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Stay Safe This Upcoming Halloween

October 19th, 2011

October is the month of Breast Cancer and Fire Safety Awareness. But we all know that October is the month to prepare for one of the most anticipated holiday events of the year. Halloween is celebrated among all ages. Whether you’re taking the kids out for some good old trick-or-treating or having your own Halloween costume party, it’s a day to dress up as your favorite cartoon or movie character. Before you get all excited and are ready to party, there are a few things you should remind yourself and prepare for when you go out. Halloween has always been one of the most celebrated annual events, but your fun can be ruined by not thinking safety first. Many tragic accidents have happened in the past that prevents people from enjoying the holiday. That’s why remembering to take all the safety precautions will keep you and your family safe and enjoy the rest of the evening. Here are a few friendly reminders to stay safe this upcoming Halloween.

First, we’ll talk about a few costume ideas. Many of us would love to go all out with our costumes, adding every detail to make it look more authentic and noticeable for everyone. But we also have to consider the safety of our own costumes.

Costumes:

  • Try looking for costumes that have bright colors or are reflective. This will make it easier for you or your kids to be seen at night when crossing the streets or in dark neighborhoods.
  • If your costume isn’t bright you can try other alternatives such as adding reflective tape to your costumes or on your trick-or-treat bags. This will provide better visibility for everyone to see.
  • Wear comfortable shoes and costumes that are primarily short. You wouldn’t want your costume to be touching the ground that could cause you to trip and fall or even catch on fire.
  • Vision is also very important for all costume participants. Sometimes masks don’t fit right blocking or limiting your eyesight. Other alternatives to consider is trying make-up or wearing hats. Make sure the hat is the right size so it doesn’t obstruct your vision.
  • As October is also fire safety month, it’s only necessary you search for fire resistant costumes. Other accessories such as wigs should be flame resistant and usually has a label indicating that it is.
  • We all love to carry props with our costumes. It’s what makes the costume complete. If you or your child is carrying a prop like a sword, cane or stick, you just want to make sure it’s not too long or sharp. In case your child trips they can hurt themselves or others around them.
  • Most importantly, carry a flashlight with you and make sure you test it to see if it works. Insert some new batteries if it doesn’t work. You don’t want to end up going out, especially in dark areas without a working flashlight.
  • If any of your children get lost or have an emergency, make sure they know how to call 911.

 Homes:

  • As much as you want to show off how scary the front of your house looks by making it dark, you might want to consider providing a decent amount of light for the trick-or-treaters, especially for the children.
  • Also make sure there’s a clear pathway to your door. You wouldn’t want anyone tripping over toys, plants, bikes or garden hoses.
  • If you have any pets, make sure they are restrained and not running over children. They might get the wrong impression because of people’s costumes.

Trick-Or-Treaters:

  • Parents and responsible adults should always accompany children when going out to trick-or-treat.
  • If you have older children who plan on going with friends, make sure they have a cell phone to contact you in case of an emergency. Have a specific route they must follow and a specific time they should be home.
  • Never go to homes that don’t have lights on their porch.
  • Always use the sidewalk and try to stay on a well-lit path.
  • Always use the crosswalk when possible and cross in groups.
  • If you have younger children, it is recommended that you try to start early while there’s still sunlight. It won’t be too dark and you’ll get home earlier.

October is Fire Safety & Prevention Month

October 10th, 2011

As a provider of security and safety supplies, we acknowledge the importance of Fire Safety and Prevention month. We want you to become more aware and acquainted to many of the fire safety measures. Even though some places are more prone to fire dangers such as warm climate areas in Texas, Arizona and Southern California, fires can happen anytime, anywhere.  Whether you leave your stove on or a gas leak in your home, they can happen wherever you are unexpectedly. Not only can fires happen in your home, they can also happen at school or work. That’s why knowing the extra safety precautions to prevent and save you from fires is of the utmost importance.

When you’re inside a building, it is necessary that you have an escape plan in case of a fire emergency. Make sure you that there are at least two different routes with which you can exit the building. Always have a leader or someone who is assigned to help in case of a fire emergency to direct and help those in need. You need someone to keep everyone calm and composed so that everyone leaves the vicinity in a timely manner instead of scattering around in panic. Have one person call 911 to report the fire. You should have an assigned meeting area to keep track of every individual in the building as people leave. This will make it easier to find out who is still in the building and who is safe outside. Taking roll call is the best way to keep track of people.

If you don’t have a smoke detector in your home, then you should immediately buy and install one. The Fire Department recommends installing the smoke detectors usually in the hallway and bedrooms of your home. When purchasing a smoke detector, make sure that it has the Underwriter’s Laboratories seal that ensures it has been tested and approved for quality and performance. Many homes are already installed with smoke detectors, but you’ll be surprised to how many of them actually don’t work. Why is that? It’s because sometimes we forget to change the battery and no longer operates. Remember to always check and test your smoke detectors every week. You never know when an unexpected fire will occur while you are asleep in bed, in the front lawn or backyard.

