For the past eight years, we as a nation have been told to “be afraid.” Now, while Americans have started to reject this message and have begun to re-claim their national heritage as living in the “Home of the Free and Land of the Brave,” the fact remains that domestic crime is going to remain with us for a long time. Therefore, it behooves us to take certain precautions in order to protect our personal property as well as the physical safety of our families and ourselves.

A home security system not only provides this protection, it can be a money-saver as well, as many home insurers offer a discount for homeowners who install such a system. However, not all home security systems are created equal.

It is not the purpose here to promote one brand of home security system over another. However, there are certain features that you must have in order for such a system to do an adequate job protecting you and your family.

1. A Master Control Panel: This is the heart of your system, and should be easily accessible and user friendly. If it can be armed and disarmed remotely, so much the better.

2. Home Alarm Monitoring: Your home security system does not work alone; typically, a signal is sent to dispatchers whose job it is to monitor the system. Make sure this service is a good one. It’s also a good idea to have buttons, which can be pressed to notify police and fire fighters directly.

3. Window, Door Sensors & Motion Detectors: The best home security systems are proactive; motion detectors should activate lights when a person is moving in the vicinity (this by itself is often enough to discourage would-be burglars).

4. Extra keypad: You need to be able to access and program your system from all locations.  A portable long-range keypad, which you can carry with you, is also a good idea.

5. Wireless Capability: This is a tremendous convenience, and allows you to operate the system from your car.

6. Heat Sensors: The first sign of a fire is not smoke, but heat, which collects near the ceilings. A good heat detector will notify you of a fire well in advance - often in time to prevent irreparable damage.

7. Back-up Power: In case of a windstorm or natural catastrophe that results in a power outage, it is vital that your system stay on. Redundant systems will defeat burglars who attempt to cut electrical connections. A system that uses rechargeable batteries is best.

8. Yard and Window Signs: A warning that your home and property are protected is often a great deterrent to burglars all by itself.

9. Wireless Remote Controls: A small remote that you can carry on your key ring is the best, and should include some kind of “panic” button for informing the police or fire department immediately.

10. 2-Way Voice: A synthesized voice can literally “talk” you through your system’s features.

Most reputable Home Security Companies offer Home Alarm System monitoring packages that include Carbon Monoxide Sensors.  If you are looking for a CO Monitoring System that will protect your family and pets while you are away consider a monitored solution. The benefits of a remotely Monitored Home Alarm with CO Sensor is that if a centrally monitored facility such as those monitored by ADT Security will alert you and medical first responders in the event of a situation. If you return to you home to the sound of an Home Alarm System Alert and unconscious pets or loved ones it is too late.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless and invisible gas that consists of one carbon atom bonded with one oxygen atom. Carbon monoxide is usually produced from the combustion of fuels that contain carbon, such as gasoline. Combustion often produces carbon dioxide, the well-known greenhouse gas, but in conditions where oxygen is of only limited availability, carbon monoxide forms instead. Carbon monoxide is toxic and can cause death in humans and pets if inhaled in high enough concentrations for prolonged periods.

The symptoms of mild Carbon Monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness and flu-like symptoms. Higher exposure can cause heart attack, degeneration of the central nervous system, and death. Carbon Monoxide can cause death in unborn children if their mother is exposed to the gas. There are treatments for exposure to carbon monoxide but prevention is by far the best approach to prevent Carbon Monoxide exposure.

The most common sources of Carbon Monoxide exposure are house fires, malfunctioning heaters or stoves, car exhaust, and propane or gas-fueled equipment like grills, stoves, generators, etc. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is the most common type of fatal poisoning in the United States, with more than 40,000 people per year seeking treatment in the US. About 500 people die each year from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the United States, not including about 2,000 people each year who use Carbon Monoxide as a suicide method.

Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and exposure is a matter of responsible and informed use of fuel-burning equipment in the home and workplace. Learning how to safely operate grills, industrial equipment, stoves, etc. is a key element in any carbon monoxide strategy. It is of particular importance to ensure that fuel-burning equipment and heaters are functioning properly, and not to use the equipment if there are problems such as leaks. The first line of defense in a residential environment is a Carbon Monoxide Detector, installed near heaters or other gas-burning equipment. These devices sound a loud alarm if excessive levels of carbon monoxide are detected, giving residents of the home a warning that they should evacuate the area immediately.

Fortunately, Carbon Monoxide Detectors are widely available and quite inexpensive. Stand-alone models can be purchased for as little as $20, and can either use AC power or batteries. It is important to install and regularly test Carbon Monoxide Detectors, particularly in confined spaces or in areas that contain stoves, grills, or other common sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. It is especially important to remember that Carbon Monoxide has no taste or odor, and cannot be detected by unaided human senses - “I don’t smell anything” is not a reason to disregard a Carbon Monoxide Detector going off!

Every parent worries about keeping their children safe - whether out in public or at home. You might not be able to do much about the outside world, but your home, at least, is a place that you have some control over. Here are some tips on making your home a safe environment for children.

