10 Reasons To Love Our Community
This is the THIRD in a series of 12 articles published to celebrate Strand Security’s 10th anniversary. Read:
10 Reasons To Love The Grand Strand
_________________________________________________________________________
While this article was planned back in January 2020 as part of our 12 month-long 10-year anniversary celebration, this month is the right time to write it as we are collectively struggling with the effects of a Pandemic.
What a different article it will be than originally planned.
While we at Strand Security love our community, we have come to understand how much our community loves us back.
In light of this COVID-19 Pandemic, our Grand Strand community is doing some amazing things.
Check out these amazing people, groups, organizations, and individuals who call the Grand Strand ‘home’. We are honored to live and work here alongside them.
Here Are 10 Reasons to Love Our Community!
(in no particular order!)
1) #MyrtleBeachStrong Bringing Hope To Those in Need
The city of Myrtle Beach shares a message of strength during COVID-19 pandemic.
Christian Sliker with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department came up with the idea of #MyrtleBeachStrong.
“Be safe, be calm, be responsible, be #MyrtleBeachStrong,” the city of Myrtle Beach said in a post.
The Myrtle Beach community will see this message on local billboards; and on social media where we all meet to offer help and support.
2) Facebook Groups Connect Offers of Help With Those in Need
Horry County Citizen’s Crisis Response Facebook group is brand new just this month, yet already had helped so many local residents.
This local news story tells to story of a 93-year-old woman who needed a new fridge. Not only was a new fridge donated, but it was also picked up, delivered and stocked full of food. What an amazing act of kindness.
3) Restaurant Delivery Service During This Pandemic
While this might not matter to some, to others who don’t know how to cook or care to cook, the closing of restaurants has been hard. Another reason to love our community is that restaurants now deliver food!
Check out this story and be sure to order some food; for curbside pickup or delivery. One Facebook user shared that a local restaurant added a gift of toilet paper to his delivery, which made his day!
4) Teachers Hold Parade For Kids
If the kids can’t come to school, teachers will show the kids how much they care!
Teachers and staff from Burgess Elementary paraded through their kid’s neighborhoods on Monday with decorated cars honking and waving from a safe distance so their school children would know they were thinking of them during the coronavirus recess.
Due to social distancing practices, the cars carried only a couple of teachers each, hence the need for about a dozen cars in the procession.
As the cars slowly drove by, teachers waved and greeted their kids by name. Students didn’t walk up to the cars out of safety precautions, but waved back as the teachers passed.
5) A Little River Distillery is Making Craft Sanitizers
Due to the coronavirus, Twelve 33 Distillery is switching from making craft liquor to craft sanitation supplies to help local hospitals and residents.
Osborn said while he wouldn’t make liquor this strong, his stills can produce alcohol strong enough to put into sanitizer. Currently, he is using the Center for Disease Control’s recipe for hand sanitizer and hopes to be giving it out to residents, hospitals and public safety soon.
6) Community Pop-Up Pantries
Like this one at Infinity Hair Salon next to Walmart at 3630 Walton Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
‘Take what you need, leave what you don’t”
Donations are streaming in and those in need can just come and take, no questions asked!
7) Hot Meals Served Daily to Those in Need
While cooking at home is great, what if you don’t have a home? The Shepherd’s Table serves a hot meal twice per day. They are located in Conway and serve a to-go lunch at 11 AM – 12 PM and to-go dinner 4 PM-5:30 PM according to their Facebook Page.
1412 Gamecock Ave # A, Conway, SC 29526
8) Fresh Produce at Reduced Prices
When the hotels and restaurants started to close, local company A & A Produce found themselves ‘stuck’ with lots of fresh produce. Rather than throw it away, they pivoted and offered $20 boxes of fresh produce to the community. That offer has been well-received.
9) When Hotel Kitchens Shut Down, Food Inventory Was Donated
We found this post to be so heart-warming.