 

Here are a couple of other fire safety measures that we should pay close attention to:

  • Be Prepared and Ready. The simple safety measures can save your life.
    • Install and make sure that you have a smoke detector in all rooms, hallways, and other important areas of your home.
    • At least test them every week or every month to make sure they work properly.
    • Have a safety plan for getting in and out of the building. Fire drills are very important, especially if you have children.
  • Smoke is also an eminent danger!
    • We always think about the fires, but smoke is usually the first killer when it comes to fire dangers.
    • Smoke sucks all the oxygen from the air causing you to pass out and leave you vulnerable.
    • Smoke contains poison gases and can get extremely hot very quickly.
    • Smoke is sneaky and usually won’t even know until its too late, which is why having a smoke detector is needed for every home.
  • Preventing Fires
    • When cooking in the kitchen, never leave it unattended. If you do need to leave, make sure you keep the heat low on the stove and return as soon as possible.
    • If you smoke cigarettes, first run water over them before you dump them into the trash. Keep the area clean of any dropped cigarettes; they can potentially start a fire.
    • When lighting candles, always have an adult do it and blow it out. Make sure you have candles that won’t fall and are contained in a fireproof holder. Always place candles away from children, pets and out of reach where it might fall and cause a fire.
    • Keep any flammable items such as chemicals, sprays, matches or lighters in a safe and secure place.

Burglary Statistics: By The Numbers

September 26th, 2011

We’ve posted some very haunting stories and articles about burglaries that happen around the United States. We try to keep everyone informed of the dangers and thefts that occur. We know that everyday there is some type of theft or burglary happening to someone whether it is in broad daylight or late at night. We make sure everyone is aware of their surroundings and that you can never be too safe. Burglaries take place when you least expect it, which is why being prepared beforehand can save you the hassle and stress. Sometimes stories or articles aren’t enough to persuade people into investing in a high security surveillance system or high quality safes. Most of the time people will take that risk in being unprepared, but once they become a victim to theft or robbery, they’ll regret it and start investing.

Why learn the hard way and take that risk in becoming a victim to theft? Why not save yourself the money, stress and trouble of losing all your valuable items? Sometimes it isn’t even the money or jewelry that are the most valuable. Some valuables are irreplaceable like collectibles, family photos or other rare items. You also don’t want to lose sensitive information such as passports; social security, insurance or deeds that can be extremely difficult to replace and even worse, have your identity stolen. We never really discussed statistics or numbers when it came to how many burglaries actually happen within the United States every year. Instead of trying to research and look up the statistics, our good friends at Authority Safes have created an awesome graphic/chart that proves and clarifies some interesting burglary statistics in the United States.

The illustration and statistics chart shows that from reports by the FBI, there are approximately 2,222,196 burglaries that occur annually in the United States! That means if you spread the amount of burglaries evenly over 365 days, about over 6,000 burglaries occur every day.  That statistic alone is astonishing and you usually never realize its significance until you see the facts. Not only does this awesome graphic explain and break down the significance of burglaries that happen everyday, but it provides interesting comparisons too. One of the tidbits on the graphic says that “the average person reads at approximately 300 words per minute; as you’ve been reading, another home was just burglarized.” Just reading that statement can give you the goose bumps. It’s pretty ridiculous how many burglaries do occur annually and it gives you a better understanding of the bigger picture. According to the chart the most common items that have been stolen are cash, jewelry, firearms, electronics and silver. These are usually what most residential homes hide and store in their bedrooms. By that fact alone, you can see how important it is to keep your valuables safe. Thieves have only one thing on their mind, and it’s usually either cash or valuables that they can sell for more money. The time is now to start protecting your belongings and be prepared when the unexpected happens.

Click to Enlarge Image

Burglary Statistics Illustration – Graphic & Marketing by Yellow Robin

Summer Solstice Has Officially Arrived

June 21st, 2011

Today marks the first day of summer and is also the longest day of the year. I am sure many of you have noticed the Google logo changed to commemorate the first day of summer. The famous Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami created today’s Google doodle, who has worked with Louis Vuitton and Kanye West.  With summer now here, that means you also have to prepare for the worse. In order to prepare for the worse, you’ll need the proper security and safety equipment to protect your valuables. We want you to have fun this summer, but we don’t want your fun to become spoiled by theft or wildfires.

In areas prone to wildfires, it is vital that you have some type of fire resistant safe to store all of your valuables. This year alone we have had some devastating wildfires that occurred throughout Texas. Temperatures will rise that will result in more potential wildfires especially in areas where large acres of dry brush is present. Usually those states include Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Southern California. The worse we can imagine happening is our own homes being burned down to the ground. Usually in a wildfire emergency, homes are threatened and you have to be evacuated and bring your most valuable possessions with you such as insurance, documents and family records. However, sometimes you have to evacuate immediately and unexpectedly that you are not able to obtain gather any of your items on time.  That is why having a fireproof safe is necessary under these circumstances.

