September is finally here, and it’s time to send your little guy or girl off to college. In all of the excitement of this big moment, don’t let the importance of home security get lost in the mix. The first days of the school year are thrilling regardless of whether it’s freshman or senior year, and thoughts of safety end up abandoned amidst the hoopla. As a parent, it’s up to you to remind your children of the importance of maintaining home security, either in the dorm or off campus. Here are some tips to pass along to your kids:

Remain Aware of Your Surroundings: While the first few weeks of freshman year can seem like summer camp, remember that not everyone is as trusting and innocent as you are. Thefts happen in the dorm everyday, and once a valuable possession is gone, it’s likely that it won’t be seen again. Remember to lock your door when you leave, and make sure your roommate is on the same page.

Ask Your Landlord for an ADT Home Alarm: Many landlords are coming around to the fact that home security is their responsibility, just like fixing a broken dishwasher or a leak in the roof. Ask your landlord to install an ADT home security system. Offer to tack on a few extra dollars per month; the savings will come back in spades when a burglary is thwarted.

Keep an Open Dialogue With Your Neighbors: Let the folks living around you know that you want to hear about any suspicious behavior. Taking collective home security seriously is the best way to keep everyone around you safe, including yourself.

With some basic precautions around campus and your home, you can go a long way towards a safe school year. Contact ADT today to see how they can help.

Spring, summer, fall, and winter each bring unique challenges to homeowners when it comes to home security and maintaining the safety of the family. As the seasons shift, it’s important to take nMaintaining Home Safety as the Weather Changesote of the changing conditions, and take the appropriate actions to combat the ill effects of Mother Nature. Below, you’ll find some information about each season’s potential hazards, as well as some ways that you can bolster your home security.

Spring: Spring brings extreme vegetation growth, and tall grasses can pop up within weeks of that first thaw. This can serve as camouflage for burglars doing recon for an easy entry point. Uncut grass is also a sure sign of an empty home, so you’ll want to be certain to have someone mow, especially if you plan on going on vacation.

Summer: Summer is a great time to take a vacation, and you’re not the only one who knows it. Potential intruders love the August and September, as folks across the nation head out of town for one last gasp of summer. An ADT alarm system is your best against burglars looking to breach your home security.

You’ll also want to be sure to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen; don’t forget that home security is applicable both inside of the home and out.

Fall: The fall can bring nasty weather to many parts of the United States, and in particular, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Don’t wait until the last second to figure out your options in the event of a hurricane or tornado. Instead, have a family action plan in place so that you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Winter: That beautiful, fluffy stuff that’s coming down in sheets? It can represent a real hazard to your home security. Snow piled two or three feet high on a roof puts immense stress on the structural integrity of the your home, and can result in an expensive (and potentially tragic) collapse. And don’t forget that a driveway left unplowed while you’re on vacation is like a neon sign to burglars.

Each distinct season requires special consideration when it comes to home safety. Take the time to prepare, and help your family remain protected 365 days a year.

Summer is nearing its end, and that means children across America will soon be hearing that first bell that kicks off the new school year. That makes some kids happy and other kids sad, but regardless, every child needs to understand that safety and home security take top priority. There are too many potential hazards out there to give this anything less than your full attention. Look below for tips to help ensure your child’s safety this school year.

Perform Some Bus Stop Recon: No matter whether it’s your kid’s first or hundredth ride, it pays to spend a few minutes scouting out the place where he or she will wait for the bus. If there is a walk from your home involved, take the time for a practice run.

Replay Home Security Basics: Now is as good a time as ever to go over your expectations for keeping your home protected. If your child is old enough to operate the ADT home alarm, have them show you how to do it. This is especially important if the child will be left alone.

Talk to Neighbors: Have a discussion with the folks living around you about expectations for the new school year. Consider setting up a schedule to take care of each others’ kids if an adult isn’t always available in both homes.

Lay Out Rules for Older Children: Kids in high school and college represent a whole different set of challenges. Sit your child down and have a frank talk about the dangers involved with operating a motor vehicle, especially in cases where alcohol is involved. Parents are the number one deterrent for bad behavior, so take the few minutes to speak to your kids.

