Monday, December 27, 2010

Alarm Systems - Not Just Warning You of Intruders


An alarm system should provide peace of mind that your home and family are secure. Besides alerting you of possible intruders, your alarm system can and should warn you of other dangers such as fire and gas leaks.
There are several features that your alarm system should provide:
Control Panel – This should be user friendly, simple to activate and deactivate. It should be placed in the house that easily accessible in the event of an emergency, but not noticeable the moment you open the main entrance.
Fire Detection - No matter what alarm system you select, you’ll want an alarm that will successfully warn you if there is a fire in your home. The size of your home is one factor you should consider – smaller spaces can make good use of a single, separate fire alarm system with a stand-alone circuit; larger residences or businesses should select fire alarms with a loop circuit, to make sure all areas are properly monitored.
Wireless smoke alarms are the newest fire prevention tool, and work in a similar, stand alone fashion to battery alarms or as interconnected devices. Interconnected alarms are the most thorough form of protection, as they allow you to hear an alarm from anywhere in your home or work place. Regardless of what area the fire began, all the alarms will sound the alert.
Carbon Monoxide Detection – Because exposure to carbon monoxide is deadly and totally invisible, it is important to have a system that detects carbon monoxide before it reaches a dangerous level.
Sensors – Your system should include sensors at all doors and windows as well as motion sensors. The sensors inform you of the presence of intruders before they break into your home which provides you with advanced warning. All access points on the ground level or basement should be covered; upper floors are important but not as critical.
You should keep in mind location of your sensors. Many owners forget about how easy it is for an intruder to break into the garage attached to the home or the bathroom window. Although alarm systems are a great way to deter home invaders, they are never guaranteed. Arrange for your security company to do home checks especially at times when you will be away or at busier times such as the Christmas holidays.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Shoppers Beware!


During this season, it is easy for us to get carried away with the excitement of holiday shopping. We are so determined to finish the “list”; we become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. I recommend we all take a few prevention measures to help protect our safety and keep the holiday season joyous:
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet if possible. In fact, try to not carry a lot of cash, and instead use a credit or debit card to make purchases.
• Another useful tip is to spread out your Christmas shopping schedule so that you don’t make all your purchases on one day.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps. This can help prevent you from being an easy target.
• Most important, always be aware of your surroundings. When in the shopping centre, always be cautious of those around you and the placement of your purchases and belongings.
• When walking back to your vehicle, make sure you are not being followed.

True, holiday shopping can be both exhilarating and exhausting, take your time and be careful. Have a great Christmas and enjoy the Holiday Season!