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Category: Homeowner Tips
How to Have A Safe Halloween
Halloween is one of the nights of the year that children anticipate most — and with so much at stake, it’s easy to understand why. After all, when else do kids get to dress up as their favorite character, stockpile loads of candy, and venture past their bedtime?
Halloween Safety Checklist
As parents, you want your children to enjoy a ghoulie night of fun, but not at the expense of risking their safety. Fear not — we’ve put together the ultimate checklist for keeping tots, teens and everyone in between, safe on Halloween.
1. Remove tripping hazards
Halloween-goers are much too busy tallying up their candy to focus their attention on where they’re walking, so be sure to examine your lawn for potential hazards. Be sure your yard is free of tripping hazards like garden tools and sprinklers. If your home has a lawn watering system, be sure to turn it off a few days prior to the big night to prevent your lawn from being wet.
2. Avoid using candles
Festive lights make your home bright and friendly to treat-a-treaters but using candles to brighten a pumpkin can be unsafe. Costumes and paper can easily ignite if they come into close contact with an open flame. Instead of traditional candles, opt for artificial ones that are powered by batteries.
3. Consider candy choices
Buying candy is almost as fun as eating the leftovers, but keep in mind that not all candy is suitable for every child. Avoid sweets that pose a choking threat for toddlers and avoid treats that might trigger peanut allergies. Even if the candy doesn’t contain peanuts, it could be made in a facility that handles peanuts, so be sure to check product labels for any potential allergy warnings.
4. Turn on the lights
A vaguely lit entryway helps set the mysterious mood of Halloween, but it also raises the chance of an accident. Verify that theexterior lightsof your home are working and consider turning on floodlights to brighten the darkest areas of your yard.
Even if you’re not going to be home, leave on lights for safety reasons or make sure your motion sensor lights are active to deter unwanted visitors from vandalizing your home. And, if you won’t be there, make sure to arm yoursecurity system, just to be on the safe side.
5. Don’t put out candy
Perhaps you won’t be home on Halloween or maybe it’s challenging for you to answer the door, so you’ve put out a bowl of candy for treat-a-treaters to assist themselves. Understandably, this seems like a kind thing to do but someone could taint the candy. It’s probably unlikely, but it’s certainly not worth taking the gamble.
6. Make room in the garage
Statistics show that children are four times more likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. As such, parking your car and trick or treating on foot is a good idea.
7. Use discretion when opening the door
Finally, while nearly all trick-or-treaters are innocent kids out to collect as much candy as they can possibly carry, you must still be cautious of opening your door during the night. If you have an uneasy feeling about the person on the other side of your door, listen to your instinct and don’t open it. And as the flow of trick-or-treaters dwindles to just a few here and there, it’s a good idea to stop opening the door for the night.
Halloween is celebrated as a frightening holiday, but that doesn’t mean it should be dangerous. Consider our tips and advice to keep trick-or-treaters and your family safe while enjoying a night of Halloween fun.
Georgia Outdoor Open Fire Restrictions
As of May 1, you cannot openly burn debris in the state of Georgia.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division enforces a 54-county burn ban from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year in order to prevent air pollution.
Limiting Ozone Production
According to EPD, Ozone, a greenhouse gas that can cause respiratory irritation, can be formed by the pollutants produced by open burning. Ozone is already at increased levels in Georgia during the summer, and the burn ban is intended to prevent more from being produced.
A major source of these pollutants is the burning of fuels and other combustible materials. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas must be restricted during the summer months. Beginning May 1st and ending September 30th, EPD’s Open Burning Ban will be enforced in 54 Georgia counties.
Details of the Ban
Grills and campfires are not prohibited by the ban, so your summer cookouts and camping trips are not restricted. Agricultural burning, firefighting training, and operating “open flame equipment” are also permissible.
The ban will be lifted on October 1, at which point, all other outdoor burning is allowed throughout the state of Georgia.
Autumn Home Safety Checklist
As autumn approaches and winter draws near, the days begin to grow shorter making it the perfect time to re-evaluate your home security systems. Are there any aspects of your home security you need to tweak or change in order to keep potential burglars at bay? If soo, what do you need to do to ensure your home is safe?
Check All Points of Entry & Security Equipment
Check Your Windows and Doors – Make sure to check all windows and doors to ensure all locks are working. Think about whether you need any additional security measures such as safety restrictors for certain areas of the home.
Are Home Security Systems Working – Whether alarms to signal unlawful entry or door intercom systems to see and hear who is entering your home, verifying all home systems are working and up to date is an important part of your checklist.
