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!

Sadly, it seems to be a growing sign of the times that the once-simple act of answering your own front door bell has turned into an increasingly dangerous proposition; especially if you live alone. But by keeping these three tips in mind you can minimize risk of a possible home invasion:

1. Unless you are expecting someone, do not open the door when your door bell rings. Instead, walk up to the door and clearly announce “I am not expecting anyone at present so I must ask you to leave.”
2. If the person on the other side states that it’s an emergency and they need to use your phone, don’t fall prey to this tactic. Instead announce “if you give me the number to call I will be happy to place the call for you.” If they say they want to give you literature, ask them to mail it.
3. If the person remains persistence, clearly announce that you are now dialing 9-1-1 and do exactly that.

As harsh or abrupt as these tips may seem, it’s important to remember that we’re not living in the same kind of towns we were living in 50 years ago. The times have changed, and with that advancement brings a need for new personal safety practices.

When all has been said and done you haven’t been rude – you’ve offered to help by making a call if the situation is indeed an emergency –but you have preserved your personal security.

Your laundry room may be the focus of one of your biggest household chores, but it also presents plenty of hazards. Be sure to clean up your mess, and pay attention to these items and areas to help keep your home safe:

* Buckets/tubs: When not in use, empty and store buckets and tubs upside-down to help prevent spills and to prevent children from accessing hazardous chemicals.

* Floors: Clean up any spills immediately. Also keep the floor clear of items to help prevent falls.

* Washer and dryer: Stay nearby while the washer and dryer are in operation. Prevent fires by cleaning out the dryer lint trap before each use. Also, install smoke detectors and heat sensors included with your ADT security equipment or other home alarm systems to alert you in case of an emergency.

Rest easy at night with the peace of mind that an ADT home alarm system can provide. But don’t forget these simple safety measures to help keep you safe when it’s time to go to bed.

1. Flame-resistant mattress: Check the fire safety label on any mattress before you buy it and make sure that it says it’s flame-retardant.
2. Flashlights: Stash flashlights in your bedside table to use during a power outage. And remember that in the event of a power outage, your ADT equipment includes a back-up battery that will keep the system operating during the outage.
3. Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors: Routinely confirm that the detectors and batteries inside are in working order.