It starts like this:
“hi guys!! my father works at a hotel at the beach and he had to shut down his kitchen so that means that he has a lot of perishable items to give away!
if you or someone you know needs the following items, please feel free to reach out and dm me!!
everything is FREE and has to go!!
if you know people that are in need, let me know!!
we are willing to deliver as well!”
The response was overwhelming – all food was distributed and donated! Well done.
10) Local Resident Collects Easter Baskets To be Be Delivered Along With Food
Marnie Kennedy is no stranger to helping out. During recent hurricanes and floods, she has been the driving force behind many projects to benefit local Grand Strand Residents. Her tagline ‘Leave it To Marnie’ is brilliant. Check out how she’s organizing a 3000 Easter Basket project.
If you are in need or know of someone else in need, please reach out to us at Strand Security. We will do what we can to help!
How To Be Safe at Home During a Pandemic
Social Distancing, Self-Quarantine, and Shelter-in-Place
No matter where you live or work, chances are that you’ve been affected by COVID-19. “In times like these” isn’t a phrase we can use because none of us have ever seen a time like this before. We are in this together, whether we like it, or not.
As South Carolinians, we have dealt with floods, hurricanes and lengthy school closures, but nothing of this magnitude.
Whether you are practicing social distancing, self-quarantining or have been asked to shelter in place, please know we feel anxiety, stress and worries just like you are.
Everyone is Home; How to Stay Safe!
Now that everyone in your household, and perhaps with an extra family member, college student or elderly parents who moved (back) in, is home – how can you keep everyone safe?
Physical Safety
Unless you’ve opened your pool early this year, or you are using power tools, staying safe at home during this Pandemic means practicing and adhering to safety protocols as usual.
Test and change your smoke alarm batteries, tend to fires, and be sure to alarm you home when you are in it!
Watch your kids as you normally would – and remove known safety hazards.
Mental Health
This is a bit trickier. Your mental health is important to be able to function at home for the long haul of being quarantined. Make sure to use technology to connect with loved ones, pick up new hobbies and above all, eat healthily and exercise! If you have a pet, taking care of your pet’s needs or walking your dog also helps relieve stress.
Health
It’s easy to fall into bad habits; while we can’t go out and eat, this is a great time to cook, bake and enjoy some home-made recipes. Do go to the store once per week if possible to buy fresh produce; it’s more important than ever to take in as many vitamins and minerals as possible to boost your immune system!
Everyone is Home; How to Stay Sane!
As far as occupying your time and entertainment goes, we have some ideas to share.
Sound System
Hold family dance parties, create TikTok videos and just move! Use your Sonos sound system to wake up the house and sing!
Home Theater
Pull out old family movies, watch long-forgotten classics or stream the latest Hulu, NetFlix, Disney or Amazon Prime shows and movies. Home theaters at a time like this can offer great relief at the end of yet another quarantined day!
Technology Saves The Day
As far as technology goes, the sky is the limit. Imagine it and you can do it!
- Chat with friends through Facetime
- Jump on a Zoom family call and see Grandma and Grandpa
- Play Bingo with cousins
- Start a game of Cards against Humanity with friends
- Have ‘dinner and wine’ with your neighbors via Facebook Portal
- Go on a virtual museum tour
- Check out remote place with Google Earth
We’ve seen the gamut and encourage you to ‘think outside the box’ to stay connected while distancing.
After all, we really should call it physical distancing, not social distancing!
Stay safe, healthy and connected and give us a call if you need anything.
Smart Solutions for Businesses; Smart Owners Automate
Smarthomes Are All the Rage, How About Smart Businesses?
It’s no secret that we at Strand Security love Alarm.com.
In December 2018, we welcomed Alarm.com to the Strand Security family of brands we use and endorse. As always, we don’t just recommend brands, we use them too, to keep our own families safe.
Engineered for small and medium-sized business owners, Smarter Business Security combines intelligent intrusion detection, video surveillance, access control, and energy management into a single, cost-effective solution.