Lock-up Outdoor Areas – If you have a garage, standalone structure, or gates to the side or exterior of your home, ensure that all padlocks are in working order. If necessary, upgrade your home by investing in additional locks if you don’t already have them.
For more information about home security tips for this winter, speak to one of our experts at EMC Security.
Why You Should Start a Neighborhood Watch
An estimated 1,579,527 burglaries occurred in the United States in 2018, but only 216,010 of those intruders were arrested — that’s just 13.67%.
Establishing a neighborhood watch program is an easy and effective way to keep your community secure.
Consider the following benefits.
1. Fight Crime for a Safer Community
The most obvious reason to organize a neighborhood watch program is to prevent crime. Groups that meet regularly and communicate efficiently are the most effective at reducing community incidents.
To get the most out of your group:
- Gather interested neighbors and define a group goal.
- Talk with the local police department to better understand common crimes, warning signs and best practices for action.
- Schedule regular gatherings so residents can get to know one another and decide on upcoming program strategies.
- Customize action plans based on the specific needs of your neighborhood. Unique activities may include, but are not limited to, forming citizen patrols to support local police officers, offering crime prevention training, applying a phone or email list in case of emergency, offering victim support services and/or assessing homes for vulnerabilities.
- Establish a reliable communication channel to keep all members informed. This could be a newsletter, website or Facebook group.
- Assign a block captain for every 10-15 houses to gather and distribute information between neighbors in their assigned area.
- Look for openings to educate residents on suspicious activity and how to alert the group or authorities appropriately.
- Advertise your program. Put up signs to warn criminals and encourage neighbors to join.
2. Create a Broad Sense of Awareness
Another benefit of a neighborhood watch program is a more connected community. Alert neighbors can stop crime and keep residents safe—while making the neighborhood a more welcoming environment.
Here’s how you can do your part:
- Contact law enforcement if you see someone in trouble, or illegal, suspicious or unusual activity. It’s important to be precise in your observations.
- Learn your neighbors’ schedules. Many have jobs that require them to be away from their homes for hours during the day. Single-home dwellings are more likely to be targeted during the day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you notice something that seems suspicious, discuss it with your neighbor or ask questions.
- Share concerns openly with your neighbors; if possible, work together to find a solution.
- If a neighbor will be out of town, offer to collect mail, mow a lawn or shovel the sidewalk while they are away.
3. Spotlight Other Important Issues
Neighborhood watch programs can also provide a platform to consider other vital matters like animal control issues or vehicle safety concerns. Use your group as an avenue to survey thoughts and ideas related to broad community issues, and labor as a team to resolve them.
Whether it’s a neighborhood beautification project or winter emergency planning, the possibilities for your group to support one another are endless.
The Gone in 60 Seconds EMC Security Checklist
Let the Countdown Begin
With all the hustle and bustle of getting up and out on a weekday morning, it can be difficult to remember the kids’ lunches, let alone securing your home against unwanted visitors in your absence. With the clock ticking, it can be easy to make a dash for the car without so much as securing the front door in the midst of your haste! Needless to say, it only takes a moment of forgetfulness on your part for thieves to leverage this opportunity to their advantage.
Fortunately, EMC Security realizes that for many of us, time is as precious as home security and has thus devised this clever sixty-second checklist, meaning we don’t have to sacrifice security at the risk of running late!
T-Minus 60 seconds…
A window of opportunity – You would never leave your front door wide open so why the double standards for windows? An open window is an open invitation for would-be-burglars to access your home. Even windows located on upper levels of your home offer an opportunity for determined intruders to break in.
Take a moment to go around the house and shut tight any windows that might have escaped your attention, including conservatories and bathrooms.
T-Minus 40 seconds…
Ring the alarm – Did you know that only half of the homeowners with a burglar alarm actually activate it when they leave the house? If you’re a guilty party to this statistic, now is the time to recognize it and change! It only takes a moment to arm your home security system, which could potentially save weeks of stress and anxiety following a break-in.
T-Minus 30 seconds…
Secure the doors – Locking the front door is the most obvious form of protection against home invasions, yet 42% of people admit to routinely leaving their door unlocked, even when no one is home! It’s important to invest in high-quality locks or smart locks for true peace of mind.
T-Minus 20 seconds…
Spotlight on security – Ensuring proper function of your external security lights is paramount, as they play a major role in helping keep your home secure. Take a moment to test yours out as you leave the house; if the batteries need changing, add a note to your shopping list for that day.
