Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe

In celebration of National Safety Month, it is important to take steps to keep yourself and your loved ones secure.

The following tips can help make your home a safe place to be: 

• Regularly inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for buildup of dust and lint that will affect the function of the sensors. The detectors are your assurance that an alarm will sound in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide buildup.
• When buying or remodeling your house, select fireproof roofing materials. Non-fire retardant materials could ignite when the weather is extremely hot.
• Use a post office box. Do not put outgoing mail that contains your personal information in an unsecured outbox for pickup. This could give strangers access to your mail. Opt for a P.O. box instead. 
• Do not leave telltale signs that you are leaving home. Burglars are constantly looking for empty homes they can victimize. 
• Do not leave notes on your door for visitors or service people when you are out. These could serve as an open invitation to intruders. 
• Do not use indoor extension cords for outdoor applications. An outdoor electrical cord is usually labeled “Suitable for use with outdoor appliances.” Indoor electrical cords may cause electric shock when exposed to the elements.
• During a power outage, a freezer full of foods can hold safely for up to 48 hours as long as the freezer door is kept shut. Opening and closing the freezer doors will cause the food to become unsafe sooner. 
• Install inter-connected smoke alarms. When the alarms are linked, all of them will go off once one is triggered.
• Don’t ever charge non-rechargeable batteries. Non-rechargeable batteries may explode when connected to the charging unit. Inspect batteries carefully before setting them in the charger. 
• Do not toss oily rags into the trash bin without hanging them out to air dry. Oily rags can combust even in the absence of flame.
• Do not post pictures of your family on social media while you are on vacation. This will tip off burglars that the home is empty. Post your pictures when you come back home.

Few things are as important as your family’s safety.  Take measures to keep your loved ones and your home protected.