Try as we may to keep our homes safe, there might still be hazards. Unwelcome visitors forcing their way into your house, sustaining an injury, and natural disasters are all situations that can jeopardize your living space.
Heighten the safety of your family and belongings with home security equipment.
Break-Ins
In 2015, burglaries accounted for almost 20 percent of all property crimes. While this may be a scary thought, there are some easy ways to reduce this risk:
- Install doorbell cameras near your home’s entrance to deter potential intruders. Most burglars enter the home through the front door. Take a look at 3 Benefits of Doorbell Security Cameras.
- Position video surveillance cameras around the perimeter and inside of your home. View footage from a mobile device and receive notifications when sensors are triggered. Learn how to set up security cameras outside your home.
- Get notified of suspicious activity with break-in alarms. Monitoring devices, such as glass-break detectors and image sensors, not only emit an audible alarm to scare burglars, they also notify your monitoring center. The monitoring center will then contact you and authorities as needed.
Personal Injuries
Sometimes, seemingly minor incidents can escalate into much more serious injuries than expected. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that one in five elderly people suffer serious injuries, like broken bones, after falling down. Children can also be at risk for similar accidents. Here are some ideas for minimizing risks:
- Wear a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). A PERS is a pendant or bracelet that can summon emergency services with the touch of a button, giving a sense of independence in one’s own home while also ensuring safety.
- Add extra security in high-risk areas. Consider the places in your home that can be more dangerous, such as a swimming pool. Additional camera monitoring, gates or other security mechanisms could help prevent a tragic mishap.
- Use technology to keep locks secure. Areas of your home that contain hazardous materials, such as medicine and cleaning cabinets, should be secured carefully. Consider an alarm that alerts you when accessed. You can also install remote lock technology on doors and gates for greater access control. Get notified when opened and grant entry via mobile device when you deem it safe.
Environmental Concerns
You never know when an environmental factor is going to put your home in harm’s way. Prepare with devices to alert you when something is wrong:
- Prevent flooding with water monitors. There are tools to warn you of potential flooding. Install sensors to alert you if the temperature drops too low near a water pipe, threatening a burst pipe, or if water is detected in your basement.
- Uncover carbon monoxide hazards. Carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas, is deadly to humans. A simple detector placed in your home can notify you, your monitoring center and emergency services immediately if carbon monoxide is detected in the air.
Security Malfunctions
Even when homes are secured with the best of intentions, there are risks involved if you neglect to keep your equipment in excellent working condition. You can improve your odds of safety by doing the following:
- Keep your security equipment up to date. The benefits of using technology in your home include convenience and a common network for all of your devices on the Internet of Things (IoT). But, if you don’t update software when prompted, you’re putting your home at risk of a security breach.
- Use a security provider you can trust. Work with a trusted provider to keep security devices working properly.
Do you have other tips to keep your home free of common hazards? Share them below!
