After two years of limited travel and a long winter, summer's arrived, and you're ready to start traveling again. While people are beginning to get out more, we're still spending a lot more time at home. Now is an excellent time to make sure you're doing everything possible to live safely and healthily at home.
In this little guide, we're going to tackle three main areas of concern:
We hope you find this guide helpful in establishing your new home safety routine or as a quick checklist to catch what your current routine is missing.
Maintaining a good home environment isn't just about protecting your investment. It's also about protecting your family. Make sure you establish a home maintenance routine and stick with it.
The summer months are when many of us get excited about entertaining in the backyard. Taking care to establish good habits and prevention techniques can help you get the most enjoyment from your gatherings.
According to NFPA research, an estimated 10 deaths, 160 injuries, and $149 million in property damage occurred each year between 2014-2018 due to fire calls involving grill fires. NFPA research's findings discovered that an average of 19,700 people per year during this same time period went to hospital emergency rooms to treat injuries caused by grills.
Whether you cook outdoors with a BBQ grill, smoker, open fire pit, outdoor oven, hibachi, or another variety of grill, some basic safety tips will help keep everyone safe.
If you missed walking your yard and catching the danger spots as the snow cleared away in spring, it's something we recommend you do now. After the winter months and after each summer storm passes through, you should walk your yard to gather any wood, debris, rocks, and other materials.
Watch for any soft spots and holes as you mow. If you don't have an enclosed yard, neighborhood children will likely run through it. Fill in any holes you find.
Do you keep playground equipment in the yard that your children and other children use? Check the play area for safety hazards and fix them.
Check for any sources of standing water in your yard. Fill in puddles created by displaced ground. Investigate the cause to make sure you haven't discovered another hazard at the same time.
If any buckets or other containers are holding water, make sure you dump them and place them away so they won't retain water again. If you maintain rainwater buckets, make sure they use an enclosed design.
Clogged gutters and downspouts can attract mosquitos. Make sure they're cleaned out.
Check for tree branches that are about to fall off and get them cut down before they drop onto someone. Look for overhanging branches over your roof, the children's play area, or the entertainment area. Cut down any that pose a risk of falling or catching fire from your outdoor activities.
Chilling out in the cool evening around a good bonfire and roasting marshmallows can be fun. Here are a few guidelines to make sure you're providing a safe environment for everyone.
Take measures to keep your home safe and secure while you're away on vacation or just out for the day with these simple tips. The peace of mind will help you enjoy your holidays to the fullest and not worry every time you walk out the door.
When possible, close down and put laptops you leave behind away and out of sight. Don't leave loose money, wallets, billfolds, keys, and other items that may attract attention from someone peeking in your windows.
Home alarms are a great deterrent to break-ins. They'll alert your neighbors about any intruders, and often they can be set to call the police for you when you're away on vacation. In some cases, you can access them remotely to see what's going on and disable them if needed.
Before leaving for the day or on vacation, ensure every door and window in your house is locked up tight. If you have a home alarm system that monitors the locks, do a safety run before leaving to ensure it's working properly.
Let your neighbors know you'll be gone and ask them to keep watch. If you have a home alarm system installed, give them instructions on whether to call you or the police directly when it goes off.
Create an emergency number list and give it to your neighbor. Keep the list on your phone in case you need to contact someone to handle a situation while you're away too.
If you have pets, your pet sitter can keep an eye on your house while tending to them. If you do not, make arrangements for someone to take care of your garbage bin, mail, or just to keep an eye out by taking a walk through your home once a day.
Making your home appear lived in and active is a powerful way to discourage break-ins while you're gone. You can set timers that turn lights on and off at various times. Make sure you cancel any deliveries, so they don't stack up while you're gone and ruin the illusion you create.
At least not right away. Wait until you get home to tell everyone what a wonderful trip you had and show off those pictures. You may inadvertently make your home a target.
Enjoy a safe and happy home environment by thinking ahead. Giving yourself peace of mind that you have everything covered while you're home, away at work, out for a night on the town, or on that much-needed vacation is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your family.