As the dog days of August turn into cooler September rain showers, make sure your children are safe. Practice these home safety and school safety tips. There’s nothing more precious than their well-being, and you should take every step possible to ensure it.

Summer is winding its way down, and that means Labor Day is quickly approaching. As always, June and July flew by, and Memorial Day and the 4th of July are distant memories. You’ve kept your family safe throughout the hot days and nights, and now’s no time to quit. Here are some home security tips for maintaining that same level of safety for the upcoming Labor Day holiday.

Home Alarm - Don’t Forget to Set It: Your ADT home security system has monitored your home while you were away all summer long. When you go away this Labor Day, make sure you don’t forget to arm it. Burglars know just as well as you do that summer’s last harrah means vacant houses waiting to be picked off.

Fireworks – Don’t forget about Fire Safety: Have some fireworks left over from July 4th? Be careful when lighting them off, especially if you live in a dry area. In many parts of the United States, this summer hasn’t brought much rain, which means the risk of fire is greater than at any other point. Your home security depends on the wise choices you make, so take care and don’t play with fire.

Don’t Forget About Mother Nature: Folks in hurricane-prone areas should stay cautious, as Labor Day falls right into the prime time for late summer tempests. Have an emergency action plan ready, in case disaster strikes. In any case, you can feel secure about your home’s continued protection against intrusion: ADT’s four interconnected command centers mean that even if one location goes down, the system remains up and running.

Enjoy Labor Day, and remember to share these home security reminders with your family, keeping them safe as back to school gets closer and Fall approaches.

It looks like this summer could have the necessary ingredients for the perfect storm that will send crime rates soaring through the roof. First off, it looks like criminal activity is trending upward along with the Recession, as desperate people begin to take desperate measures. Though concrete statistics have yet to be determined, police chiefs around the country report a noticeable increase in reported crimes. Most are recommending home security systems as the most potent method available to citizens for protecting against this surge.

That still leaves the second front sweeping in, which threatens to turn the situation into an even more serious national event. Many meteorologists are counting on July and August to set new records for heat and humidity across the nation, as thermometers slowly start to creep upward.

Sociologists have long known that rising temperatures result in rising crime rates. People tend to spend more time outside of their own homes, leading to more invasions. Extreme heat also leads to a general loss of self-control and restraint. Finally, don’t forget that kids are out of school, unsupervised, and looking to cause trouble.

All of this means that there’s never been a better time to protect your property.

Consider that all of this heat will almost certainly lead to increased blackouts, as more and more folks switch on their air conditioners to beat the heat. Other home security providers limit their coverage to one command center. In contrast, ADT spreads the risk across four interconnected command centers.

This summer, give your family the protection they deserve. With a home alarm system that is reliable and ready to protect you and your loved ones.

Now that the school year’s final bell has rung, your kids have a lot more free time. You’ve probably heard the expression about the Devil and idle hands, and summer is chock full of opportunities for bored children to get themselves into trouble. The hot months of June, July, and August can be enjoyed safely both inside and outside of the home, as long as you take some simple precautions.

The Stranger Talk: It’s almost a cliché by now, but make sure your children know that they should never get into a car with a stranger. While a home alarm system can keep your kids safe while they’re hanging out at home, they’ll need to exercise more caution when in public.

Stay Hydrated: This one’s pretty simple, but often overlooked. Dehydration can lead to very serious consequences, including heat stroke and even death. Let your kids know that they should be drinking before they get thirsty, rather than after. On the hottest days of summer, skip outdoor activities and head to a movie theater or bowling alley.

Don’t Forget to Set the Alarm: When sweat is pouring down your face and you can feel your skin already starting to burn, you’ll find yourself forgetting to do things that are normally almost second nature. Whenever you leave your home, make sure to set your ADT home security system. This technology is easy enough for kids to use, so get them involved. You should also teach them how to operate the two-way communicator in case of an emergency. This device will put them in touch with a trained home security professional immediately.

Clear Expectations for Being Home Alone: Staying home alone is a big responsibility, no matter how old your child is. Make sure they understand everything that’s necessary to maintain home security, from dangers in the kitchen to how to deal with a fire.

Your kids’ safety is the number one priority this summer. With tools like a home security system and some basic education, you can be sure that they’ll be kept out of harm’s way.