T-Minus 10 seconds…
The last walkthrough – Before you jump in the car, make a habit of glancing up at your house as a whole. Lend a keen eye to any elements that might signal potential weakness to burglars and jot them down.
By keeping a physical list of items that require attention, it’s much more likely that you’ll get to them when you have a bit more time!
The New Georgia School Bus Law
Maintaining Safety around Georgia School Buses
With many kids heading back to school, it’s a good time for a reminder of an important new law in Georgia outlining when drivers are required to stop for a school bus. According to lawmakers and school officials, this law – that went into effect in February – helps protect students by fixing an error in the previous law that allowed drivers on some highways to continue driving even when a school bus was stopped.
It’s important for people to realize how dangerous it can be at bus stops, which is why drivers have a responsibility to make sure students can leave those bus stops safely.
According to the new law, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped on a road with its lights on and sign out. This applies to two-lane roads, four-lane roads, and roads with a turning lane. The only time you do not have to stop is if there is a median in the road, separating you and the bus. These sections of roadway are usually divided by a grassy area, a paved area, or a concrete wall.
Penalties for Breaking the Law
If you are caught passing a school bus that is stopped, you could be fined up to $1,000 and risk getting six points on your driver’s license. As such, remember, if you see a school bus stopping and the red lights are on, you need to stop unless it’s a road with a median.
According to a school official, bus drivers try to avoid bus stops where students have to cross the street, but it does still happen and sometimes students cross when they aren’t supposed to.
Sometimes, it’s possible that a child might get confused, and not having traffic stopped in all directions could be catastrophic, which is why it’s important that drivers educate themselves on the new law and the cautions that come with driving on the roadways during the school season.
Did you know that EMC Security protects more kids and staff at school in Georgia than any other company? That’s over 358,000 students and staff! Learn how we can keep you and your family safe at home too.
What Burglars Are Looking For In Your Home
Most burglars tend to avoid the challenge of intruding a home that is protected while opting for homes with weaker security.
Nevertheless, once a burglar has gained access to your home, there are a few specific things that they are looking to steal. Here we take a look at what you need to consider as a homeowner or tenant, and how to counteract becoming a victim.
Unlocked Entry Points
When sizing up a property, most burglars are looking for the easiest way to get inside without being detected. Unsecured windows and doors act as open invitations for thieves to enter your home and increase the likelihood of a successful burglary.
Valuables in the Bedroom
Seasoned burglars are well are of the fact that most valuables are stored (or hidden) in the bedroom, and it is the first place that a thief will look for things like jewelry, small electronics, or potentially, sentimental items. And while a burglar won’t waste time trying to figure out the combination to your safe, they will take it with them if it’s small and not secured to the floor or wall, so don’t assume that your valuables are secure just because you’ve locked them away.
Cash Lying Around
Home intruders are looking for easy items to steal items with the highest cash value, allowing them to get in and out quickly. Cash and jewelry are the two things that are most likely to be taken first.
The main thing that will scare away a burglar is a solid home security system. If they gain entry and an alarm sounds it is more likely than not that they will leave immediately. For others, a home that has visible alarm systems, and intercom capabilities at the front door, is less likely to be targeted as the owners have taken their home security seriously.
If you would like to bolster your home security give EMC Security a call today and we can help put together a plan for your home.
Security Benefits of Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lights make for an easy crime deterrent throughout the night.
While motion-sensing lights are by far the best option, simply leaving a porch light on along with the back door or side door lights work very well.
Automatic lights can detect any certain movement in its range, which is a cost-effective way to add security and convenience to your home. Here are a few ways motion-sensor lights can benefit your home:
Light outdoor walkways
Something as simple as taking out the trash can turn into a dangerous expedition without enough light at night. It’s easy to get your foot tangled in a garden hose or to miss a step from your porch. However, these problems are eliminated when you have extra light to help you see where you’re going.
Motion-sensor lights will come on and give you a clear path around your home to take the dog out, run to the garage or to get something from your car in the driveway. There’s no need to shuffle around your porch and outdoor walkway at night when motion-light sensors will simply turn on the second they know you’re outside.
Brighten dark driveways
Another benefit of having motion detected outdoor lighting is always come home to a well-lit house. Arriving home in darkness makes it hard to find your way without fumbling your way inside. Motion-sensor lights can turn on the second your car gets in the driveway, so you have a safe and hassle-free walk from your vehicle to your front door.