Smart Business Owners Chose Alarm.com
What can Alarm.com do for your business?
Connect your
- security
- lights
- locks
- thermostats
- video
- and more
for seamless automation and control!
From Alarm.com:
Get visibility into activity trends to make smarter decisions around staffing, promotions, energy use and more.
Easy to understand reports let you quickly see activity patterns across your business and spot unexpected changes.
Get smart!
Get Alarm.com from Strand Security and let us help you optimize your business for excellent ROI – and peace of mind!
Smart Business Owners Make Smart Choices!
What does automating business tasks do for the business owner?
Smart business owners use their money wisely. They budget their money, market themselves and invest in new technology when and where available to stay up-to-date on industry newest, smartest and savviest ways to do business.
Let’s take a look; here are 5 reasons why your business should be a ‘smart business’!
1) Smart Businesses Save Time
When recurring tasks in a business environment are automated, this means time is saved each day.
Personnel who were previously responsible for these daily tasks, now have time for other tasks.
2) Smart Businesses Save Money
The automation of business tasks saves not only time but money, because of the fact that time = money in buisness.
Automation saves money, always.
3) Smart Businesses Are More Energy Efficient
When you can automate your thermostat in your business to optimize energy use, you will become more energy efficient.
4) Smart Businesses Are Run Better
How often do you or your employees ‘forget’ tasks?
Do they forget to lock doors, start the computer, turn down the temperature, forget to open shades, or forget to lower them when the sun shines…?
Businesses who automate run better. When your business runs better, it if more efficient, which means… you save money!
5) Smart Businesses Make For Better Run Businesses
In the end, it comes down to this;
taking advantage of available technology is smart business.
Whether you automate security, office temperature, daily tasks, or use technology for sales, marketing, and PR; NOT using the available technology will give your competition an advantage!
You aren’t in the business of giving others your business now, are you?
10 Reasons To Love the Grand Strand
We at Strand Security are celebrating 10 years on the Grand Strand!
So many wonderful things have happened to our Strand families, our business and within our community! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to share our wonderful community with you.
We arrived in 2010 to start a new life in South Carolina; to kick off this year-long celebration, let’s count the ways we love the Grand Strand.
1) Love The Grand Strand for Its Beaches!
With over 60 miles of beaches, the Grand Strand spans from the Winyah Bay in the south to Little River in the north; it is an arc of beach land on the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina, United States.
With over 60 miles of beaches, you will find a beach you love.
This area includes two State Parks; Huntington Beach State Park and Myrtle Beach State Park, as well as many smaller municipalities with beachfront access.
2) Love The Grand Strand for Its Golf Courses!
Did you know…
The Grand Strand is home to 90 (yes, ninety) golf courses?
That’s a huge number and a huge variety of places to play. There is a course for every golfer, whether you are a beginner or a life-longer player, or somewhere in between
While we are at it, we looked for the number of minigolf courses. While it was harder to find a number, it is at least 30 by this account.
Ready to tee up?!
3) Love The Grand Strand for Its Entertainment!
While the beach and golf are the two main attractions for tourists, there are many more ways to entertain the family when visiting, or living on the Grand Strand.
That includes
- Broadway at the Beach with a Ropes Course, Wonderworks (Science Museum) and Dave and Buster’s
- Barefoot Landing with The House of Blues and Lulu’s
- Hollywood Wax Museum
- 810 Bowling
- Ocean Boulevard
- The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans
and so much more! Did we mention the golf courses?
4) Love The Grand Strand for Its Nightlife!
When the sun goes down the fun begins.
Fireworks can be seen on many evenings at Broadway at the Beach and/or Barefoot Landing, attracting thousands of visitors to come to eat and play.
Don’t forget to check out Family Kingdom as the fun just begins when the sun disappears! Ride the old wooden coaster ‘The Swamp Fox’ or try your luck playing carnival games.
