There are really so very many ways to protect and make your home safe as well as secure—ways you’d never even think of, so here they are, as well as the classic ways that many people still neglect to implement.
- Big numbers. Make sure your house’s address numbers are very visible to EMS and firefighters.
- Fire attractants. Don’t let dried up brush/leaves accumulate on your property.
- Locks. Locks are worthless if you don’t use them, so keep all doors locked (with top quality systems) even when you’re at home in the afternoon.
- Bad habit. Rinse cigarette butts with water before discarding. Better yet, quit. Seriously, stop it.
- An occupied-appearance. Grass overgrown? Several newspapers scattered in the drive? Porch light on incessantly? Duhh, the occupants are out of town. Make your home look like someone is always there. Have someone mow the grass while you’re away, park their car in your driveway, collect your newspapers, etc. Lighting fixtures that are timed to go on and off will also help.
- Storage. Keep firewood and other flammable items away from your house.
- Treat unexpected visitors like a telemarketer. If the phone rings and you think it’s a telemarketer, you wouldn’t answer it. Yet many people brazenly whip open their door when the bell rings or someone knocks without first checking to see who’s there. Always check first!
- Can’t fool burglars. Don’t bother hiding the spear key under the door mat or under that plastic rock. Find less classic hiding places.
- Treat garage door like bathroom in use: Keep the door closed at all times.
- Smoke alarms. Many people don’t have these, but they really do make a difference. Make sure they work, too, by testing them regularly.
- Escape routes. Pre-determine how you’d escape from a fire and practice the escape.
- Use a safe. If you hardly wear your grandmother’s valuable broach, keep it in a locked safe, along with other valuables you don’t use.
- Door reinforcement. Your doors jams, especially if they are wood, are flimsy and can be kicked in very easily. Beef up the jams with Door Devil door reinforcement technology. This makes kicking in doors very difficult.
- No notes. Never tack a note on your door saying “I’m out for just a minute.” And keep your social status updates private. Don’t tell the world you are out.
- The ring. When you’re out, even for short errands, turn your phone’s ringer to mute so that a prowler doesn’t hear ringing and ringing that means nobody’s home.
- Fire hazards. Never leave the house, even to chat with a neighbor, while a candle inside or fireplace is burning.
- Turn them off. Don’t leave on hot things (curling iron, stovetop, etc.) unless you’re right there using them.
- Charlie bar. Wedge a wooden cylinder-pole or metal one or dice-sized gadget designed for this purpose in the track of any sliding glass door or window to block it from being slid open.
- Don’t get trapped. Make sure any deadbolts don’t lock from the inside which could potentially trap you should there be a fire or intruder pursuing you.
- Keep blinds and curtains down at all times. ‘Nuff said.
