This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Why Home Safety is Important
As we look upon the new year, and new decade, keeping your home safe should be a top priority for everyone. There are many New Year’s resolutions we make about our personal wellbeing, like eating better and exercising more, but does anyone take the time to think about our personal safety?
I know I certainly haven’t always had it top of mind. But with several police officers and firefighters in my family, I hear stories all the time that really make me think about being better prepared for an emergency at home.
The past year on this blog, I spent a lot of time talking about personal development. While personal development doesn’t really encompass how you build your home, per se, I think it does tie in to our emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing, along with our relationships with our loved ones. A clean, safe and productive home is just as important to accomplishing our goals as anything else.
How to Keep Your Home Safe
Just like picking out the right flooring, paint color or bathroom tile, finding the right tools to make your home safe is also very important. Here are some tips to help keep your home safe:
Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your house.
It’s very important to be prepared in case of the unthinkable. If a fire starts in your home or there is a CO gas leak, these alarms can be a matter of life and death. Make sure to check the batteries and test devices at least every six months.
Have a fire extinguisher on every floor of your home.
Fire extinguishers can help put out small fires, especially in high risk areas like the kitchen and laundry room. It’s important to read the directions on the canister, but a tip is to aim the stream at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth.
Develop an emergency escape plan.
In the event a fire or other emergency does occur within your home, it’s important to teach your whole family what to do. This includes calling 9-1-1 immediately, exiting quickly and meeting in a safe location. If you have multiple stories it may also be helpful to invest in a fire escape ladder for each second-story room.
Practice fire prevention.
This might sound like common sense, but never leave the stove or oven unattended. If you like to light candles, be sure to trim back the wick and only light candles in the room you are in. Always clean out the dryer lint trap in your dryer. And lastly, be sure to monitor outlets and plugs and look out for any exposed wires.
Keep doors and windows locked.
I think it’s important to remember that you can never be too safe. Even if you live in a quiet neighborhood, keep your doors and windows locked, especially at night and when you are gone for extended periods.
Keep a few lights on a timer.
Burglars are known to watch houses in order to learn when you’re home or not. If you automate lighting throughout your home, it makes it harder for hawkers to detect when you’re away. A simple timer can easily turn on/off lights throughout the day to make it appear that you’re always around.
Be mindful on social media.
We all like to post about our upcoming trips and show off photos of our latest adventures. Always be mindful of who might be watching your posts to track when you’re home or not. Avoid posting arrival and departure dates to discourage unwanted intruders when you’re not home.
Ask a family member or neighbor to check in.
When you’re away, it’s always good to have someone you trust to watch over things. It doesn’t need to be an overnight house sitter, but ask someone you trust to take in your mail and newspapers and to check on the house a few times.
Final Thoughts
Just like we work on our personal wellbeing, it’s important to make sure our surroundings are safe as well. By taking a few precautions now, you can ensure your home and family are safe.
While these tips are great to get started, there’s also an option to invest in a professionally installed and monitored fire and security system. If you live in New Jersey, one such company is Alpha Fire and Security Systems. This company provides innovative and high quality products and services for both residential and commercial customers, including installing, upgrading, inspecting and servicing fire and alarm systems.
Taking steps today can help prevent emergencies or save a life if the unthinkable happens. Don’t put you or your family’s safety at risk. Follow these simple tips to help you keep your home safe.
What steps have you taken to keep your home safe? Let me know in the comments!
These are very insightful suggestions – it was a reminder to myself that I need to get a fire extinguisher!
Awesome! Glad it was helpful 🙂
Great article on home safety tips. I want to ensure the home is safe while I’m and while I’m away.