If you don’t have a security system that protects home access areas such as windows and doorways you might want to incorporate a few (if not all) of these tips until you are able to be more fully armed with a home safety system.

1. Make sure exterior doors are solid core construction.
2. All strike plates for exterior doors (or interior doors if you want to provide individual locked-room safety) should be installed using nothing shorter than three inch screws. Anything shorter makes it super-easy for the doors to be kicked in.
3. Sliding door panels should be equipped with an auxiliary lock so both door panels can be locked together.
4. Even if you keep your car parked in the garage, make sure keys are removed from the car in all instances.
5. Exterior doors (including front, back and garage) should be equipped with wide-angle peephole viewers, and remember to always be cautious of who is standing on the other side since would-be intruders have been known to dress in uniform and even carry flowers for supposed delivery.
6. Make sure trees and shrubs have been trimmed from around windows so clear visibility is never in question.
7. A closed window is not deterrent enough – it also needs to be kept locked!
8. And in addition to being kept locked, windows should be equipped with an auxiliary locking device.
9. Make sure your window locks are securely mounted since any loss of integrity can open an opportunity for an easier break-in
10. Install motions sensor lights around all windows and doors for two reasons: these alone are often enough of a deterrent; but if someone is still bold enough to try to break in you’re more likely to see them in the act (remember the peepholes?) and call 9-1-1.

Home safety means more than making sure that your home is protected from uninvited physical intrusion thanks to the use of an alarm system. It also means making sure that family members or visitors don’t suffer any unfortunate consequences as a result of items that you may have inside your home.

National poison control statistics indicate that roughly two million calls are made each year concerning possible poisonings and almost all of them are concerning poisonings in the home.

So how can you protect your home from being one of these? Follow these steps and make them practice in your own household:

•    Install safety latches and childproofing to all cabinets.

•     Make certain all potential poisons and chemicals are kept inside these locked cabinets.

•    Keep food products and chemical products stored separately.

•    Store toxins and poisons in their original containers.

•    Many poisonings have occurred because of assumptions based on the container alone.

It’s also important to recognize the signs of potential poisoning which can include difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, dizziness, foaming or burning of the mouth, and nausea to name a few.

If you suspect poisoning, immediately contact 9-1-1, your local Poison Control, or the national hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Timing is important, so make the call as quickly as possible after poisoning is suspected.

Is there a typical profile that the most commonly invaded home falls into? If a would-be burglar is looking at properties to invade, the typical profile is a home that most likely has cash laying around and a home with residents that are less likely to put up resistance (such as the elderly, women, or children).

I’m mostly afraid at night. Is that when most home invasions occur? Surprisingly, no. Granted, while home invasions occur every hour of every day, the most common time for a break-in is typically at 2:00 in the afternoon when homes are typically unoccupied or the male of the household is away from the premises.

What can I do to reduce my chance of becoming a victim? Apart from making sure an alarm system is not only installed but is armed and set 24/7, make sure all windows are kept locked (even on second floors), never answer a door if you are not expecting anyone or know the person, and install high quality door locks as well as reinforcing your exterior doors with a high strength strike plate since doors can be broken off their hinges in a matter of seconds without them.

As many people already know, burglary is typically a crime of opportunity. The Portland Police Bureau underscores this notion by pointing out three current burglary trends:

1. It seems that burglars are now reading obituary notices to gather information about those who have recently passed to either make plans to gain entry into the home (which in a lot of cases is left unoccupied for a period of time) or to steal identity. In cases such as this it just makes good sense to make sure that the home of the recently-deceased is armed with a security system even if the home is no longer physically occupied.
2. Burglars are now also frequenting real estate open houses to gain information about not only the types of belongings in the house but whether or not the home is currently occupied or in a state of limbo as it is being sold. Think about it – anyone touring an open house has every reason to open closets to look at closet space; but a perceptive thief will use the opportunity to see whether or not the closet has clothes in it; and if not, they know the home is unoccupied.
3. Likewise, burglars are driving through neighborhoods looking for real estate “For Sale” signs and then pay particular notice whether or not there is a lockbox on the door (which in many cases implies that the home is unoccupied but still somewhat furnished while the home is being marketed).

So, how do you prevent a possible burglary due to these conditions? The Portland Police Bureau recommends not printing an obituary, paying exceedingly close attention to all who enter a home during an open house, and to keep real estate lock boxes in a concealed location that is not easily seen by drive-by viewing.

When it comes to motion sensor lights, most people’s minds immediately run to the outside of a house thinking the exterior is the only application for this useful crime deterrent.  But if you want to add an element of security to the interior of your home on top of an alarm system the good news is that there are some ceiling mounted motion sensor lights that work just as well inside the home as outside.

