Live in Peace

Efficiently Safeguarding The Backyard Pool Area

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Keeping your little ones safe is always first on a parents’ agenda. However accidents can and do happen daily in your family backyard pool. Safety precautions should always be exercised when you have a pool and small children. First item on a parents’ checklist for safeguarding a backyard pool should be a fence to put around your pool. You should also have it equipped with a child proof latch system that will prevent your child from entering the backyard pool area without proper supervision. Also you should have an alarm installed both in the pool (it will alert you if there is someone in the pool) and on the gate to the entrance of the pool. That will prevent children from entering without you knowing. It is also a smart idea to keep all chairs and step ladders from the pool area as children can use them to climb over a fence. You should also make sure that the slats on the fence are not small enough so that a child can squeeze through them. Taking CPR classes are an excellent idea as well. While having a backyard pool can cause risk, following these simple steps can ensure your family’s safety.

How To Extinguish An Electrical Fire

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The idea of an electrical fire can be extremely scary because there is seldom the odor of something burning.
Another problem knows what type of fire extinguisher to use for an electrical fire.
There are five different types of fire extinguishers and each one is designed for a particular kind of fire.
Type A is used for combustibles such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber and several kinds of plastic.
The type B is used to extinguish fires involving materials such as gasoline, grease, or paints that have an oil base.
Class C is used for electrical fires that can be caused by an appliance or tool shorting out.
Type D is usually found in factories where flammable metals are used.
The last type is K and is found in places such as restaurants, kitchens or where cooking is done for large groups. However, this type of extinguisher is starting to be used by residents in their home kitchens.
In order to use an extinguisher it is best to use a method commonly known as PASS.
Pull the pin on the extinguisher, aim it at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger and sweep it from left to right or the opposite way until the fire is extinguished. If the fire is too big, call the fire department and evacuate the building.
Never use water to attempt to extinguish an electrical fire. It is best to use and extinguisher that contains CO2 (carbon dioxide) or a dry chemical type that is marked as Class C.

Fire Extinguishers: The Best Places To Keep Them

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The last thing we care to think about is a fire in our home. Unfortunately it happens and we need to be prepared. One obvious line of defense is the fire extinguisher. As with any tool, extinguishers need to be maintained and placed in the appropriate location should they be required.

First and foremost, follow manufacturer’s guidelines regarding placement. The type, and location of a fire extinguisher will depend on its intended use but general rules will always apply.

The extinguisher, when wall mounted, should always use the bracket included by the manufacturer. It should be installed at an appropriate height and in an area that is never obstructed by furniture or appliances. Although most codes only require a certain number of extinguishers in a home or business, it is wise to mount them in any areas potentially used as an exit. Consult your local fire department for more specific guidelines and codes. Also ensure your extinguisher is fully charged and ready to assist. This should be part of your punch list when leaving or moving into a home or apartment. Use a search engine or visit ehow, www.ehow.com/list_6019045_fire-extinguisher-placement-regulations.html for more detailed information. Always be safe and you’ll always be happy.

For Added Safety within a Home

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Planning for safety within a home is a very important part of being able to survive if some disaster or accident should occur. The installation of such things smoke detectors and gas and carbon monoxide detectors are a couple of systems that can be placed in a home to help people protect themselves from a fire or the build up of carbon monoxide which is not noticeable by smell. There are many places where these types of “home alarm systems” can be purchased and either installed by professionals or by the person who prefers to do it themselves. Another type of alarm system that is sometimes overlooked is the use of motion detectors. These can be installed so that they will activate a light so that the top of a stairway is lit up during the night when someone approaches it. They can also be installed at windows and doors which cause an alarm to sound if the door or window is opened. This kind of alarm system is a good one to have if there are children or anyone in the house who is known to sleepwalk. Some times a little extra planning can make a big difference in safety in a home. Even the use of a none-slip throw rug on a tile floor can help to prevent falls.

