man’s great friend but can be a protector also. Apart from giving you company and much needed love, your pet dog can keep a watch on your house and also alert you about any suspicious movements. Even when you are away, presence of the dog will deter burglars from trying to encroach in your house.
Leave your home secured all the time
Always keep the doors and windows shut. When you leave your house, take extra care to check all the entry points. No one should be able to gain entry when you are absent. While going for vacations, inform your neighbors about your plan so that they can keep an eye on your house. Keeping spare key under the doormat is a very bad idea. Keep it with a neighbor or a friend instead.
Sensor floodlights installed on the exteriors like the balconies, porches and doorway will keep away burglars.
Take help of technology to ensure your safety
Technology has made it extremely easy to keep your house under constant surveillance and also make you safe always. Your mobile phone can play a great role in ensuring your security. You should include 911 in the speed dial list. Always keep the mobile near you even when you are inside the house. While traveling alone, inform your friends or your relatives about your whereabouts.
Wireless security systems can be installed at home to keep a constant watch on your home. You can even get CCTV cameras installed at certain locations. Geo-locations software, energy savings security systems are great options to make your house burglar-proof. These systems are not only easy to operate but also make your home safe when you are away. With advancement in technology, they have become affordable also.
Keep your personal life to yourself
Social networking sites often become traps for women. Avoid sharing your personal information in social networking sites. Your working hours, travel plans and whereabouts should be kept to yourself only. Share this information only with friends whom you trust and know personally.
To prevent stalking and strangers knowing your whereabouts, you should alter your daily schedule from time to time. Change the route you usually take to reach home or office and also alter the timing also.
Being alert and responsible will keep you safe. Carrying pepper sprays, being fit and knowing self-defense techniques will instill confidence in you to handle any situation and protect yourself.
About the Author
Anna is a home security expert in Nashville, Tennessee, who helps home owners and business owners stay safe. She loves writing articles related to home security and women safety.
SENIOR SECURITY: SAFE AT HOME (GUEST POST)
By Maddy Olsen.
Whether you are enjoying your golden years or a family member of a senior, there are things to look out for to increase their safety. Even if you live in a retirement community, some of these will still apply. Seniors tend to be the target of scam artists and hoodlums. They will case a home before they strike and sometimes it doesn’t end well. Being well protected will ease everyone’s mind.
- Windows
Having double paned windows are great for energy efficiency, but they also have very secure locks on them. However, in the event that one is left unlocked, another safety measure should be taken just to ensure complete home security. It is as simple as having wooden dowels cut to fit in the tracks of all the windows in the house, even the bathroom. Home improvement stores generally carry these and will cut them for you if you ask.
- Doors
Traditionally, we just lock our front door and rely on us not losing the keys to get us back in. Now, there is a way to unlock the door using the cell phone. The app is easy to navigate and requires an electronic device be put on the deadbolt area of the door. It can be easily installed with a screwdriver and is accessible from anywhere in the world, on most accounts. They can also be programmed to work with multiple phones, so family can unlock it in case of emergency or if the parents ever get locked out.
- Garage Doors
Any outside entrance to the home is a concern. Garage doors are one of those safety issues that should be addressed. But it is only a garage door, you say? Well, that is true, but it is one of the biggest threats to home security. Having a newer model of garage door opener will reduce the risk of anyone being able to copy the code used to open the door. However, carry the opener in your purse or invest in a keychain opener. If anyone were to get into the car, they would take the opener to be able to get inside the home. When going on a trip, use padlocks to secure the door by the handles near the ground. But even more importantly, always lock the door that leads from your garage into the house. If possible, install a deadbolt to reinforce the door and make it that much harder to get in.
- Smoke Alarms
This doesn’t deter thieves, but it is a very important part of safety and feeling secure in your home. Fires kill more than 4,000 people every year. That is not including those that die from complications due to the fire. That’s a lot of casualties that might have been prevented. Change the batteries in all smoke detectors each month. Just testing the alarms may not ensure that the batteries will work when there is a need for them to. New fresh batteries will keep them in tip top shape all the time. Practice an escape plan so if there were a fire in the home, the residents will know what to do based on the circumstances.
Security of the home is so very important and so many of us pay little attention to it. If there are any concerns, address them sooner than later. Ask for help if you need it, but don’t be the victim of a terrible event because your locks and codes are subpar. Your personal safety should be a priority.
Maddy Olsen blogs on a variety of subjects that are deep topics and can change lives. Writing for Brookdale http://www.brookdaleliving.com/ assisted living is a very rewarding passion she enjoys. Several losses in her family to Alzheimer’s Disease has prompted her write about the topics she has researched or practiced.