The Downside of DIY: Why You Shouldn’t Self Monitor

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Man-doing-Home-Improvements-with-a-power-drill-000017272876_MediumAt first, a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) security system can seem like an efficient and inexpensive way to protect your home. Customers considering home security are intrigued by promises of easy installation and low or no monthly-monitoring fees.

However, after making their purchase, many have found DIY to be more difficult than they expected. While many consumers have technical skills, few have in-depth data networking expertise, knowledge in optics and lighting, or familiarity with local building and fire codes, as examples. Further, the unexpected time required to troubleshoot can be frustrating, thereby causing the project to be put on hold, sometimes indefinitely, leaving you and your family unprotected.  There are times when you simply need a professional to “get it done.”  Remote telephone or chat-room support has its place.  But even at its best, it can’t compare to a licensed seasoned professional onsite to help you.

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Systems Technicians: The Best Kept Career Opportunity Secret

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

technologyThere is an interesting paradox playing out in the security systems technician field both locally and across the country. At a time when the industry is growing and new technologies are driving the market, fewer people are seeking jobs in the field.

In Massachusetts, for example, over the past 15 years the number of people holding Systems Technicians licenses (low voltage C & D) has decreased by 21%. The big question is why?

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Power Outage: Be Prepared for When the Lights Go Out

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

There is something about a power outage that brings the family together. When the lights go out, it forces the family to put down their electronics and break-out the board games. While a break from technology can be nice, a long-term power outage can threaten your security.

Here are some safety tips for you to follow in case of a power outage.

Invest in a generator:

Over the past decade, much of New England has experienced more frequent and longer lasting power outages due to intensified weather. A long-term power outage can be deadly in the winter when temperatures drop below freezing. To protect your family, look into purchasing a generator.

Before you buy, research how much power you will need. Inspect labels on lightning and appliances that you will want to run. This is important because if your generator doesn’t produce adequate power, you could blow a fuse and damage your appliances.

Use your generator properly:

  • Never use a portable generator indoors, including the garage, basement, or attic. They emit deadly levels of carbon monoxide, which will build up even in a ventilated area.
  • If possible, install battery operated CO detectors through your home. They will warn you of dangerous CO levels.
  • To avoid electrocution, keep the generator in a dry area (under a tarp, for instance).
  • Always turn off the generator and let it cool down before refueling.
  • Plug appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy-duty extension cord.
  • Never plug the generator directly into a wall outlet. This can pose a deadly electrocution risk to workers trying to restore power, or neighbors using the same transformer.

Properly store food/ water:

Food can spoil quickly in a power outage. Even if you avoid opening your refrigerator, the food will only stay fresh for 4 hours. Keep coolers and ice on-hand to store your food in. If you avoid opening your freezer, the food will stay safe for 24-48 hours. Stock-up on non-perishable items if you believe you may lose power.

During a power outage, your water purification system may not work.  Check with local authorities if your water is safe to drink. If unsure, try to only use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. You can also boil tap water to eliminate most harmful bacteria.

Invest in batteries/ battery operated electronics:

Some important battery operated devices to have on hand includes a flashlight, radio, and phone charger. Avoid using candles as a source of light.

Keep an eye on your security system:

You will need to silence your alarm after the power goes out. In most cases, your back up battery will last 10-15 hours. Your alarm may begin to omit a beeping noise, signaling low-battery. This beeping may become more frequent as the battery gets lower. Make sure that someone is nearby to silence the alarm. For your protection, do not power down your system.

 

In the event of a power-outage, the most important thing is to stay calm. Keep in mind that emergency personnel are out and working hard to restore power. If you have questions, call your local non-emergency hotline.

American Alarm Video System Helps Police Crack Down on Texting While Driving

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

It was a clear July morning and two Rutland, Massachusetts police officers were walking across Main Street in a marked crosswalk. The approaching Ford Explorer had plenty of time to stop for the pedestrians. Instead, it was almost a tragedy.

The alert police officers jumped away from the oncoming vehicle just in time, or else they would have been run down. The distracted driver was texting.


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When Lightning Strikes, Think Twice!

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

lightning_webThere are two types of people: those who enjoy watching lightning, and those who hide under their bed until the storm has passed. Whichever type you are, it is important to take precautions before the storm to keep you and your property safe.

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TMI: The Dangers of Over-sharing on Social Media

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Let Me Have SomeFor those of us that consider ourselves occasional users of social media, we are usually pretty cautious about what we post. Even “checking-in” for a movie on Friday night, or “hash-tagging” at a summer concert, can provide a window of opportunity for a burglar. Most break-ins and robberies are committed by people the home owner knows. This means that someone looking to steal from you could easily be connected with you on social media.

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Giving Back: ASIS Annual Public Safety Luncheon

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Team_with_Evans_FinalAmerican Alarm was proud to attend the Annual Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon and celebrate our partners in the public safety sector. This annual luncheon promotes the growing cooperation between police, fire, emergency services, corrections personnel and private security. Read more →

Untested Alarm System Costs Siskiyou County $3 Million

/2 Comments/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Is your burglar alarm system programmed with a communication timer test?

Just ask officials at the Siskiyou County Courthouse in California, who were shocked to discover that the failure of the security system protecting $3 million in gold resulted in a clean getaway for the thieves who simply smashed a hole in the glass case protecting the historical artifacts and grabbed everything they could.

The gold nuggets had been a theft target once before in 1979, when the silent alarm functioned as intended and the would-be marauders were apprehended roughly a block away from the courthouse with the illicit wares in their possession. This time, however, the vibration alarm that was meant to protect the irreplaceable gold nuggets – some of which date back to the town’s founding – did not respond at all. A town spokesperson stated that the system had been properly armed, and that the county was working with its security provider to get to the bottom of the glitch.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of the sad story surrounding the Siskiyou gold is a footnote at the bottom of the article that mentions an annual security alarm test schedule. According to the Courthouse, the last test occurred in August of 2011, nearly seven months before the February theft.

There is an important lesson that business and property owners can learn from the tragic tale of the Siskiyou theft, and that is that it’s not enough to rely on a single alarm system test every 12 months. So much can happen within a year’s time, especially in a heavily-trafficked space such as a courthouse or a retail space, that it really becomes necessary to perform an alarm system test at least once per quarter, if not once per month.

American Alarm programs a timer test with its business security systems that can send communications weekly or daily, depending on the type of signals being monitored. If our central station operators do not receive a signal, we contact the owner immediately to determine the cause of the missed communication, and find a solution to the issue.

It costs nothing to make sure that your alarm system is functioning up to spec – what’s  the price tag of not knowing? In the case of Siskiyou County, the figure would seem to be $3 million.