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There are many advantages to living alone, one of the most noticeable is that you have your own space and freedom to live the way you want.

Despite the benefits, living alone also comes with concerns related to your personal safety and the security of your house. As a result, you may be wondering how to stay safe when living alone, which is why we’ve put together a checklist to help you learn the dos and don’ts of living alone.

1. Get a Security System

Security systems are no longer reserved for upscale suburban homes. EMC Security offers affordable, budget-friendly security systems that are perfect for homes, apartments, and condominiums. Homeowners who select a wireless system don’t have to drill holes in their walls. Additionally, wireless home security systems are extremely easy to install, and when you are ready to move, you can take your system with you.

2. Get to Know Your Neighbors

When you live alone, getting to know your neighbors could be a very good idea, so listen to your gut and introduce yourself to those who seem trustworthy. Establishing a relationship with elderly couples and other women who live alone may be a good start. It’s not necessary that you become best friends but having a neighbor to turn to, whether it is to borrow milk or to ask for help during a crisis, will go a long way toward helping you feel comfortable living alone, which is why it’s important to make an effort to be friendly for the sake of safety. Ultimately, your neighbors may be your best asset in times of need and will be more willing to assist a friend than they are to help out a total stranger.

3. Get Key Smart

If you lose a key or it goes missing, it may be a good idea to call a locksmith to switch your locks, and depending on where you can last remember having them, it may be absolutely necessary to change your locks. For example, the last place you remember having your keys is a public place, the risk that they could be found by a stranger is high, therefore the greater precautions you should take with your locks. Changing the locks is preferable in situations like these rather than simply rekeying the existing lock.

4. Create an Exit Strategy

If an emergency occurs, such as a fire, a home invasion, or a natural disaster, it’s important to have an exit plan. If you are forced to be out of your home for a few days, know whom you can stay with until you can return home. Include your friends in the plan, so they will be ready to support you when needed.

5. Stay Offline

Announcing your adventures while on your dream vacation can be tempting but it’s usually not a good idea to share such info online. “Don’t help draw attention to the fact that you’re out of town, live alone, or that you’re going out for the evening because you never know who might see it.

6. Think Like an Intruder

One way to feel safer when living alone is to try to adopt the mindset of a thief. Take a walk around your home and check doors, peer into windows, and see if there are areas where you can improve security to make your home less appealing to intruders. Remove any shrubs or large objects that might make for great hiding places for any would-be burglars. Does anything stand out to you that would make it easy for thieves to want to target your home? Can you see high-value items, such as computers or televisions in the window from the street?

Following these steps can help you identify and correct problems related to your home that could make you an easy target.

7. Turn on the Lights

Few things that deter intruders the way lights do. Motion-sensor lights are low-cost and work well to shine a spotlight on would-be burglars or other intruders. By installing a few near your home’s entrances, you can add another line of defense to your place without spending a lot of time and money.

You can also use apps and smart devices to create a schedule for your home’s interior lights to turn off and on. Whether you’re planning to be away for a few days or are nervous at night, setting your lights to a timer makes it look like someone is home and awake.

8. Install a Doorbell Camera

Most home invasions occur during the daytime but a smart doorbell can help create the illusion that you’re at home even when you’re away. These modern home security devices are usually simple to install and very affordable. Most smart doorbells offer live video streaming, remote viewing apps, and two-way communication that lets you view and speak to whoever is at your door. These features provide an extra layer of security against break-ins and also help protect you from a home invasion or other violent home attack. Long gone are the days of having to get up and peer through the peephole — these doorbells allow you to see visitors from wherever you feel safest.

Summary

Living independently has its perks, but it can also put you at risk. Would-be home invaders are always looking for easy targets, and the fewer people that live in a home, the easier it is to get in unnoticed. Living alone can be scary but with the right precautions, you should have nothing to worry about. Trust your instincts and use your common sense. If you don’t feel comfortable or fear you might be in danger, get help!

Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, accounting for almost half of all US home fires…

According to the latest U.S. Home Cooking Fires report, American households are three times more likely to experience cooking-related fires as compared to any other day of the year. The study, which was recently released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), shows that there were more than 1,600 reported home cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2019, reflecting a 238 percent increase over the daily average. Unattended cooking was the leading cause of these fires.

“With people preparing multiple dishes, often with lots of guests and other distractions in and around the kitchen, it’s easy to see why the number of home cooking fires increases so dramatically,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Fortunately, the vast majority of cooking fires are highly preventable with a little added awareness, and by taking simple steps to minimize those risks.”

Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, accounting for almost half of all US home fires (49 percent) and reported home fire injuries (45 percent). Cooking is the second-leading cause of home fire deaths, accounting for 22 percent of all fire deaths.

