Social isolation has rendered a majority of our population homebound. These challenging times can lead to boredom and frustration. The following tips will not only break up the daily monotony but also strengthen the security of your home or business.
Test your alarm
When was the last time you tested your alarm? Call your personal security consultant for assistance or call your central monitoring station. They’ll help you put it to the test. The station instructs you to proceed and then disarm the alarm with your passcode. The system regularly communicates any potential issues to our central monitoring station, but this helps prevent future user errors.
This is also a good time to check smoke detectors. Most people only check them around daylight savings time, but the USFA recommends checking detectors once per month as they could malfunction at any time.
If you do not have monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, now is the time to make the switch. Battery-operated detectors have two major problems. They are rarely connected to other detectors, remote warning devices or a central monitoring station. If they are located outside a bedroom, a sound sleeper may not hear them. Detectors on a lower level have an even further diminished chance of waking up sleeping family members. Another problem with battery-operated detectors is those batteries. When the batteries are not periodically replaced, the detectors do not work. Too many fire deaths occur in homes where detectors fail to function due to dead batteries. For more information, visit Resideo’s guide to monitored detection.
Develop emergency plans
Developing emergency plans during this extended family time will help prepare for crises and potentially save lives.
A monitored fire system can dispatch the fire department, but your family will still need to escape your home. Keeping in mind that a small flame can turn into a major fire in less than a minute, here are a few tips to consider when creating a fire plan:
- Find multiple ways out of the rooms in the event one path is blocked by fire or smoke.
- These paths to escape may include windows. Make sure that the windows can easily be opened, screens can be removed efficiently and that security bars can be opened.
- Practice feeling the way out in the dark or with eyes closed. Reinforce drop and call. People think of fire as bright, but it quickly produces black smoke that is difficult to see through.
- Establish a place for everyone to meet. This should be a safe distance outside your home and familiar to everyone, like a nearby tree, the end of a driveway or a neighbor’s house. This should eliminate the urge to go back into your home to make sure everyone else has evacuated the premises.
- Make sure children know not to hide from firefighters. They should know that firefighters are there to help them in the event of an emergency.
These plans should not be overly complicated and can be presented as a fun activity. The main goal is to get everyone out as fast as possible. For more tips on other emergencies, visit Ready.gov.
Review the call list
Is your call list current? Neighbors move and cellphone numbers change. Contact your local branch office to update the list of people you’d like notified when your alarm is activated and you are unable to respond.
Apply for a home security insurance discount
If you own your home and a security system, you can apply for a homeowner’s insurance discount. Based on your type of protection, the result is an average of a 10% reduction on your homeowner’s insurance. Need help getting started? Call 800-432-3473 and one of our security specialists will happily help with the steps needed to take advantage of your discount.
Schedule a virtual consultation
You may be watching a lot more television than usual and seeing ads for doorbell cameras and other security devices. B Safe offers these products and applications. As an essential business during the COVID-19 crisis, we are open and able to provide these services. To get started, click here to visit our quick and easy how-to guide on booking a virtual consultation or call 800-432-3473. Your no-obligation consultation is non-invasive and includes a free estimate.
All upgrades are supported by B Safe’s commitment to the protection of its community and employees. B Safe is following the CDC’s guidelines during our essential daily operations. When our technicians visit your property, they will wear the appropriate masks and gloves, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol and keep a safe distance of at least six feet away at all times.