Outdoor Weekend BBQ Grill Party

Safety Tips for Hosting Outside BBQs

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Outdoor Weekend BBQ Grill PartySummer is right around the corner, and that means a chance to break out the grill for some good food with good company. However, before you get your party started, there are some safety tips for hosting outdoor BBQs to consider. 

Roughly 58% of grill fires occur between May and August and each year an average of 10 deaths and nearly $40 million in property damages occur. In addition, 1 in 6 Americans fall victim to foodborne illness each year – something to keep in mind while preparing food in the hot summer sun. Lastly, as we are still working through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a good idea to consider social distancing practices for your gatherings for now.

Take a look at these simple, actionable tips before you fire up your grill for the summer. Following a few BBQ safety best practices will help you and your guests to enjoy a safe and fun summer of outdoor grilling.

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What to Teach Your Kids and Teens About Good Home Security (That Won’t Scare Them)

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

The majority of break-ins happen during the summer – the time when children are free from school and often home alone. While there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of a burglary, it is also important to teach your kids good home security practices to further protect them from potential harm. 

Teaching both your younger children and teens about home safety can empower them, but you want to make sure you share the right information in the right way. 

Here are 6 essential ways you can teach your kids about home security without scaring them. Implement these in your home to help all the members of your family to be safer and more secure even when left alone.

Let your children know they’re safe

Explaining to your child that there are things they need to do to stay safe at home might scare them. So, first and foremost, ensure your children that they are already safe and secure. 

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Backpacker crossing a stream in the mountains

Outdoor Hiking Safety Tips

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Backpacker crossing a stream in the mountains

Hiking and backpacking are fun, adventurous pastimes, but they do not come without their share of risk. Avoid any potential dangers this season by following these simple outdoor hiking safety tips. A little preparation and mindfulness will help each of your outdoor excursions to be successful. 

Hiking Safety Tips

Carry the Proper Mapping Tools

Pack GPS technology as well as a traditional map and compass while out on the trail. This will cover you in areas where there is limited service or your battery runs out. Learn how to use your technology and familiarize yourself with the map before you go to ensure that you are ready for the hike ahead.

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Camping tent in a forest

Outdoor Camping Safety Tips

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Camping tent in a forestCamping is a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, but it does come with some risk. Plan in advance and avoid any potential dangers this season by following these simple outdoor camping safety tips. With the right preparation, each of your outdoor adventures can be safe and enjoyable.

Camping Safety Tips

Pack the Essentials

There are a few standard items you want to make sure to always have with you before you camp. Build or follow a checklist to ensure you have everything you need. Going on a hike as well? The “Ten Essentials” list is also a great resource to use when planning what to bring hiking.

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A tree surgeon arborist expert working on removing a tree branch with chain saw and heavy equipment.

Spring Home Safety Checklist

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

A tree surgeon arborist expert working on removing a tree branch with chain saw and heavy equipment.Spring is nearly upon us and that means it’s time to get your home in shape for nice weather and even nicer activities. From prepping for a good outdoor barbecue, to ensuring your home’s air is clean and fresh, this spring home safety checklist has you covered. Plan a “spring cleaning” weekend and mark all these items off to ready your home for a fantastic spring season. 

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Senior man putting up or taking down outdoor Christmas lights from the gutter of a suburban house

Tips for Taking Down Holiday Decorations

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Senior man putting up or taking down outdoor Christmas lights from the gutter of a suburban houseTaking down holiday decorations is simply not as fun as putting them up and enjoying them all throughout the season. It is also more dangerous. Your home’s pathways may be covered in snow, ice, or rain water, making climbing a ladder hazardous. Your tree may have turned from lush and green to dry and brittle, creating a more serious fire hazard. You may wonder if it’s okay not to take your usual care in organizing and cleaning your decorations this year.

Upwards of 17,000 people are treated in hospital rooms each year for holiday decoration related injuries. This means that it is exceptionally important to take care when removing and/or disposing of your decorations. To ensure that you are kept safe throughout the process, observe the following safety measures. It may take some extra time, energy, and concentration, but it will be well worth it when you are enjoying a nice evening in your decoration-free living room rather than in an emergency room.

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Shot of a young man using a laptop and credit card at home

Online Christmas Shopping Security for Safer Holiday Gifting

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Shot of a young man using a laptop and credit card at homeMany of us will be gifting from afar this year by purchasing and shipping our gifts online. The uptick in online shopping thanks to the pandemic means that there are more opportunities for fraud, ID theft, phishing, and other harmful scams. 

With holiday fraud attempts already growing each year, it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe. Avoid these bad actors by employing some key online shopping security tips this year.

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Young girl is reading alone on her laptop late at night

Cyberbullying and Remote Learning | National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Young girl is reading alone on her laptop late at nightWhether they are the perpetrator, victim or witness, the majority of today’s schoolchildren will be involved in cyberbullying in some way. Now that most schools have moved online, instances of cyberbullying are likely to rise even higher. Access to the internet and their cell phone during remote learning hours will inevitably increase the risk for real-time cyberbullying. 

The negative effects of online bullying can be severe. Victims are far more likely to use and abuse substances, skip class, and receive failing grades than their non-bullied peers. They are also at a greater risk for serious mental health issues such as depression, chronic anxiety and suicide ideation. Parents and teachers need to take particular precautions during this season of online schooling to make sure their child’s health and wellbeing are protected.

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CCTV Security monitoring student in classroom at school.Security camera surveillance for watching and protect group of children while studying.

A Great Time for School Security System Upgrades

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

CCTV Security monitoring student in classroom at school.Security camera surveillance for watching and protect group of children while studying.Upgrading School Security Systems

As a school administrator, are you wondering how to respond to new threats such as COVID-19 when you reopen your facilities? Besides the usual risks (vandals, thieves, intruders and potential shooters), administrators must now factor in hygiene and cleanliness protections (surveillance and monitoring may assist with these efforts).

The upside is that school buildings are less occupied and quieter than usual because of the pandemic. This provides the opportunity to get large projects done with less disruption, including bigger and more ambitious security infrastructure upgrades than would be possible during a normal summer season.

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Teenage girl with mobile phone in bed

How Monitoring Your Kids’ Online Activity Mitigates Break-Ins

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Online “casing” has become a new favorite tool of burglars throughout the country. Statistics show that nearly 75% of home invaders used a resident’s online presence in some way to target and locate their home. While adults use social media and other online platforms to engage with the world, children are far more Teenage girl with mobile phone in bedinvested in their virtual life, which makes them a vulnerable target for would-be burglars looking for easy access to a vacant home.

There are many ways you can monitor your child’s online presence to ensure that your entire family – and your home – are kept safe from intruders. First, it’s important to know exactly how potential robbers locate the information they need.

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