National Preparedness Month Day 17--Home Safety

Since your home is your castle, you need to make sure it is a safe place for you and your family, on a daily basis as well as during an emergency.  Consider all of these ways to make your home more safe and secure:

• Have working smoke detectors in each bedroom and in common areas on each floor (change batteries each spring and fall).
• Have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home and garage/shop.
• Have your HVAC system serviced annually.
• Have your chimney cleaned annually.
• Make sure all doors and windows can be securely locked.
• Re-key locks when you move in and if people like roommates or renters have recently moved out.
• Make sure there are at least two ways to escape from each room of your home during a fire.
• Have fire extinguishers in your kitchen and garage/shop.
• Don't leave your garage door opener in your vehicle if the vehicle will be parked outside (thieves will break a window to get it then use it to enter your garage and then your home this way).
• Always keep your garage door closed unless you are actively using it.
• Keep all exterior doors locked when you are home unless you are actively using them.
• Fix all fall hazards in your home (wobbly steps, slippery area rugs, extension cords where people walk, etc).
• Keep poisons locked up and away from children and pets.
• Be aware of fire hazards such as candles, space heaters, etc.
• Fence your property for added security.
• Install an interior/exterior security system.
• Shred all documents with personal information on them before tossing them in the garbage.
• Prepare your home adequately for natural disasters (securing water heaters, bolting your home to its foundation, etc).
• Keep your blinds and drapes closed especially after dark so people can't see into your home.
• Make your home look lived in when you are away from home (lights on timers, etc).