If mounted inside the house near a door, you can understand how the sudden illumination of a light could startle and ultimately deter a would-be intruder from wanting to enter further. Additionally, the feature of a motion sensor interior light is helpful for personal safety reasons, as well; should you ever have to get up in the middle of the night for an emergency.

A quick online search or a trip to your local home goods store will put you in touch with several stylish options, with a lot of them being Energy Star rated.

Also, while you’re at the store, you may want to consider an automatic dusk-to-dawn interior light control for lamp adaption. These are handy items that are less cumbersome than a timer, don’t have to be adjusted or modified for changing daylight hours like automatic timers do, and usually come in under $10 per control.

Most people living in tornado, earthquake, or hurricane prone cities know the importance of having an emergency kit packed at all times in the home in addition to their alarm system.

But even if you live in an area that doesn’t suffer from such extremes, an emergency kit in the house is an excellent idea since emergencies can arise at any time regardless of your geographic locale.  Following are some of the items that should always be on hand and a part of your kit:

• Water at the rate of one-gallon per person per day (using three days as a minimum guideline)
• Food for each person for the same minimum three day period (canned and non-perishable)
• Battery-powered or hand cranked radio and flashlight (and extra batteries for both)
• First aid kit and supply of prescription medications
• Whistle to blow for help
• Dust mask, moist towelettes, garbage bags, and tools (including a can opener)
• Infant formula, baby food, and pet food

For a complete list of emergency items, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.

It’s pretty much common knowledge that a system provided by ADT security is one of the best moves you can make to improve your home’s safety. But beyond the obvious you may want to also consider the following ideas to increase safety inside your home.

1. If you have area rugs in your home it’s suggested that you always use a rug pad to prevent slipping (and falling). In absence of a rug pad you can use double-sided tape.
2. While ADT provides fire monitoring, it’s also a good idea to make sure that an A-B-C rated all-purpose fire extinguisher is accessibly located in the kitchen.
3. Motion sensor outdoor flood lights have proven to deter many a would-be intruder from coming inside the home. They’re easy to install and do their job well!
4. It’s recommended that nightlights (or a light on a timer) be used in bathrooms and hallways that lead from the bedroom to the bathroom not only for personal safety, but the ambient light can serve as a deterrent to would-be intruders.
5. Make sure that you have a peephole installed to all exterior doors – front, back, and side – since you never know where someone will be knocking to gain access.

Statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that almost 17,000 US deaths in 2004 could be attributed to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Some sources inside your home which might attribute to increased levels of carbon monoxide include:

•    Furnace
•    Fireplace
•    Stove
•    Barbecue
•    Gasoline powered garden tools
•    Gasoline, diesel, or propane powered generators

Since death from the odorless and colorless gas can occur within a matter of minutes, recognizing the symptoms of CO poisoning is critically important.

•    Unexplained shortness of breath
•    Unexplained headaches or dizziness
•    Unexplained nausea

If you (or a member of your household) exhibit any of the following symptoms, immediate access to fresh air and a call for emergency response in recommended.

Also, since CO is so silent in nature, it is highly recommended that a carbon monoxide home alarm system detector be installed inside the home and garage.

If you find yourself moving to a new city and aren’t sure which neighborhoods might  be the safest you might want to access the Family Watchdog website to research what types of neighbors you may be surrounded by before you ultimately decide on a location.

Apart from mapping where registered sex offenders live in your immediate area, Family Watchdog can proactively notify you when a registered sexual predator moves within a five mile radius of the address you provide.

And should you think you are living in an “upscale neighborhood” where information such as this is not necessary, the site points out that “sexual predators have no physical borders” nor are they confined to any given socio-economic group.

Our takeaway is this — information is power; so along with arming your property with a home security system such as those offered by ADT home alarms, arm your knowledge-base with the information that you need to make informed decisions about where your children might be playing.

While the following three tips may seem simple in nature, you might be surprised at the number of people that do not adhere to them. If you want to make sure you practice as safe a household as possible, these three tips will help you do just that!

1.    Stay Anonymous: Do not put your name on your mailbox or front door. In doing so, you’ve given a would-be intruder the opportunity to research your phone number based on this information (since they already know your address). Once armed with your number, calls can be made to your house to determine when you aren’t home; and with this information, burglars can time their intrusion.
2.    Don’t Hide Keys: If you think of the “perfect spot” to hide a key, chances are would-be intruders have already thought of it and will look there. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’re smarter than a burglar – they’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have! Instead, give a spare to a neighbor or friend.
3.    Keep Doors Locked: Yes, it sounds simple; but again, you’d be surprised how many front doors are left unlocked while the occupants are home during the day and intruders literally walk in. That’s a frightening thought. Instead, always keep doors locked regardless of the hour of the day; and if you have a burglar alarm, always keep it armed – even if you are at home!