Oct. 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week, which stresses the importance of having a home fire escape plan in place.
When it comes to getting out of your house if there’s a fire, you really do have to make every second count. In fact, if a fire starts in your home, you only have two minutes to escape because under the right conditions a fire can double in size every minute, according to the American Red Cross.
That’s why you should install smoke alarms on every level of your home, at the bottom of every stairwell and outside each bedroom. Test smoke alarms every month and replace the batteries as needed.
It’s also critical to develop an escape plan and practice your plan until everyone can evacuate the home in less than two minutes.
Read more →
How Stores Can Mitigate Organized Retail Crime this Thanksgiving Shopping Weekend
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThanksgiving shopping weekend can be a hectic experience for everyone involved but for your business, it’s one of the most profitable. All told, 20 to 30 percent of your 2017 retail sales will likely happen this holiday season with a large portion will occur this weekend.
Of those considering shopping the long holiday weekend, the survey found that 20 percent plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day (32 million). Black Friday will remain the busiest day, with 70 percent planning to shop (115 million).
Read more →
Business Security: 7 Common Security Measures Too Often Overlooked
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAs a business owner or manager, you know that security is critical to protecting your building and its occupants as well as maintaining your peace of mind.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, security can be compromised, especially if you overlook important elements of your risk mitigation plan.
We’ve put together a list of seven common security oversights commercial property owners and managers often make to help you avoid them. Read more →
The 3 Emergency Shut Off Switches You Should Know
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAs we enter the more treacherous months for New England weather, it is important to plan ahead for an emergency. While it is important to have an evacuation plan and an emergency preparedness kit, it is also essential to know how to shut off the utilities before a disaster. If these utilities are not shut off they may cause damage to your home and possibly endanger your family.
Read more →
Fire Prevention Week: Do You Have a Fire Escape Plan in Place?
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamOct. 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week, which stresses the importance of having a home fire escape plan in place.
When it comes to getting out of your house if there’s a fire, you really do have to make every second count. In fact, if a fire starts in your home, you only have two minutes to escape because under the right conditions a fire can double in size every minute, according to the American Red Cross.
That’s why you should install smoke alarms on every level of your home, at the bottom of every stairwell and outside each bedroom. Test smoke alarms every month and replace the batteries as needed.
It’s also critical to develop an escape plan and practice your plan until everyone can evacuate the home in less than two minutes.
Read more →
How to Mitigate Organized Retail Crime This Holiday Season
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamDealing with organized retail crime (ORC) is one of the major challenges for loss prevention programs across the country. Now that holiday and Black Friday shopping are fast approaching, ORC is likely a primary concern for your retail business.
Why are most retail businesses concerned? ORC costs the retail industry about $30 billion each year, according to the 2016 Organized Retail Crime Survey, an annual survey conducted by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Moreover, the problem is growing. For the first time, 100 percent of the retailers surveyed by the NRF said they have been victims of organized retail crime, up from 97 percent in 2015. In addition, 83 percent of the retailers surveyed reported an increase in ORC year-over-year. Read more →
13 Tips to Help New Parents Baby Proof Their Homes
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAs a first-time parent, you’re probably overwhelmed by all the challenges of caring for your beautiful bundle of joy. However, before you know it your baby will be crawling, walking, climbing and getting into just about everything.
That’s why it’s important to make your home safe for the new addition to your family. You should set aside some time – probably a weekend – to walk through your house, room by room, making a list of the things that need to be baby proofed. Then take the necessary steps to secure your home to keep your baby safe. Read more →
7 Tips to Help Keep Your Kids Safe Online
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamIf you’re a parent, you already know the way tweens and teens socialize is online via video game chat rooms, virtual worlds, social networking sites, and blogs.
Although the Internet offers lots of useful and entertaining information, being online can put your kids at risk of falling victims to other online users – children as well as adults – who want to exploit and/or intimidate them.
It’s your responsibility to take the necessary precautions to protect your children. Read more →
Frequently Asked Video Surveillance Questions
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamLearn the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions regarding video surveillance systems to help determine whether it might be right for your home or business.
Read more →
Top 10 Off-Campus Fire Safety Tips
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAs college students settle into their dorms and apartments, parents as well as students should assess the level of fire safety, particularly in off-campus housing.
On Campus vs. Off Campus
Why focus on off-campus housing?
Since 2000, 85% of college-related fire fatalities have happened in off-campus housing, where most students live, according to Campus Firewatch.
Listen to American Alarm’s President Wells Sampson describe, first hand, the lack of fire safety at his daughter Anne’s off-campus housing at Tufts University. Read more →
Online Database Helps Cambridge Police, Residents Track Crime
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamRecent technology allows police departments to respond to crime more efficiently and alerts residents more effectively.
The Cambridge Police Department, for example, offers an online crime map that displays and analyzes crime data, informs Cambridge citizens about crimes in their area, and allows police to quickly alert the public about crimes as they occur.
If you live in another city or town, you can access the national crime data map and apply filters to the data to view only the information that matters to you most here. The easy-to-use interactive map includes a number of filters that allow you to focus on a specific area, type of crime or date range. Read more →