Home Defense Guide

What is the best Home Security Company?

February 7, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Why Should You Get A Home Security System?

The FBI reports that over 2 million homes were burglarized in the year 2011.
Approximately 6,000 households are burglarized EVERY DAY.
The average burglary results in the loss of over $2,000 to the homeowner.
The FBI states that homes with home security systems are less likely to be burglarized.

Company Name	Protect America	LifeShield	ADT	FrontPoint	Vivint
Visit Webite Here
Telephone Number
Quick Review	Low Cost, High Value	Innovative Equipment	100+ Years In Business	GE Certified	Energy Efficient
Years of Experience	21	9	139	8	16
Security Quote	No Charge	No Charge	No Charge	No Charge	No Charge
Sensors: Door/Window	3 - 15 Depending On Package	3	3	2	3
Sensors: Motion	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages
Sensors: Smoke and/or Heat	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages
Sensors: Carbon Monoxide	Available	Available	Available	Comes W/ Ultimate Package	Comes W/ Packages
Sensors: Flood	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available
Sensors: Freeze	Available	Available	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Available
Sensors: Garage Door	Available	Available	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Available
Accessory: Key Fob	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Available	Comes W/ Packages	Comes W/ Packages
Equipment: Video Cameras	Available	Comes W/ Platinum Package	Available	Comes W/ Ultimate Package	Available
Wireless Systems Available	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Install Options	DIY Install	DIY or Pro Install	Pro Install	DIY Install	DIY or Pro Install
Money Back Guarantee	7 Days	30 Days	6 Months	30 Days	N/A
Fees: Monthly	$23.99 - $42.99	$29.99 - $44.98	$35.99 - $42.99	$34.99 - $49.99	$49.99 - $68.99
Fees: Install	N/A	$0 - $99	$99 - $198	N/A	$0 - $199
Duration of Contract	36 Months	39 - 63 Months	36 Months	36 Months	42 Months
Telephone Number
Company Name	Protect America	LifeShield	ADT	FrontPoint	Vivint

Home Security Systems: A Little History

The first home security system was invented in 1966 by Marie Van Brittan Brown. Marie is a renowned African American inventor. Her invention of the first security system involved a camera that would record its surroundings through holes made for it to look through. A monitor designated for the camera would capture and display its findings on the screen.

Needless to say, her invention of the first home security system was a tremendous success. Since that time, home security systems have become significantly more technologically advanced and proficient. In this day and age, having a home security system that you can count on is imperative for the safety of your household.

How a Home Invasion Can Affect You

Making the decision to invest in security systems is a big step in the right direction. Too many times have we heard about people attempting to protect themselves in their homes via firearms, baseball bats, or another source of so-called home protection.

More often than not the end results are disastrous, the person trying to protect the household ends up injuring or killing the wrong person, or gets themselves killed.
The risk taking is purely unnecessary when it comes down to protecting yourself and those closest to you.

It is not enough to just own a home security system; you must know how to operate it to ensure adequate results.

The most efficient security systems are those that are connected to monitoring services.
Thousands of lives have been spared thanks to these systems.
Installing one of these top-quality home security systems in your home is not just necessary in case of a break-in.
They are also necessary in case you or someone in your home become impaired and are unable to call for help on their own.
Home security systems that are connected to monitoring services are made up of several components that work together as a team.
These components include sensors that either you or a professional will install in different places around the entirety of the home in question.
The majority of the sensors will be placed near the ceiling area of the rooms, as well as in more sensitive areas where not a lot of time is spent.
Those areas include the garage, screened-in porches and patios, and storage areas.
All the sensors are placed somewhat discreetly so as not to be obvious to a burglar, or disturb visitors and family in the home.
Considering all options for the safest placements of the sensors is imperative for the best results possible.

How Home Security Systems Work

Information About Sensors

Each sensor is designed to detect a certain hazard, for instance, one sensor will be designed to detect smoke or fire, another will detect the breaking of glass, yet another will detect motion, and another will detect garage door movement. There are also sensors that are designed to detect carbon monoxide, flooding, and will even give out freeze alerts.

If any of the sensors are triggered, the control panel, or the in-home command center for your system, is then notified and will let indicate which sensor went off and why.
The job of the owner is to either reset the control panel after investigating the issue, or calling the authorities.
The control panel itself will notify the designated monitoring service and they will do the same in contacting both the owner and emergency personnel to ensure that quick and efficient steps are taken to resolve the issue.

Monitoring Services

The reason behind the instant alerting of the monitoring service should a sensor be triggered is for the safety of the household.

Although alarms that go off will generally be enough to make an intruder walk away, sometimes that is not the case.
It is crucial that your home security system be connected to a monitoring service.
The monthly cost for these services is well worth the peace of mind and added safety you will experience.

Equipment Concerns

If you own a larger home, or a home that has a lot of potential for attackers to hide in its nooks and crannies undetected, you should invest in a home security system that has surveillance cameras as well.
Even the mere presence of a security camera will put a burglar on edge, and possibly deter them from your home after deciding the risk is too great.
Installation of security cameras should only be installed by a trained professional, as they can plan the best areas around the home to maintain surveillance at all times.

