What to Teach Your Children about Home Security

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Little baby boy pushes a buttons on the alarm keypadYour most important job as a parent is protecting your children. The fact is that as they get older you’re not always going to be with them to keep them out of harm’s way.

However, you can help make sure they’re safe when they’re home alone by talking to them about home security and what to do in an emergency.

Here are some important home security tips to teach your children:

  • Teach them how to operate your home security system – You should begin by teaching your children the basics, such as how to arm and disarm the system as well as how to tell the difference between the different alerts. You and your children should work together to determine an arm/disarm code for your alarm system that they’ll remember. It’s very important to let them know they shouldn’t share the code with anyone else.

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5 Benefits of Home Security Cameras

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

5 Benefits of Home Security CamerasNot so long ago, many people couldn’t afford to install security cameras in addition to their home security systems. Now, however, advances in technology, including in video cameras, video recorders, and networking capabilities, have made video surveillance systems affordable and appropriate for home use.

Security/surveillance cameras let you view the inside and/or the outside of your home – anytime and whenever you want. Integrating video into your home security system enables you to view any area of your property, from any television or computer in the home.

Installing these cameras in your home can beneficial for a number of reasons including:

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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 →

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 →

School Vacation Safety Tips This Spring

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Spring vacation is just around the corner. Time for relaxation and fun. It’s a time of year many families take a break from their every day lives and travel to somewhere really warm and fun.

For other families, though, spring break means kids having to stay home alone or with a caretaker while mom and dad are at their jobs.

Whether you’re jetting off to Walt Disney World with your children or sitting in your office cubicle while they’re amusing themselves at home, it’s important to take some precautions to ensure their safety.

Here are some tips to help your kids have fun and stay safe during school vacation no matter where they are. Read more →

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

spring_cleaning (2)A funny thing happens when we open up our windows in the spring. The oxygen which we have been deprived of through the stuffy winter months goes straight to our brain, and for a few weeks we feel like we are on top of the world! We become motivated to do all sort of crazy stuff, like clean the entire house. If spring cleaning fever has already hit you, follow these safety tips.

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Travel Safety During the Holidays

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Travel Safety During the HolidaysFor many of us, the holidays often mean traveling to visit family and friends in other cities, states, and even across the country.

If you’re planning a family trip this year, these holiday travel tips will help you arrive at your destination safely.

However, before you set off for [insert name of your relative/family friend here]’s house, you should ensure that your home security system is working properly. Test all your burglar and fire devices as well as cameras. Let your alarm company know that you’ll be doing this and that you’ll be traveling so they know how to respond to signals when you’re gone.

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When You Should Change Your Door Locks

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

When You Should Change Your Door LocksAlthough the best way to protect your family and your valuables is by installing a home security system, changing the locks on your doors is also an important safety measure that you shouldn’t overlook.

If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t given much thought to getting new or at least re-keying the existing locks.

That doesn’t mean you have to change your door locks on a regular basis the way you have to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Rather, there are certain times when you should consider replacing or re-keying the locks on your doors, including:

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