Additionally, having exterior lighting can also help you see packages left on your doorstep or mail inside of your mailbox.
Save money and energy
With motion-sensor LED security lights, you immediately save money with LED light bulbs, which last much longer than standard bulbs. LED lights are also extremely efficient, which means you will use less energy by keeping lights on only for a short period of time, instead of leaving them on all night. Using motion sensor lighting can save you up to 60 percent on your energy costs.
Keep home intruders at bay
Excess lighting surrounding your home could help you keep burglars away from your home at night. With motion-tracking LED security spotlights, light sensors work with a 240-degree field of view, which will track anything moving in a much larger area.
Lights have always been one of the best ways to prevent burglaries. According to historical stats, most burglaries occur when thieves believe homeowners not at home. Motion-sensor lights help give the illusion that someone is home and might have spotted criminals in the act. This could keep would-be burglars from perusing around your home at night as well.
Deter unwanted & potentially dangerous animals
A lot of residents in rural areas see their fair share of nighttime critters plunging around their property at night. Raccoons, deer, opossum, foxes and even bears can all get into your property if you don’t take right precautionary measures. As such, using motion-sensor lights will trigger when the animal gets close to your home in search of food or shelter, which could keep animals away from your home at night.
How to Think Like a Burglar
Most people are respectable law-abiding citizens and tend not to have criminal minds.
However, as a homeowner, sometimes it helps to tap into your dark side to create a mental checklist of things to fall back on to deter those who make a living conjuring up ways to burglarize homes.
Adopting the mindset of a burglar might just save you from becoming a would-be victim.
Difficulty Is Key
Like most things in life people will often choose the easiest route to achieve their goals, this is especially true for burglars. Having an overall picture of your current home security setup and what you need to improve upon can go a long way in helping you avoid problems.
Things to Consider
- Survey your property for trees, shrubs or any other items that might potentially obscure the view of any suspicious activity. A burglar could you hide behind any nearby trees or bushes, making their efforts to invade your home unnoticeable and easier.
- Consider installing security lights. Burglars seek out empty properties so having motion sensor security lights will make them think twice about breaking into your home – especially at night.
- Walk around your house. Check all the entry points to your property and assess the potential dangers. Do you have glass in your doors? Does your back door need a high-security lock? Do your patio doors require a padlock?
- If you were a burglar and you saw a home with an alarm system would you still attempt to burglarize it? Burglars use their eyes and common sense when selecting potential victims. Security cameras have been shown to be the number one deterrent to home invasions.
- Does your home look appealing from the outside? In other words, do your doors and windows look like they can be easily forced. Check your door handles and locks to see if they have become weak over time. Add extra window locks or restrictors to deter opportunistic burglars.
- Burglars are attracted by expensive items that are left on display. Make sure you leave your laptops, jewelry, and money out of view of your front windows and patio doors.
Security Tips for Travelers
Ask any business professional and they’ll tell you, the world has grown in ways that demand professional services all over the world, which is why a growing number of people work away from home, and even those who don’t will often travel on a regular basis.
How to Keep Your Home Safe
As a result, one of the problems for professionals who frequently travel for work is finding a reliable way to ensure that their home is safe while they are away. With the number of burglaries and home invasions on the rise, you want to ensure that you are not one of those statistics.
Here are some security tips to make your home as secure as possible.
EMC Security Pre-Travel Checklist
- Tidy up the exterior of your house including mowing the lawn. Overgrown grass, unmoved rubbish and dormant toys/tools make a house look unoccupied. If you plan on traveling long enough for the grass to get overgrown, arrange with a trusted adult to mow your lawn.
- Don’t leave your car outside.
- Put your snail mail and any paper delivery on vacation hold.
- Give spare keys to a trusted adult. This person should also know the “safe” word for your security system should they be in contact with the monitoring center.
- Hopefully you have a reliable neighbor who will promptly remove any flyers in your door or on the knob.
- Here’s something you probably never thought of: A burglar casing your street on trash pickup day may notice the one house whose trash cans aren’t at the curb. Hmmm…maybe those people are away on vacation? So have a neighbor bring your trash cans out on trash day—with trash in them—and then bring them back in.
- Set up an automatic timed lighting system. Open curtains or shades enough to reveal this to anyone passing by, but not enough for someone to be able to see your valuables through your windows.
- And don’t forget to arm your alarm system before you embark on your trip.
Need a security system? Give EMC Security a call at 770.963.0305 or check out our website on how to customize the best home security system for your needs today.