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Safety Near College Campuses
It is a known fact that many burglars and potential sexual offenders target college towns. Students are often targeted because they live together in close proximities and possess valuables such as laptops, cell phones, game consoles and televisions. Criminals also know that many college students are naïve about crime and think they are invincible, neglecting to lock their doors or take any precautions to protect themselves.
However, with a string of recent shootings on college campuses, safety is something that students not only need to worry about at home, but on campus as well. Students should remain vigilant in all places on campus-from classrooms to the football stadium- to ensure they remain safe.
Here are some safety tips to make sure that you stay safe both on and off campus:
-Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Avoid desolate areas and try to stay around other people as much as possible.
-Have your keys in your hand and ready to go when you are walking to your car so that you do not have to fumble through your bag to find them.
-Always deadbolt your door, even when you are home. Also, consider getting a security alarm system of some kind.
-Never come home from a party or other social gathering with people you do not know, especially if you are female. If necessary, call a roommate or a friend to come pick you up.
-Use caution when using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Never put your address, phone number or other personal information on these websites.
-Drink alcohol cautiously. Don't drink if you feel uncomfortable with the people you are with or the environment that you are in. Also, this goes without saying, but never drink and drive.
Protect Your Home In 2011
Since it is now 2011, many people are making new year's resolutions such as losing weight, getting out of debt or finding a new job. However, why don't you make a resolution that you can actually stick with? Why not make it your resolution to make your home safer and more secure this upcoming year?
It goes without saying that one of the very best ways to help prevent robbers and other career criminals from infiltrating your home is to get an ADT monitored security system. However, that is just one part of the equation. There are many other simple and affordable things you can do to make your home as safe as possible.
Try these simple and affordable home security tricks and tips:
-Consider getting a dog. Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and German Shepherds make great guard dogs.
-If you have sliding glass doors, secure them with a PVC pipe or a broom handle.
-Going out of town? Make it seem like you're home. Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers and use automatic light timers. Also, consider taking a cab to the airport so that you can leave your car at home.
-Keep trees and bushes well trimmed, especially if they frame the path to your front door.
-Put a 'Beware of Dog' sign up in your yard, even if you don't have a dog.
It's Never Too Early To Consider Freeze Alarms
Okay, it's the middle of summer, I realize that, as I sit here in my air conditioned house. It's hot outside if I need a quick reminder. However, considering a freeze alarm this time of year is actually a great home security measure. Having a freeze alarm installed now means it will be in place on that first deep freeze of winter.
Over the years I've found that preparing for winter in the summer, and summer in the winter has actually prompted me to get the work done, rather than waiting until the last minute or worse, after the damage has been done. Freeze alarms actually control the temperature inside your house, and if something causes the temperature to plunge, the freeze alarm will adjust the temperate to a safe level, preventing burst water pipes.
Include a freeze alarm in your ADT home security package, or add one to your existing condition, and feel better about your home security this winter while it's still summer!
Exterior Light Bulbs & Home Security
Light bulbs have a relatively short life, and exterior bulbs have the added disadvantage of being out in the elements, and are always the potential target for juvenile vandals in the neighborhood. This is why it's a good idea to replace each exterior light bulb at the start of each summer.
A great way to remember to change exterior light bulbs is to pick at date and stick with it. We live in a 4-season climate, so we chose June 1st as the day we do certain things around our house. Changing exterior light bulbs is one of those home security tasks.
Some homeowners choose to remove certain bulbs when winter sets in, but this is a highly discouraged practice in the home security community. Exterior lighting needs to be in use 365 days per year. So, simply change each light bulb at the start of each season and unless something out of your control causes one to break or stop working, they should last until the beginning of the following season.
Reinforce this great home security practice with a monitored ADT home security system and do your part to keep burglars away from your home.
Some Safety Measures To Keep You Safer In Your Bathroom
Take a good hard look around your bathroom and you'll notice that everything has a hard edge to it. Porcelain tubs, sinks, and toilets, metal faucets and handles, tile floors don't offer a lot of give if you slip and fall.
Those are just surface-area hazards that must be properly navigated. We also shouldn't forget about the potential to be seriously burned by scalding water, and never be foolish enough to ignore the deadly combination of water and electricity. Here are some things you can do to make your bathroom a safer place:
Be certain that your bath or shower has non-skid mat or other similar strips on the standing area.
Your bathroom should have soft lighting without glare. This will make it much easier to see standing water on slippery surfaces.
All light switched need to be near the bathroom door, ensuring proper illumination when entering.
It's critically important that all electrical outlets are Ground Fault Circuit (GFC), which protect against electrical shock in by actually breaking the circuit immediately upon overload.
Home security is a combination of many things, including a monitored ADT home security system. When you take care of the smaller details, like safety in your bathroom and other rooms in your house, you're adding to the effectiveness of your overall home security plan.