Security inside the home: childproofing your house

www.liveinpeace.info — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:52:13 +0000

Not every danger arises outside the home. When you bring a new child into your house, you should be aware of where the most common accidents occur. With this knowledge, you can childproof your home into an exciting and safe environment.

Electrical outlets are an obvious risk. Plug-covers can be removed by some children, so consider replacing them with covers that have built-in safety latches.
Think about what can be tipped over in your house, and do what you can to secure it. Bolt dressers and bookcases and push televisions and lamps back against the wall.
Install door-knob covers to keep kids from opening unlocked doors.
Windows offer a number of issues. If you like to keep your windows open, set them up with a security grate to prevent falls. Blinds and hanging cords are just begging for children to get tangled up in them, so either cut them off or use a cord-shortener.
When using the stove, always use the back burners and keep handles pointed in. An optional product is a stove guard, which will block your child’s access to the burners.
Make sure to keep any chemicals or dangerous substances in a secure and locked location. In case of emergencies, though, you should have the poison control center number on hand (800-222-1222). Remember that even prescription medicines can be poisonous in little hands, and those childproof caps aren’t as trustworthy as you might think. Keep your medicine secure, and get rid of any you don’t use (according to local safety standards).

Common sense is the best defense. Put yourself in the shoes of your child, and take all the steps necessary to make your home safe.

Inexpensive ways to complete your home security system

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:19:08 +0000

An electronic home security system is an important deterrent to burglars, but too many homeowners look at it as the end-all-be-all of their security measures. The truth is that even after installing an electronic system, you still need to be aware of the lower end of your home security. This starts with making sure your door is closed and locked. While this may seem simple, it is actually the basic idea behind improving home security: adding more and more barriers to your house so that burglars have to do more and more to get in. Most burglars balk at the thought of actually destroying property to enter a home.With that being said, the next step is to upgrade your locks. Standard locks can be easily eliminated with an ID or driver’s license. A 6-tumble deadbolt is an effective way to show crooks that you mean business, and apart from them being willing to kick the door down, will either send them looking for other entrances or cause them to give up entirely.Windows are the most common entrances besides doors, so make sure they’re closed and locked. This will again mean that the burglar has to destroy property to get access to your home. Checking all the windows at night before you go to sleep should be a nightly chore (unless you have trustworthy children, in which case you can have them do it). Other than that, use common sense. If you have a basement, make sure the access to that is closed off, both by door and window. While an electronic security system will alert the police that someone’s in your house, it’s always better to send them packing in the first place.

Home-security statistics every homeowner should know

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:14:46 +0000

If you’re ever the victim of a home burglary or break-in, it can be a painful and confusing recovery. The emotions of the incident do not come across when magazines run lists of statistics or graphs detailing the prevalence of such crimes in America. However, these statistics do provide information about what areas of home security are most often forgotten or exploited by burglars, and that can be an important benefit. So, don’t forget that there is a face behind every number, but don’t ignore these startling facts either.

The FBI reports a burglary every 14 seconds. That’s more than 4 robberies a minute, about 257 an hour, more than 6,171 a day.
Homes that don’t have a security system are 2 to 3 times as likely to be burglarized as one with a reliable system. ADT Security is one of the leading providers of such systems.
89 of all burglaries go unsolved. That’s about 5,492 every day where valuables are unlikely to be recovered.
Most home burglaries are committed by a teenage male living in the area. It’s much less likely that your home would fall victim to a professional thief. While this may seem like a positive thing, don’t let it lull you into a false sense of security. You should still follow our tips whenever you leave the house for any extended period of time.
The average amount of property lost in a home burglary is 2,079. That means 12,829,509 of home property lost in an average day.
34 of burglars gain entry by the front door. 23 enter through first-floor windows and 22 through the back-door. The garage, unlocked entrances, the basement, and the second floor account for the rest of burglaries.
Of all robberies committed, 65-70 are committed in residential homes.

Have an anxiety-free vacation with these security tips

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:11:17 +0000

As the summer vacation season continues in full swing, intruders continue on the prowl for poorly guarded homes. There are many ways to present a less tempting site for burglars, in addition to purchasing a reliable home security system. Follow these tips and you won’t waste your vacation worrying about the home you left behind.