Follow these tips and recommendations for a safe Thanksgiving:

• Never leave your kitchen unattended while cooking on the stovetop, especially while frying or sautéing with oil.
• If you plan to cook a turkey, stay in your home and make routine checks.
• Use kitchen timers to keep track of cooking times, especially for foods that require longer cook times.
• Avoid keeping things that can catch fire like oven mitts,oven towels, and wooden utensils a minimum of three feet away from the cooking area.
• Refrain from wearing long sleeves and hanging fabrics that could inadvertently make contact with a heat source.
• Be sure to cook with a lid next to your pan. In the event of a fire, place the lid over the pan and turn off the stove. Removing the cover might allow the fire to start again, so let the pan cool for a long time before doing so. Additionally, never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.
• For oven fires, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out. If you have any uncertainties or concerns, be sure to contact the fire department for assistance.
• Keep children a minimum of three feet away from the stove.
• Invest in a smoke detector and make sure your home security provider monitors your home for fire-related activity.

Following these steps will help minimize the risk of kitchen fires and keep you and your family safe.

Christmas should be about enjoying time with your family, opening gifts, and watching holiday movies, not worrying about the safety and security of your home while you are away!

Here are 6 tips to make sure your home stays safe while you are traveling this Christmas.

1. Put your mail on hold.

The sight of stacks of mail sitting on your front porch and driveway is a major indicator to burglars that you are away from home. If you don’t want to put your mail on hold, see if a neighbor can collect it for you while you are out of town. Following these simple steps can keep your home safe by taking away this obvious signal that your home is vacant.

2. Install a home security system.

Knowing that your home is being monitored 24 hours a day by security can relieve a lot of your concerns. You can rest assured that your home and belongings are safe by using smart technology that offers mobile access for you to check your home while you are away. EMC Security offers security systems for every budget, whether you are protecting your first apartment or your luxury dream home.

3. Set your lights to turn on with timers.

A dark house can show others that your house is vacant. Setting some of your lights on timers to go on and off throughout the night is a great way to avoid the appearance that you are away from your home.

4. Be careful with social media.

As fun as it is to share your holiday celebration on Facebook and Instagram, don’t divulge too many details about your travel plans. Social media can be dangerous, even when your privacy settings are turned on. Once you post information, it’s out there and impossible to control or prevent others from sharing your post.

5. Turn the ringer down.

If you have a home phone, make sure that you turn the volume of the ringer down or off altogether. Then nobody outside will be able to hear the phone ringing repeatedly and going unanswered, tipping them off that you are not at home.

6. Lock up.

Making sure that your doors and windows are locked seems obvious but you’d be surprised at how many home invasions occur due to houses being left unsecured.

At EMC Security, we know how important it is to keep your family and the home you’ve worked so hard to build secure, so we are committed to serving homes in Georgia to keep you safe!

According to the FBI, the average financial loss from a burglary is more than $2,000

Despite taking every precaution, some homeowners unwittingly attract burglars to their property. Here’s how.

Your home is dark

Criminals steer clear of a well-illuminated house. Leave on porch lights to discourage burglars from approaching entry doors, and install bright motion-detector lights around your home’s perimeter to dissuade them from searching for an open window.

No cars in driveway

Criminals prefer breaking into vacant houses, so empty driveways are an open invitation for a robbery. Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway when you go on vacation—especially if you’ll be gone for more than a few days.

Unlocked windows

After checking the front door, thieves often check for unlocked windows, which serve as an easy entry point. Before you leave the house and before you go to bed, close and lock all windows on the ground floor as well as second-floor windows that could be relatively easily accessed. Also, close the drapes so would-be intruders can’t scope out the contents of your interior, as any expensive object in plain sight may tempt them.

Unkempt Yard

An overgrown lawn and poorly maintained landscaping indicate that residents may be away on an extended vacation. Additionally, overgrown bushes can offer protective cover for intruders as they break into your home.

Oversharing

Criminals scour social media for future targets. Posting your travel plans on Facebook or Instagram is akin to putting a big sign in your front yard announcing that you’ll be gone.

Stuffing the mail box

Ask a neighbor or friend to stop by your home daily to pick up mail, newspapers and packages. This type of clutter is a dead giveaway that you’re gone.

Leaving the garage door open

In addition to risking your belongings being taken from your garage, chances of the door to the house being unlocked are pretty good.

No visible security system or cameras

Homes without a security system are 3 times as likely to get broken into. Most burglars surveyed said they’d pass by a home with a visible security camera as well. Security systems are very affordable from just $179 – check out EMC Security’s options here.