You depend on your home security system to keep your most precious possessions safe. A huge part of this approach is your home security company’s continued dedication to developing the newest technology. Both behind the scenes and right there in your home, new electronics and software are constantly revamped in order to keep you and your loved ones protected.

At the core of the defense system is an inter-connected network of command centers, each intricately linked to the others to prevent loss of service in the event of a catastrophe. ADT home security systems are set up with a total of five different command centers. When one designated center goes offline, another kicks in within seconds, preventing a potentially catastrophic lapse.

The innovation never stops, either. Exciting new developments are constantly coming down the pipeline, including video surveillance. Some security companies allow you to tap into your home security feed from a web-equipped cellular telephone. This is a great feature for vacation homes; keep an eye on deliveries from thousands of miles away, without having to call a neighbor.

Technology isn’t the end all and be all of home security. Other precautions need to be taken, such as maintaining the appearance of inhabitance and advertising the installed system. When put together, these advanced methods will make for a secure home for you and your family.

While many people consider obtaining home alarm systems in case of an intrusion, few people consider how effective the system can also be in the event of a fire or other emergency.  While the primary reason for these systems is certainly security, the amount of emergency detection and protection that comes with them is certainly enough to make the purchase a wise investment for anyone who is considering such a purchase.

Fire can happen to anyone anywhere.  People living in dry areas are certainly more prone to wildfire damage, but a simple house fire can affect anyone.  Electrical problems, appliance malfunctions, candles, cigarettes, and many other things can accidentally and quickly set an entire home ablaze.  While traditional fire alarms will alert you to such an emergency if you are home, they do very little to protect your or your family if you are trapped in the home or if you are away from home when the fire occurs.  In these instances, you are left to the mercy of anyone who may see the fire and call emergency services.

In a large city or neighborhood, someone is likely to report a fire very quickly.  Even in this situation, however, every second counts.  With a home alarm system, a fire alarm will first trigger a call to your home to check on the situation.  In the event of no answer or a distressed response, emergency services are immediately dispatched to your home.  This simple feature can save valuable time and can make the difference between personnel arriving in time to save your home and an uncontrollable blaze.

Most home alarm systems also have a button that can be pressed to manually call for fire assistance.  This can be quite helpful in signaling a fire even before it is detected or if it begins outside the home.  With a manual fire button, you are given an even greater level of protection during emergency situations.  Pressing this button will immediately contact the security company who will attempt to contact you and will also notify proper authorities.

In addition to fire monitoring and detection, many quality home alarm systems can also monitor for freezes, floods, and carbon monoxide detection.  Because carbon monoxide has no smell, it can make everyone in a home especially ill before anyone realizes there is a problem.  Many states make carbon monoxide detectors mandatory for landlords who rent apartments and homes to people, but many homeowners still do not have detectors.  With an all inclusive home security system, you can expect carbon monoxide detection along with a great number of other services, all intended to keep you as safe as possible inside your home.

In short, an ADT monitored home alarm system can protect against much more than just home invasion.  In addition to intruders, a good system can also help save your home and family in the event of a fire, regardless of whether anyone can hear the audible alarm.  These systems are truly innovative and provide a high level of protection.  No matter where you live, a system that provides all of these protections is always a wise investment.

Despite the frightening figures on home invasions and property crimes, many homeowners are still reluctant to invest in a home security system.  They feel that the initial installation and monthly monitoring fee is too much to pay for the security of their home and its contents.

Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t install home alarm systems until after they’ve had a break-in.  If your home is invaded, you may be faced with thousands of dollars in damaged and stolen items.  Suddenly, the cost of installing and maintaining a home security system seems much more reasonable.

Of course, not every home will be broken into.  There are plenty of households that will never have to deal with the shock of seeing their home in disarray or the confusion of filing a police report and insurance claim.  However, those homes can benefit in other ways from having home security systems.

Just the presence of a home security system can ward off some burglars.  Faced with the choice between trying to disarm a home security system and breaking into the unsecured house next door, most burglars would prefer the easier target.  Homeowners who let it be known that their home is protected may never have to rely on their home security system precisely because it is there.