Set your home up on a timed lighting system. Homes that stay dark all day are the most tempting targets for prospective robbers. In most cases, they won’t stick around long enough to see if anyone’s actually there.
Stop all deliveries to your home. If newspapers or mail starts to build up at your house, prowlers will quickly realize that you’re out of the area. Better to miss a week’s worth of news than a lifetime of belongings.
Give a key to a relative or a neighbor. This person will serve as the “ringer” while you are away. Besides picking up any mail that hasn’t been cancelled, have them open the curtains and park your car in the driveway occasionally. This will provide a convincing illusion of a lived-in house.
Turn breakers off and disconnect appliances. Disconnect anything other than the security system, heating system, and outdoor lighting. Breakers and appliances left alone are electrical hazards that will either damage your home or, at the least, give away the fact that no one’s there to check on them.
Don’t change your answering machine message, Facebook, or Twitter. Always leave your regular phone message on, but turn off the ringer so unanswered calls aren’t given away. If you have a public Facebook or Twitter, don’t alert the world that you’re out of the houseeveryone who needs to know will, and nobody else needs to find out.

Get a guard dog to help ease your security worries

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:08:56 +0000

Wireless security systems like ADT are always useful because they alert the police automatically. That way, even if you can’t get to a phone, you’re still in good hands. However, a good guard dog can help make that time before the police get there more manageable, and may even end up scaring the intruder away on their own.There are some things to consider when picking out a dog to protect your home. Not all dogs that work well in police and field situations will be suitable for a home environment. In addition, some dogs are only viable as watchdogs, since they won’t assert themselves after alerting you to an intruder. There is some discussion over which gender of dog is better, as well. It’s generally agreed that female dogs make stronger personal guardians because of their maternal instincts, but males will do a better job of guarding your property.Some dog breeds have a special advantage in that they are generally recognized as guard dogs by intruders. These include Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds. This can even extend to dogs where the actual guarding instinct is low. Among surveys of burglars, American Pit Bull Terriers are widely recognized as viable deterrents. Dogs with darker coat colors also scored higher as deterrents, although coat color doesn’t have anything to do with actual temperament.Other dogs that are widely recognized as good guard dogs are the Japanese Akita, the Brazilian Fila, and the Belgian Cattle Dog. However, remember that the individual temperament of a dog can enhance or cancel out general breed characteristics. Also, guard dogs that are trained to attack are considered weapons, so be prepared for the legal implications of keeping one in your house.

Fake vs. real: the security camera dilemma

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:58:32 +0000

Like a Pitbull Terrier that frightens intruders but won’t actually do anything, fake surveillance cameras can provide a suitable deterrent to some intruders. You can put them anywhere, even if you can’t get video cabling to them. Most prowlers won’t stop to check, since their entire plan depends on secrecy.However, fake cameras can create liability issues if an innocent person believes they are real, and the mistake puts them in harm’s way. In one real-life scenario, a woman was walking at night and was suddenly chased by a prowler. She had the option of either running to the corner for help, or running to a security camera she saw at someone’s house. The woman believed she had an equal chance of getting help with either option, but ended up choosing the cameras only to discover that they were fake. Later, she was able to convince a jury that the homeowner owed her damages.One thing many people consider when purchasing cameras is price. Dummy cameras run much cheaper. The P3 International Dummy Camera w/ Blinking LED, for instance, runs in the range of 11-13, while the Security Labs SLC-100 Mini Dummy Dome Camera will only set you back 8 if you go to the right place. For actual cameras, there are a wide range of prices, ranging from the 34 Swann SW212-MXL MaxiBrite camera to the 299 Swann Alpha Security Camera.So what are the options? The best is to have a combination of real and fake cameras. The fake cameras will dissuade actual prowlers, since real cameras are often hidden and therefore not a deterrent. However, those real cameras will provide legal backing for you in the (admittedly small) chance that something along the lines of the above situation should occur.