Cap unused electrical outlets with outlet covers. Available inexpensively at any hardware store, these plastic caps plug into the socket and prevent little fingers from finding big trouble. Instruct children to leave plugs alone, and teach them not to play with power cords.

Install a quality home security system, and instruct your children – especially the older ones – on how to properly set and use it when they go out of the house.

Put at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, and make sure there is one in or near every bedroom in use. Replace batteries annually, and replace the alarms themselves at least every ten years – the technology is constantly improving and the alarm you buy today is a lot more effective than the one you’ve probably got up on the wall now. Use the ‘test’ button on your alarms monthly to ensure they are working, and to familiarize children with the sound they make. Better yet use a fire alarm system with heat and smoke sensors which are monitored by a company such as ADT. This will ensure the fire department is on the way if you are unable to get out or to a phone.

Install carbon monoxide sensors near bedrooms and near potential carbon monoxide sources such as enclosed gas fireplaces. Learn the sound this alarm makes, as well.

Practice fire and emergency drills with your entire family. Assign younger children an emergency buddy – either a parent or a responsible older sibling – to assist them in an emergency situation.

Keep poison and toxic chemicals well out of reach of small children – either securely locked away, or in a high storage area that they can’t reach with a ladder or stool. Write down the number for your local poison control center by each telephone – and make sure that your children know what to do if they or a sibling ingest something dangerous.

Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairwells when you have smaller children. Window guards for upper stories and security gates for balconies or high decks are an inexpensive investment that can prevent a major tragedy.

Perfect safety is probably an unattainable ideal – but simple steps like these can make your children much safer in your home without spending a fortune or upending your lifestyle. Stay safe!

It is hard to know who you can trust in this society of tricks and mimicry. There are stories that fill the news reports and internet websites about criminals disguised as repair technicians or officials. You may not always be able to tell the genuine from the criminal but there are ways that you can keep yourself protected no matter who might be knocking at your door.

1. Don’t open or unlock your door to strangers - no matter what uniform they might be wearing. The first thing you should do is ask them to hold some official identification up to your viewer. Follow up the identification with a phone call to the home office (gas company, police precinct or other location) to confirm that the person has been sent by the company. Odds are if the stranger at your door is a criminal then he or she will leave before you can finish checking out the story.
2. Learn the routes and names of your regular service technicians. It will help to know when the gas, electric and water companies read the meters and who is normally the person for the job. You should watch the garbage delivery and see who the people are that pick up your garbage. Even learning the normal route time of your postal delivery is a good idea. The more you know about the people who come around your home then the more alert you will be when something is out of place.
3. Be aware of people or things that stick out as unusual. A strange car that has been sitting on the street for the whole day could be a sign of someone staking out the neighborhood. A delivery man that wanders around the neighborhood looking for the “right” address is probably not lost but more likely searching for the right target for the “delivery.” It is okay to contact your local police station to express concerns about these things. Use the direct number and not the emergency number. Most criminals avoid the neighborhoods where people are watching out for them.
4. Stay present and aware of repair technicians working in or around your home. If you must go outside with one then lock the door behind you to keep any accomplices from having easy access. Inside your home you will want to keep the repair technicians in sight.

Criminals are using creative disguises to get in to your home. It may be virtually impossible to tell the real repair technicians from the criminals. Don’t take a chance with your safety or with the safety of your home. Be prepared to uncover whether the person at your door is a welcomed visitor or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

With the warm weather upon us, and summer only a month away, families with pools are likely dusting off the residual winter debris and preparing for endless outdoor pleasure. While cleanliness is a necessary step to happy summer swimming, an equally if not more important consideration is to review a few pool safety tips. This measure is vital to ensuring protection and delight for loved ones and friends alike.

In-ground swimming pools are fun! Years ago, only the well-to-do reveled in such luxury. Illustrations of ancient Roman rulers leisurely snacking on succulent grapes while basking in liquid bliss swirl in magazines images. Today, however, one need be neither a ruler nor wealthy to partake in this form of outdoor recreation. Yet, every pool owner should properly prepare for the season.

A significant factor in pool safety is a pool barrier: if you do not have one, get one; if you have one, make sure it is functioning properly. Small children can slip under, over, or through, some types of barriers, so it is important to make certain a correct barrier is installed. The list below outlines a few barrier choices.

Solid Barrier: This type of barrier has no openings except at the masonry joints. A brick fence is an example of a solid barrier.

Barrier Fence: A Barrier Fence resembles a white picket fence. The horizontal boards should not exceed 1 ¾ inches. If there are ornamental cut-outs, they should not exceed 1 ¾ inches, either.

Chain Link Fence: A Chain Link Fence appears to be metal cross-work. The opening slats should not be more than 1 ¼” opening.

Latticework Fence: This type of fence looks like crossed wood and should not exceed 1 ¾ inches in the openings.