5) Love The Grand Strand for Its Autism Friendliness!
Did you know…
Surfside Beach is the world’s first certified autism-friendly destination
While it was always known as ‘the family beach’, Surfside Beach now has another beautiful title to uphold. Surfside Beach was listed as one of the Top 10 best family beaches!
6) Love The Grand Strand for Its Beauty!
- Gorgeous homes.
- Beautiful parks.
- Wonderful flowers and native trees.
- Friendly People.
- Sunshine on most days.
The Grand Strand is simply a beautiful place to visit and live.
7) Love The Grand Strand for Its Restaurants!
No matter your taste, there’s a place for you at one of the many tables on the Grand Strand.
While the Grand Strand offers large chain restaurant access like Margaritaville, TGI Fridays, 5 Guys and Friendly’s, there are plenty of spots that less overcrowded and less corporate.
No matter your taste, when living on the Grand Strand you will eat well.
8) Love The Grand Strand for Its Seafood!
Murrells Inlet is called the Seafood Capital of South Carolina!
It wasn’t always as family-friendly as it is today though. In the 1800s, pirates hid in the inlet creeks waiting to plunder unsuspecting English ships. You may have heard of one in particular called Blackbeard.
While you can go fishing, crabbing or even scuba diving, why not lay on the beach all day and come eat seafood at night in one of many restaurants on the Marsh Walk?
9) Love The Grand Strand for Its Southern Hospitality!
“Southern hospitality is a phrase used in American English to describe the stereotype of residents of the Southern United States as particularly warm, sweet, and welcoming to visitors to their homes, or to the South in general.”
And friendly we are!
If you’ve never experienced it, you’ve been missing out.
10) Love The Grand Strand for Its Low Cost of Living!
We simply can’t deny that living on the Grand Strand is… grand! While Strand Security and our family have been residents for 10 years, we’ve realized what a great deal we have here in the south!
Homes are affordable, as are groceries and other living expenses; the cost of living in South Carolina due to low taxes is a huge attraction for new residents. The lure of these beautiful yet affordable southern homes brings many northerners to our beloved Grand Strand.
What Do You Love About the Grand Strand?
Please tell us why you love the Grand Strand!
Keep an eye out for many more ’10 Reasons To Love…’ articles in 2020!
How To Protect Your Business Assets With a Commercial Security System
Does Your Business Own or Lease Expensive Equipment?
Dentists need chairs to treat their patients.
Average cost: $3000+
Their x-ray machines?
All the way up to $65,000
How about construction companies? They have hundreds of thousands worth of equipment on job sites!
Say what?
Whether your business needs commercial kitchen equipment, specialized vans or trucks, lifts, computers or tools, this equipment costs money. A lot of money.
Insurance Will Cover Replacement Cost In Case of Loss.
If you lease, rent or have bought expensive business equipment to run your business, we assume you have insurance to cover the cost of replacing these tools and machinery.
What business owners forget and frequently run into is that replacing those items in case of a fire, theft, or vandalism, slows down their productivity level and can harm their business in the short or long term, can even financially ruin it.
Insurance Won’t Cover Lost Time and Productivity.
Therefore, it is in everyone’s best interest to PREVENT accidents, thefts, burglaries, and vandalism.
A business that has to take time out to renovate, reconstruct, or reorder/repurchase equipment is a business that’s not productive, not running at their capacity.
How To Prevent Accidents and Incidents in the Workplace
It’s a multi-step process
- Training
- Technology
- Implementation
- Inspections
- Fix and Adjust Plan
- Retraining
The owner or CEO of the company has to understand that time lost is money lost. Money that can be used to prevent incidents with a risk-identifying plan.
In other words, in order to prevent incidents, you have to spend money – on training, inspections and technology.
How To Protect Your Business Assets With a Commercial Security System
How does a commercial security system help protect your business?
