Safety is something that is very important in our lives. In addition to being safe ourselves, we also want our homes to be safe. While burglary rates have gone down in recent years, there is still one taking place every 13 seconds in the USA. As a result, securing your home and keeping your family safe should be a top priority.
But how can you go about doing this? What things should be done in order to protect the things you care about most? Without any further ado, let’s go over a couple of different ways to keep your home and family safe.
Install a Security System
One of the best ways to protect your home and keep everyone safe is to install and use a security system. These can alert you (and the authorities) when someone is attempting to break in, and sound an alarm to deter thieves. Many of these systems also include things like cameras, motion sensors and even remote access and control to keep your home safe at all times.
Despite their many benefits, only around 38% of Americans own a home security product of some kind. Not only will this help keep your home (and everything inside of it) safer, but the cost of installing a security system is also quite reasonable.
Store Valuables Out of Sight
While burglars may attempt to enter a home for a variety of different reasons, one of the most common is to steal valuables. Because of this, it’s a good idea to keep valuables out of sight. If there are expensive items sitting in your window for all to see, it could entice some burglars to strike. So either move these items elsewhere, or keep your windows closed.
Also, when burglars enter your home, they want to get out quickly. If you keep your valuables out of sight and in intelligently hidden places, there will be a better chance that they are not discovered. Better yet, consider using a large safe to hide items, so ensure the burglar won’t be able to access them.
One of the best ways to prevent burglars from considering your home is to keep it well-lit. Criminals love to exist in the shadows and stay out of the light. So if you have lights on in and around your home, many burglars are simply going to steer clear as they will assume someone is home and awake.
Because it isn’t always possible for your home to be well-lit all day and night, it is a good idea to use motion lights outside of your home. These will go on if they detect motion within their view. If you position these where they can view your windows and doors, they will be able to capture anyone looking to enter, and likely scare them away before they try.
Have a Plan for Emergencies
While thieves and criminals are certainly a threat to the safety of your home or family, they aren’t the only ones. Disasters, emergencies and other unfortunate events can also occur. These can range from house fires, gas leaks, hurricanes, flash floods, earthquakes and several others.
While you can’t perfectly prepare for these, you can have a plan in place to minimize the damage. Have an escape plan and make sure to run it through a couple of times with your family to make sure everyone knows what to do and where to go.
Eliminate Hazards in the Home
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy in our homes. Household falls are incredibly common and one trip is all it takes for someone to hurt themselves. As a result, you should do all you can to eliminate potential hazards throughout your house. This can be wires, cords, spills, plants, or anything else that might be laying around.
Having clear paths throughout the home and making sure things are put away can go a long way in keeping your family safe. Doing a weekly cleaning to make sure everything is tidied up is generally a good option.
Keeping your family safe at home is incredibly important. Whether you store valuables out of sight, have a security system or eliminate hazards, all of the aforementioned methods can help keep your home and family safe.