Home security provider ADT has built up an impressive home protection system.  They feature a vast network of interconnected monitoring centers all across the US to ensure that if your home is ever in danger, they can react quickly.

ADT home alarm systems can alert the authorities for you if anything happens to your home.  Their security systems offer a fire protection service which can call your local fire department if a fire is detected in your home.  Even if you are away from home when a fire breaks out, your property will be protected.  The ADT system can also call other rescue personnel as appropriate for the situation.  In many cases, the authorities can be there within minutes of the alarm sounding.

ADT’s monitoring centers are manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  The employees monitoring the network are highly trained home security professionals.  If anything happens to your home, they can notify both you and the police.

Besides protecting your home and its contents, a home security system can actually save you money every month.  Most homeowner’s insurance providers give discounts for homes that are equipped with security systems.  For homeowners who are concerned with the cost of maintaining a security system, this discount can help to offset the monthly monitoring fee.

The decision to install a home alarm system should be an easy one.  There’s no better way to protect your home, your belongings, and your family.  The cost of keeping a home security system is very reasonable, and it’s even more reasonable when you weight it against the potential costs of a break-in or a home fire.  You simply can’t put a price on the security of your home and family.

The Home Safety Council hosts a wonderful website designed to provide awareness to home safety issues and educate your family on to practice home safety steps in your home or neighborhood. The Home Safety Council was issued a $1 million grant for Fire Prevention and Safety from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

As a result of this grant the Home Safety Council has been providing a series of Webinars on various fire safety and prevention topics. April’s Webinar is titled Fire Safety for Older Adults and People with Disabilities. Previous Webinars have been on juvenile fire setting, school fire safety, scald burn prevention and other similar topics.

Viewing these Webinars is an excellent way for your community to learn about fire safety. The Home Safety Council will send all participants a sampling of the Webinar material for free after each Webinar. For more information on these programs visit the Home Safety Council online at http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/.

There is no substitute for being prepared in case of a fire emergency. Sometimes even the best preparations are not enough to protect you and your family. A rapid response from emergency personnel is essential to getting your family out quickly and safely.

The best way to ensure that your home and family are protected for any emergency is to have a home alarm system with professional monitoring services installed. Choosing a home security service can be a difficult task. The two top names in the home security industry are ADT home alarm systems and Brinks. Take care not to simply pick one without researching the facts. It could mean the difference between life and death for your family in the event of a fire.

ADT and Brinks both have highly trained staff in their Customer Monitoring Centers that are prepared to assist you during any emergency. Both companies have easy one touch buttons to contact the CMC’s if you are in need of emergency assistance. Both have smoke and heat sensors to detect a fire early. That is about where the similarities end when it comes to immediate emergency response.

Brinks and ADT both advertise 24/7 home monitoring but is it really 24 hours a day 7 days a week? In the case of ADT it certainly is. ADT Security Services has a total of five Customer Monitoring Centers in different locations. Unlike ADT, Brinks only has one CMC. This leaves the Brinks CMC vulnerable to power less and natural disasters. Certainly both companies have backup power plans but in the event of a large scale disaster backup generators may not be able to work they entire time. When a call gets routed to an ADT Monitoring Professional it can be immediately routed to another center if needed. This means that your family will truly be protected 24 hours a day 7 days a week with an ADT Home Security system.

Another important area of difference is the way that the monitoring center is contacted. Both companies utilitize a standard telephone line in the event that the CMC needs to be contacted. Only ADT home alarm systems offer Safewatch Cellguard. In the ever increasing wireless age this technology is a wonderful enhancement to your security system. Safewatch Cellguard contacts the monitoring center using a nearby cellular tower. This means that the center will be contacted even if the telephone line is not working in your home.

In the event of a fire you will be unable to answer your phone. Hopefully you will be on your way out of the home at the time the alarm goes off. If you are still in the home an added benefit of ADT security systems is the ability to talk with the ADT associate through the unit itself. ADT can hear you speaking from up to 100 feet away from the unit. This technology is currently not installed in the Brinks security system. The comfort of being able to hear that help is on the way is sometimes all you need as you make your way to safety.

Take the time to research your home alarm options for the safety of your family. Check the Home Safety Council for information on fire preparedness and how to educate your family and friends. You will be glad you did.