Some Closing Remarks

Those days of constant worry over the safety of your family would be greatly decreased once you make the decision to install a high-quality home security system and put it to good use.

No more worries about someone breaking and entering into your home while you and your family are off on a vacation.
Peace of mind is far more likely should you be called away on business somewhere that you could not easily reach your family.
Elderly and disabled residents will have an aide they can count on if there is an emergency and they are unable to call for help.

Home security systems are the new body guards for families all around the world. Everyone should take advantage of owning one. Taking the proper steps to ensure the safety of you and those around you is guaranteed to be an investment that is worth it.

Filed Under: Home Security

Child-Safety Tips For Parents

January 6, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

Once children learn what it means to be mobile, they never stop moving. They are curious about their environment, and every parent wants to see that delight and awe in the face of their child discovering the world around them. Curious, mobile children are at increased risk of injury, so it is essential that the home is safe.

We do not always see the potential dangers in everyday items until we see it from the perspective of a child. Getting down to their level on the floor can be an eye-opening experience. Electrical wires, sharp edges and tripping hazards are everywhere just waiting to injure an exploring child.

1. Burns

Children have sensitive skin. What might seem moderately warm to us can be scalding hot to a small child. The kitchen and bathroom are two places that are known for their potential safety hazards. Even adults can be injured in the kitchen and bathroom, so it is especially important that mobile, little ones are supervised closely. It is better to keep the home free of anything that could injure a small child.

Bathroom

To reduce the risk of burns from scalding, hot bath water, the water temperature should be reduced at the water heater. The best temperature for the water is 120 degrees.

Kitchen

The kitchen is extremely hazardous because of the various ways a child could get hurt. Pots and pans used during cooking should be kept away from the edges of the stove. It is best to use the back burners. Make sure the handles are turned in towards the stove. Toddlers can pull handles and dump boiling liquids down onto themselves.

Most cleaning products are kept in the kitchen. Chemicals can burn little ones. Put chemicals in high, out of the way spots that children can’t reach.

Rest of the Home

Electrical outlets can create shocks and burns for small children. Use outlet covers, but be sure little hands cannot yank on wires.

Irons and curling irons can get extremely hot. They can give us very painful burns. Imagine what they could do to sensitive baby skin. Space heaters have coils that get so hot that they glow bright orange. Keep these hazards away from children. Use irons and curling irons in a room that roaming toddlers do not have access, and then put them away as soon as possible. Space heaters should not be used in the home at all with an exploring child.

2. Drowning Prevention

When a child starts exploring the home, baby gates should be used to cordon off areas of the home that could be extremely dangerous. It only takes an inch of water and a few unsupervised moments for a child to drown. Babies and toddlers have heads that are heavier than the rest of their bodies, so when they topple over into the water, they cannot easily get up from that position. If parents do not wish to use baby gates, there are toilet safety locks and safety door locks for the bathroom. Parents should never leave a child alone around water especially backyard pools even if the pool has fencing and a locked gate to prevent the child from gaining access.

3. Choking and Suffocation Hazards

The home should be checked frequently for small, hard objects that pose a choking risk to a young child. Marbles, coins and buttons are just a few of the things that could get stuck in a child’s throat and block their airway.

Toddlers should not eat hard candy, raw carrot pieces or grapes. Anything that looks like it could block a child’s throat should not be given to them.

Make sure any toys are age-appropriate. The toys should not have small parts that can break off and choke a small child. When choosing stuffed toys, make sure there are no buttons or eyes that can be swallowed.

Children can suffocate from plastic bags covering their mouths. Remove and immediately discard plastic wrappings from purchases like the film that covers pillows bought from the store. The plastic bags that are used during grocery shopping should be thrown out right away too.

All window blind ties should be kept out of reach of small children since they pose a strangulation risk.

4. Falls

It is inevitable that small children just learning to walk will take a tumble. It is essential to avoid having them tumble onto objects that would cause serious injury. The edges of low tables, the corners of a fireplace and the sharp edge of a display case can cause serious injuries to the soft head of a toddler. It might seem impossible to keep a child completely safe from a fall, but using safety equipment made especially for corners and hard surfaces will save a fall from becoming a serious accident.

At the top and bottom of stairs, baby gates should be used to keep a toddler from gaining access to and falling down the stairs. Falling from that kind of distance is bound to result in a serious trauma.

Parental supervision will go a long way towards keeping a child safe, but it is impossible to keep an exploring child out of the risk of danger unless steps are taken to baby-proof the home before the child starts exploring.

More Resources:

Home Security Info – USASecurity.org

Filed Under: Home Security

Home Defense: Picking the Right Home Security System

September 16, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Installing a home security system is a wise investment. It’ll help protect your family and your possessions while giving you peace of mind. If you’ve done any research at all I’m sure you’ve discovered you have options. A lot of options! … [Continue reading]

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Top Home Defense Tactics

September 5, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Most of us do not even think about the possibility of a home invasion. You should be aware of the fact that the likelihood to have your house broken into is eight times higher than being involved in a home fire, for example. It sounds scary, but it … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Home Security