NOTE: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has specific information on barrier guidelines; this report is available online.

Other pool safety considerations could actually be inside the home. If your house has a sliding door that leads to the pool, it is actually part of the barrier. The door should be equipped with a loud-sounding alarm. If the door opens unexpectedly, adults in the home will be alerted. Alarms can ward off disaster!

Once enjoying your pool, common sense should rule. It is extremely important that at least one adult remain watchful while young children are in or near the water. Guardians could become distracted while chatting on the phone or reveling in the sun, but distractions might result in tragedy. To prevent this from happening, remain alert.

Summer is a time of fun, relaxation, and enjoyment! Adhering to simple rules will reap big rewards in your summer pleasure.

Part I – Prevention

Like many people these days, my life is stored on my computer. From photos to saved emails, my laptop holds everything from both my professional and personal lives. After an unfortunate spillage of water onto the keyword, I was crushed to have lost all my e-belongings. When debating how to get rid of the useless machine, I met someone in a store who said he would gladly take the laptop “off my hands.” I figured this was a lucky encounter, but immediately I was warned by many friends not to hand over the laptop. Even though I had managed to extract some important information before the computer completely stopped working, I was told that someone could still access any account information from online banking, registration, or shopping activity.

It’s no surprise that the Federal Trade Commission is concerned about the millions of Americans who are devastated by identity theft every year. With private information now stored on vast, social networks like the Internet, the line between convenience and personal protection is often blurry. It’s not just computers, however, but even simpler devices like your mailbox that can fall prey to impostors.

Are You Putting Yourself at Risk?

Individuals can steal records from not only your home but from businesses where you are a customer or patient.

Most are not afraid to get their hands dirty, either - dumpsters are often a goldmine for bank statements, insurance information, and other personal documents.

Even in the checkout line, someone might be peering over your shoulder memorizing your credit card number. This makes it possible to access account info like social security numbers. Even if they forget a few letters and misspell your name later, a correct social security number will be their ticket to big purchases and can even cause a warrant for your arrest if they get into trouble with the law.

Future consequences include bankruptcy declarations in your name, which can result in being denied jobs, student loans, and housing.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to help prevent the financial and emotional crises of identity theft:

1. Keep track of your bank accounts and be alert to any surprise purchases or withdrawals.
2. Change your passwords and collect your mail regularly. If you stop receiving mail, call your post office to make sure someone hasn’t signed to have your mail forwarded. If it looks like mail fraud, you should call the U.S. Postal Service Crime Hot Line.
3. Try not to write down your PIN or social security numbers, but if you must, do not carry it on you and consider writing it backwards or in a different order.
4. Tear or shred receipts, applications, and other documents with vital info before throwing them away.
5. No matter how persuasive, do not give your credit card number or personal info to an unsolicited caller.
6. If someone in your family dies, protect any accounts by shredding personal documents and items like unused checks – even deceased individuals can fall victim to identity theft.
7. Report stolen or lost credit cards immediately.

As for myself, I plan to use a professional for safely disposing my laptop, even if it is waterlogged. It’s simply not worth taking the risk that someone might ruin the financial and personal reputation I’ve worked hard for.

Today’s kids spend a lot of time “home alone.” If you’re a working parent, make sure your children know how to handle any situation that may arise during the day, either in the home or on their way to and from school. Cell phones can help you keep track of where your kids are and what they are doing, but they are not a substitute for teaching them the basics of personal safety and home security.

Regardless of their ages or how “grown up” they seem, it’s important that your children are comfortable being home alone. Children who are fearful may panic in a real or imagined emergency situation. Discuss their fears and answer their questions, then determine whether they are able and ready to take on the responsibilities of being alone.

You can help reduce your stress level by teaching your kids the basics of home safety and security. You’ll feel less fearful and your children will develop practical skills and self-reliance. Here are some helpful tips to get you started. Use at your own digression.

• Teach your children how to use the home security system so they are comfortable using it when they are in the house as well as when entering and leaving
• Give them a key to keep with them, not “hidden” somewhere outside the house
• Establish home safety rules including having friends over, homework, household chores and computer and TV use
• Instruct kids in the proper use of telephones and appliances, such as the microwave for their after-school snacks
• Be sure they know how to give directions to the house in the event of an emergency and keep important phone numbers handy by each phone
• Be sure they know how to escape the house in case of a fire (you do have an escape plan, don’t you?)
• Be sure they know how to secure all doors and windows
• Tell them to never let anyone into the home without explicit approval from you
• Tell them to never let a caller or someone at the door know they are alone
• Tell them to never accept rides to or from home from anyone they don’t know very well and who has been pre-approved by you
• Tell them to never go into the house if something looks wrong such as an open door, broken window or strange car in the driveway
• Make sure they know a neighbor who is ready to provide a safe haven

Finally, if you keep weapons in the house, secure them out of reach, use trigger locks, and always keep ammunition in a separate locked location. Home security starts with you