Let’s count the many ways!
- Security cameras can spot shoplifters, vandals, and loiterers inside or outside your property, prompting you to take immediate action.
- Vehicle trackers can help locate your stolen vehicle and products, as well as track the driver’s stats and driving record.
- A monitored alarm system alert authorities immediately in case of burglary, fire or vandalism.
- Panic buttons help employees stay safe; help is only one push of the button away
Spend Money To Save Money
While this might not be what you want to hear, a solid business plan should reveal to you that this is the ONLY way to go to protect your investment; of time, money and effort in starting and running a business.
Don’t be caught without insurance.
Don’t be caught without a commercial security system.
Protect what’s rightfully yours, so you can keep it and enjoy it.
Self-Defense Moves to Celebrate National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month 2020
What is National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month?
As January is the very first month of every new year; it a great time to focus on YOU.
Your body, your mind, your overall well being.
Included in that should be your personal safety, hence the National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month was created.
We are so fortunate at Strand Security to have our own self-defense division, Myrtle Beach Self-Defense. If you are in our geographical area, please make sure to connect with MBSD to join us for a class. If you are not in our area, do continue reading to learn more about the importance of self-defense and personal safety awareness!
Myrtle Beach Self-Defense
Several years ago, Heather Bryant of Strand Security started what is now Myrtle Beach Self Defense. Heather teaches self-defense to women and girls in the Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand and surrounding areas.
She’s brought her program to
- sorority members at Coast Carolina University
- Girl Scout troops on the Grand Strand
- business owners via the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
- entrepreneurs via the Women in Networking group
- Seniors
- Women and Teens at Fun Warehouse
and many more places.
Heather’s goal is to educate and empower women no matter what situation comes at them.
From Awareness to Knowledge to Confidence
The first step to personal safety is awareness.
Awareness that danger is everywhere, that you need to be prepared and that you can prevent or diffuse a dangerous situation – unless a weapon is introduced (that is when the rules change completely)
How do you get the awareness of personal self-defense?
- Read our self-defense tips
- Talk to survivors
- Speak with those who support victims of violence
Next is knowledge – you need to know HOW to defend yourself.
This knowledge comes through both theoretical information, as well as hands-on self-defense classwork.
Muscle memory might be what saves your life one day when you are confronted by an attacker! Practice self-defense moves, over and over and over until you can react in a split second!
Last but not least, while gaining awareness and knowledge, you gain confidence. Confident people are by default, not an easy or ‘preferred’ target!
Basic Self-Defense Moves and Tips
Use your senses to stay alert
- Don’t walk or run with headphones; you can’t hear any approach you
- Listen for clues that someone might be following you
- Use your voice to scare someone off; yelling ‘Fire’, screaming loudly and ‘Get away from me’ are all signs you are in trouble and can alert someone nearby to come to your aid.
- Look up from your phone; don’t walk to your car while typing
Listen to your inner voice to detect danger
- If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right
- If you feel uncomfortable, get away – go towards people!
- When things seem ‘off’ don’t dismiss that feeling, act on it instead
Flight, then fight
- it’s best to try to diffuse a situation and then get away from your attacker
- fight when there is nowhere to go
- while it’s called self-defense, you can take the lead on attacking once someone has a grip on you
- use your elbows, knees, and fists to strike. Count to three. Three strikes then move to the next body part
- when fighting for your life, yell! Scream as loud as you can. Self-defense includes scaring off an attacker
- if someone holds a gun to your head and tells you to drive somewhere, buckle up and then drive right into a pole, a ditch, another car if needed, or a building. You’d be injured most likely, but your chances of survival are much higher.
Anything within your reach can be used as a weapon
- keys
- purse
- shoes / boots
- books
- hot coffee
- anything sharp or heavy (glasses, pen, rock)
- groceries
- pots and pans
- lamps
- wine / beer bottles
Muscle memory is your best weapon
Self-defense classes are so important for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons you should take not one, but several, self-defense classes is that you need your muscles to remember what to do when attacked. There will be no time to think. Only to act.