Fire safes are meant to withstand extreme temperatures of heat, but they are also tested under different temperatures and have different fire ratings. It is important that you know what types of safes are out there and their capabilities before purchasing one. Here are the different types of fire ratings accordingly:

  • FR – Fire Resistant, Unrated Insulated Safe
  • ½ HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 30 minutes with the outside temperature of 1550 degrees.
  • 1 HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 1 hour with outside temperature of 1700 degrees.
  • 1 HR+ – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 1 hour with an outside temperature of 1700 degrees in addition to surviving a drop test from up to 30 feet in the air.
  • 2 HR – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees.
  • 2 HR+ – U.L. Class 350. It can protect valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees in addition to surviving a drop test from 30 feet in the air.

The U.L. stands for Underwriters’ Laboratories. It is a non-profit and non-bias organization that rates the safety and performance of consumer products. The safes that have been approved under the U.L. have a U.L. label on them that signifies that they have passed the security and fire-protection ratings of the agency. The U.L. has general ratings such as:

  • TL-15 – A combination locked safe that provides protection against the most common techniques of breaking into a safe with mechanical or electrical tools. The “15” stands for it can resist abuse for up to 15 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, electric tools and other devices that apply forced entry and pressure.
  • TL-30 – Is the same as above, but is able to withstand physical abuse for 30 minutes.
  • TL-30 x 6 – Can withstand the same physical attacks for 30 minutes from all sides of the safe.
  • TRTL-30 – A safe that can successfully withstand heavy abuse from tools such as drills, saws, pry bars and other impact devices for up to 30 minutes.

We make sure you’re not only protected against fire. Most of our safes we have available are constructed to protect against both fires and burglaries. During the summer we know that many people are planning their summer get away with their families or friends. Whether it’s visiting family from another country or relaxing in the Bahamas, your home will become vulnerable to burglary. It doesn’t take an expert or professional to get into someone’s home. More likely than not, almost every home does not have the necessary security or alarm system that will warn neighbors that an intruder has broken in. Usually burglars go for only one thing, money and jewelry.  If you have money, jewelry and other valuable items, keeping them in a high security safe is the best way to protect against theft.

If you need both the unique design that combines both security features of protection against theft and fires, then a burglary and fire safe is the perfect choice. Make sure you know what type of rating you want for your safe. The safes also come in different shapes and sizes to fit all your storage needs. They also come in different types of finishes to cater to your style and décor. You can choose from your basic combination lock or add more security by choosing an electronic lock. We want you to become worry-free this summer. We don’t want you to come back home only to find out your home been raided and all your valuables are gone. That’s the worse way to end your summer vacation.  Stay protected and secure, start saving for a great investment that can save you time and give you the peace of mind you need to carry out your day. There are plenty of other things to worry about; your home and your valuables shouldn’t be one of them.

Source: http://www.thesafesource.com/safe_ratings.htm

Tips On How To Improve Your Home Security

May 16th, 2011

When it comes to protecting your own personal valuables, one of the most precious things to protect is your own home.  Most of the tips are common sense, yet sometimes we take it for granted.  Here are some tips from what cops and crooks say you are doing wrong.  Take it from the experts and burglars who have seen and were involved in break-ins.  It’s pretty simple, you’re an easy target and they know your home is vulnerable.  Now that it’s summer, many people will be taking a vacation, but you never want to come back home with all your valuables gone. So here is some advice that will benefit you.

“About half of all break-ins aren’t break-ins but walk-ins,” says Bob Portenier, a former burglar. “Families get in a hurry in the morning – kids going to school, running late for work, doctors’ appointments, what have you – and forget to take that one or two minutes to check the doors and locks, usually on the back side. You have a pet, you let it out to do its business – and then forget the security French door or sliding glass door.”

Many people who have an alarm system for their home forget to actually turn it on.  A security survey says 1,038 U.S. homeowners; 43 percent of them said they at least occasionally don’t turn it on when they’re not home.  19 percent of people say they occasionally leave their doors unlocked when they’re out, and 26 percent say they at least occasionally leave windows unlocked when they’re gone.

As for windows and doors, another access point to a home is the garage.  If you leave your garage door open, then usually that leads to a door to your home.  Usually that door is unlocked or isn’t as strong as the exterior doors of your home.  Plus once the burglar gets in, neighbors can’t see anything and can take their time in breaking in that door.

We all know privacy is important, but you also have to consider if it can be too much privacy.  Any tall hedges or fences that hide windows and doors give thieves more time to break-in because they’re covered up, says Walter T. Shaw, a former burglar and co-author of “A License to Steal.”

“When we targeted a house, we would approach the door and look in – the quality of furniture, whatever there was – to give us an idea of how these people spend their money,” says Portenier. “So with mirror-tinted windows, it eliminates that.”

When you go on vacation, of course you would love to share and keep your friends informed through Facebook.  However, those can also tip-off people you occasionally don’t speak to or others that your home is up for grabs during the weekend.  Wait until you come back from your vacation to share what you did. Lieutenant John Dzwlewicz of the New York City police department suggests a trick, put some inexpensive kids’ toy on the lawn.  What you can also do is ask your neighbor to park on your driveway so it seems like someone is home.

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