After School Safety Tips for Kids Home Alone

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Latch Key KidBeing a working parent is never easy. Now that school is about to start, you’re probably doing some extra worrying about how to make sure your children are safe at home until you get back from work.

The truth is, no matter how sensible you think your kids are, you are still going to worry about them. If leaving your kids home alone is your only option, there are steps you can take to keep them safe.

If your child will be home alone after school you should:

  • Make sure your smoke detectors are functional – A working fire alarm system is one of the most effective ways to protect your children in case of a fire in your home.
  • Make a list of key people and telephone numbers – You should post this where your children can find it in the event of an emergency.
  • Tell your children where the flashlights are located – Be sure that the batteries are fresh.
  • Create an emergency plan with your children – Practice it with them so they’ll know what they should do in case there’s a fire, or other emergency or if they get hurt. Write the plan down and make sure your children know where it is. Read more →
Sharon

Back to School Safety Tips for Kids

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

kids crossing school busIt’s that time of the year again – summer is drawing to a close and kids are getting ready to head back to school.

If you’re like most families, you’re hitting the mall to buy new clothes, school supplies and probably the latest tech gadgets as well.

As you prepare to help your children go back to the classroom, you should also put their safety at the top of your to-do list.

Here are some tips you should share with your children to ensure they get to school safely:
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Sudbury

Fire Safety Tips for Businesses

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

No matter what type of business you operate, the best way to ensure the safety of your workers, your customers as well as your equipment, materials and physical structure is through fire prevention and preparation.

Here are some fire safety tips to help you lessen the chances of a fire breaking out in your business as well as what to do in case it does:
Kitchen fire

  • Install a business fire alarm system – a professionally installed and maintained business fire alarm system is the best way to protect your workforce, the public and your company from the threat of fire.
  • Train your employees – ensure that your employees know what to do if there’s a fire, including calling 911 immediately. Hold meetings to educate your workers on emergency evacuation plans. Stage a fire drill at least once a year to ensure your workers understand the fire safety protocol of your business.

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Are You Making These Common Home Security Mistakes?

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Bills & Junk MailHome security systems can offer you great protection, but even the most advanced system cannot completely override human error. If you want to keep burglars out, do your best to avoid these common security mistakes:

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Medford

5 Tips to Protect Your Pets in Emergencies

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

pet-safetyHave you ever thought about what would happen to your furry family members if a hurricane, fire, flood or other natural or man-made disaster were to strike? A well-thought-out plan will help you and ALL of your family members get back together, get help and increase the chances that everyone will stay safe in the event of an emergency.

Here are five tips to help you protect your pets in emergencies:

    1. Identify a Safe Haven – If you have to leave your home, don’t leave your pets behind. Pets can’t survive on their own. They could escape, become trapped, or worse. Before an emergency strikes, be sure you have identified which shelters accept pets. Some shelters are unable to take in pets for public health reasons. If you’re thinking about evacuating to a local motel or hotel, you should call beforehand and ask if the location allow pets. You can also ask your veterinarian for a list of kennels or boarding facilities in the area.
    2. ID Your Pets – Ensure that your dogs and cats are wearing collars with up-to-date identification tags, containing their names and any urgent medical needs. Your cell phone number should also be on your pets’ tags. Having your pets micro chipped will also increase your chances of being reunited with them if they get lost. However, remember that the average person who finds your pet isn’t able to scan for a chip but that individual will be able to read an ID tag.

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Peterborough

Home Security: Make Your Yard Safe for Summer

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

iStock_73884753_LARGEWarm weather has finally made its way back to New England. We have a long summer ahead of us to enjoy cookouts, bonfires, or even relaxing in a lounge chair with a good book. But before you enjoy all the benefits of being outside, make sure your yard is a safe place for your family. Read more →

NRF’s VP of Loss Prevention, Robert Moraca, Speaks On Latest Trends & NRFProtect

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Loss prevention is a complex and costly issue for the retail industry. In this podcast, American Alarm speaks with Robert Moraca, vice president for loss prevention at the National Retail Federation. Robert discusses tools and techniques proven to reduce retail loss, as well as this week’s NRF convention in Philadelphia, where the latest information and expertise in loss prevention will be made available to all attendees. Tweet this or subscribe for to be emailed upcoming Loss Prevention Podcast episodes.

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MSCA logo

Inspect Your Business Fire Alarm System Regularly

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

bus alarm testAs a building owner/business owner, it’s critical that you take all the necessary – and mandated – steps to protect the lives of your employees and your customers. Commercial fire alarm systems are critical to helping you protect your business from fire and smoke.

When operating properly, these commercial fire alarm systems can prevent loss of life and property by alerting the people in your building and your alarm company of a fire emergency.

However, you can’t count on fire alarms to offer the protection your business needs if they’re not inspected on a regular basis.

The best way to determine if your business fire alarm system is up to code or if it needs maintenance is to have it inspected by trained professionals on a regular basis – an extensive inspection and testing should be done annually. Read more →

NetOne logo

Top Loss Prevention Conferences for 2016

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

iStock_000060897742_MediumIf you own a business, you understand the frustration of missing product. It is disheartening to put so much time and energy into your company only to find items unaccounted for when you take inventory.

Learning from the experts is a great way to improve your company’s loss prevention strategy. We have put together a list of some of the most attended and best reviewed retail loss prevention conferences around the country.

New England Loss Prevention Expo

This conference, sponsored by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is taking place on Thursday, September 15 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester, Mass. Read more →

How To Appropriately Handle Employee Theft

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

employee theftEmployee theft can take different forms. Workers can steal merchandise, money, supplies and equipment and even pad their expense accounts. Regardless of the manner of employee theft, it still hurts your business and puts you in a tough management situation.

As a business owner, you do everything you can to hire employees who are trustworthy. If you suspect that a worker is stealing from you, it’s critical that you handle the case carefully.

Here are some tips to help you deal with employee theft:
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