Myrtle Beach Self-Defense Offers Class for Women and Girls
Whether you are on the Grand Strand in the Myrtle Beach area, or live elsewhere, take self-defense classes and learn what to do in case of an attack!
Your life could depend on it!
Learn more by visiting our self-defense division.
How To Protect Your Employees With a Commercial Security System
Your Employees Are Your Business
The very last thing you want to hear is that there has been an ‘incident’ at your business.
Whether it is a phone call from your employee, or a call from the police, as soon as you hear this message, you know that you and your business are in trouble.
If you are the owner or CEO of a brick and mortar store, a restaurant, a gas station, a bank, a school, a church or a service provider with a fleet of trucks and a slew of employees, you never want harm to come to your employees, correct?
Regardless of the potential harm and suffering of your employees, accidents also harm your reputation and your pocketbook!
Identify Potential Danger and Risk in the Workplace – Step 1
The first step to giving your employees protection and safety is to properly identify potential problems. This is done by a thorough inspection of your property, as well as an inspection of your safety procedures, followed by an emergency planning and training session!
Here are a few areas to look at
(this may very well not be a complete list – we are not risk managers!)
- Lighting in parking lots
- Safety procedures for heavy equipment (signage and training)
- Locking mechanism to keep employees in and danger out
- Heavy lifting and storing and stacking products
- Loading, unloading, and driving procedures
- Fire safety
- and more!
Protect Your Employees With Safety Tools and Protocols – Step 2
The next thing on your list after identifying potential risks in the workplace is to give your employees access to tools and training to keep themselves and your customers safe!
That translates to tools and protocols like
- Locking up procedures
- Fire safety procedures and drills
- First Aid Kit and First Aid and CPR training for employees
- Cameras and additional lighting in parking lots and backrooms
- Emergency exit drills
- and more!
To make all this easier to implement, we suggest you rely on technology to help you do all this, as we do in our own business! Check out the third step!
Use Technology To Monitor, Alert, and Call For Assitance – Step 3
We recommend using technology to keep your employees safe from harm. We at Strand Security utilize and rely on these same products, brands, and the same security equipment to keep our own employees (and families) safe from harm!
Here is a list of safety and security products that can increase the overall safety of your employees while they are in your care!
The single best precaution to take is to get a
After that, these are our top choices for additional security!
If you employ even just one person, you owe it to them to keep them safe from harm!
In 2020, this hotel chain will offer panic buttons to all its employees, including housekeepers, desk staff and food workers! Way to go!
News Stories of Business Robberies
We want to leave you with a few links to news stories;
Stories, where a silent alarm helped call the police for help
A close-to-home story where an employee was rendered helpless, and was harmed because of a lack of precaution
Who Are You Going To Protect? Who Will You Call?
Three Tech Gadget Gift Ideas for Dad
The 2019 Holiday Season is Here!
Whether you are ready or not, the 2019 holiday season is here.
- Christmas music is playing.
- Holiday parties are happening.
- Black Friday deals are being offered.
and people are shopping!
Some of us prefer to shop in-person, others do all their holiday shopping online.
Some of us like to support local businesses, others buy from Amazon all day long.
Some of us shop early, others are last-minute shoppers who complete their last purchase on Christmas eve.
Some of us have a list, will check it twice and then are done. Others have it a lot harder.
Holiday Shopping for Those Hard to Buy For Relatives
No matter what type of shopper you are, most of us have a ‘problem shopper’ to buy for.
That one family member who either ‘has it all’ or ‘likes nothing we give’.
Male or female, old or young, there is always someone you dread buying for, right?!
We KNOW many of us turn to good-old Google to find gift ideas for those we don’t know what to buy for. We get it! We have done the same thing.
Today we’d like to share with you this cool Gift idea list for Dads!
Three Tech Gadget Holiday Gift Ideas for Dad
1. Universal Remote
What is a universal remote? Check this out!
Never look for another remote in your home again. Dad will love it. You will love it. The whole family will love it.
And if you purchase your Universal Remote from Strand Security, we will give you the best deal ever on programming your new remote!
2. SONOS Speakers
Does dad shush the rest of the family when the big game is on?
Do you love big parties?
Does dad love to watch sports so much he needs to watch it everywhere in the house?
SONOS speakers will bring the game to him no matter where he is, including outside, in the attic or in the home theater! SONES speakers will assure you and your guests will have music anywhere in your home.
3. URC Smarthome Technology
URC smarthome technology lets every single gadget currently in your home, along with any new gadget dad collects going forwards communicate and be controlled from ONE premium control device of your choice!
Say what?
Yes!
URC is PERFECT for the dad who has everything, loves gadgets and technology and wants the latest and greatest, the best of the best technology has to offer. Basically, if the dad in your life wants to brag to his buddies about all the gadgets he has and how they talk to each other, he needs URC.
URC is seriously mind-blowing, the latest in smarthome technology and the best on the market!
You Give The Gift, We Do The Install
The worst part of giving dad technology gifts is the time it takes him to set up the systems.
The best part of giving technology gifts purchased form Strand Security is that we take care of all that for you – and dad!
Stop by our office to demo our products, purchase speakers, a remote or learn more about URC! We are a locally owned and operated, small business; we are here to support our customers.
How to Protect The Most Vulnerable Family Members!
Families Come In All Shapes and Sizes!
Some families are units consistent with 1 or 2 people.
Other families have a larger unit to include several children.
Again other families have multiple generations living together to make up a family unit.
Whatever your family looks like, we are sure of two things
You
- love them
- want to protect them
We are here to offer some insights and help!
Protect Vulnerable Family Members First!
Below find some of the most vulnerable family members as well as ways you can protect them and keep them safe.
Protect the Elderly in your Home!
An elderly person living in your home, or living alone, often spends time home alone.
In case of emergency, we recommend a wearable personal safety button, also called a panic button.
School Children Coming Home After School to an Empty House
Is there ever a ‘right time’ to leave your child home alone?
How do you know your child is ready to come home after school to an empty house?
We hear and know your concerns.
New Baby? You Need a New Emergency Plan!
Anytime you have a new addition to the family, your family emergency plan should change!
You also need to update your home, to keep your new baby safe from harm as s/he grows and starts being mobile!
Family Security Doesn’t Have To Cost an Arm and a Leg!
Every family should have the peace of mind that comes with having a security system!
We at Strand Security work with families to find a solution that works and one they can afford.
Doesn’t everyone deserve security and safety?
Secure Your Doors as Babies Become Mobile!
As babies grow from infants to roaming toddlers, your families’ needs may change to include locks and alerts on doors, windows and pools!
Installing a home camera system is another great way to keep ‘an eye’ on roaming toddlers!
Got a New Teenaged Driver? Safety First!
Teenagers enjoy the new freedom they get once they have a driver’s license. With that freedom comes new danger and dangerous situations. Keep your teenagers safe from harm. Here are some tips.
- Prepare your teen with self-defense classes
- Keep them safe on the road by going over driver safety tips
Track Your Teenager on the Road for Safety
Did you know we can help you track your new teenager driver (or your elderly relative if need be!)? How about that peace of mind when they are out and about.
While protecting your teenager is great, you are also tracking that expensive car of yours, of course!
Teenagers Don’t Want to Talk To You!
How then, will you know they are doing their homework, chores or if they arrived home safely?
A system like Honeywell Lynx would let you know exactly that!
Security cameras and the system can send you updates in realtime as to their whereabouts and on-going activities in your home! No need to ask them what they are doing; you can just check the cameras!
Last But Not Least, Protect Your Pets!
While pets can help deter break-ins and chase off would-be-burglars, they are still vulnerable.
If no one is home and fire were to break out, these family members need rescuing too!
Side note: How fun is it, to see what your dog is up to while you are at work? Lots of fun! 😉
Strand Security Can Help Protect The Most Vulnerable Family Members
Give us a call today! We’d love to help you protect what you love most.
We do it every day for those we love, let us help those you love, too.
5 Fall Home Security Tips for Homeowners
Fall Is Here!
If you live in South Carolina in the Myrtle Beach area, it doesn’t FEEL like fall, but when you check the calendar, it tells us it is Fall indeed!
As I write this it’s 90F and sunny, hot and humid.
No jackets or long sleeves for us, but more of what we’ve been wearing since March; shorts and t-shirts!
Whether you love it or hate it, there will be an end to this summer weather and October is a great month to get your home ready for winter.
Get Ready For Cooler Temperatures!
As we get ready for cooler temperatures, homeowners should consider a few chores to get their home ready for winter.
Preparing a home for cooler weather in Fall and warmer weather in Spring is smart.
Putting off these types of chores might result in minor emergencies with regards to equipment, heating and cooling systems as well as security.
Here are 5 Fall Home Security Tips
Homeowners, get your list ready!
1) Get Your Chimney Inspected and Swept
If you have a working fireplace in your home, you should get your chimney swept every year.
A build-up of soot can cause fires.
From an earlier article we published we learn that
The byproduct of enjoying a crackling flame is creosote buildup (the major cause of chimney fires) and soot, which can restrict air flow and damage the fireplace chimney. Even a gas fireplace chimney can become blocked by a bird’s nest or other debris. Prevent problems with an annual chimney inspection.
Today is as good as any day to make that appointment!
2) Make an Appointment to Have Your HVAC serviced
At some point in the next few months, you will be turning the switch on your HVAC system from ‘cooling’ to ‘heating’.
Is your system prepared?
Get an inspection and service scheduled today. Fall is a great time to get everything working right so on that first day you turn on the heat, you do not have to call and get an emergency visit from your HVAC provider.
Maintenance and periodic testing prevent emergency calls, on any system, including your home security system!
3) Lock Your Windows
If your home has screens for summer and storm windows for winter, you’ll be changing those out this season.
When you do, do NOT forget to lock your windows back up.
Unlocked windows are a way many burglars gain access to homes!
When asked this is what convinced felons had to say:
How did you typically break into a home or apartment?
Most inmates broke in through an unlocked door or window.
Whenever you or a service provider work on your windows, always double-check that your windows have been re-locked once the task is done.
4) Add Outdoor Lighting as Days Get Shorter
Fall is when we experience the end of daylight saving time. In 2019, that day is Sunday, November 3.
When Daylight Saving Time ends, our evenings immediately become a lot darker, a lot longer!
Fall is, therefore, a great time to review your outdoor lighting.
- Do you have lights on sensors and/or timers?
- How well-lit, is your outdoor space; would a burglar want to approach your home, or would they rather skip by because of the visibility?
If it’s dark around your home, add lights on timers and/or sensors.
5) Remove Yard Debris Frequently
Nothing says ‘I am not home a lot’ and ‘Come on in’ as leaving your front and backyards full of debris.
That includes
- leaves
- twigs/dead branches
- toys
- tools
- unused equipment
- broken furniture
and more!
A well-groomed yard conveys the message that a caring homeowner lives in the house! More often than not, that’s the house a burglar will skip!
Caring homeowners often have security systems and cameras installed, and those are the last thing a burglar wants to see!
Additional Fall Home Security Tips
In a previous article, we touched on several other tips for the homeowner.
Go out and spend some time outdoors.
Enjoy the season and use caution around your home!
Clean up, test and maintain the systems that will keep you safe when an emergency arises.
Happy Fall Y’all!
Like Us On Facebook
