Summer Fire Safety Tips: How To Keep Your Family Safe
Summer + Heat + Drought = Time to Go Over Summer Fire Safety Tips!
It’s time to make a plan!
No one wants their family to get hurt or worse, and therefore it is imperative you have a family meeting to talk about safety rules as they pertain to all things fire!
In a previous article we touched on Summer Water Safety Tips and we believe this article is JUST as important.
Ready? Let’s review how you can keep your family safe from fire this summer!
Create a Fire Safety Plan
Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall – all you need to do is… make a fire safety plan!
You and your children should sit down and create a written fire safety plan. Need to know what that looks like? Start here.
Purchase Several Fire Extinguishers for your Home
Next up, be really prepared by not just purchasing several fire extinguishers for your home, but learning where and how to store them, as well as learn how to use them!
Supervise Your Children Near Open Fires
Fire is oh so tempting.
Summer is a great time for families to relax and to spend more time outdoors. What’s more fun than making an open fire for roasting marshmallows or hotdogs. Kids love this activity.
Be sure to assign at least one adult to supervise the fire and the children at all times!
Don’t Leave Your Grill Unattended
When grilling outdoors, it’s easy to forget something and think about running back inside to the kitchen to get the forgotten item.
Don’t!
Instead of running back inside and leaving the hot grill unattended, use your phone to call or text a family member to bring you more oil, spices, meat or veggies! Safety first!
Don’t Light Campfires During Fire Bans
Before starting a fire to burn garbage or firewood, always check with the local fire department or county to see if a fire ban is in place. Summers are hot and dry in the South. One spark can easily set off a huge forest fire. Don’t be that person. Always call, check and adhere to local fire guidelines.
Use Extreme Caution Around Fireworks
While the 4th of July just passed, we aren’t out of the woods as far as fireworks. In many states, fireworks are illegal so that means when tourists visit the beach, they are tempted to buy and set off fireworks!
If you want to see fireworks, we suggest connecting with Broadway at the Beach, the Myrtle Beach Pelican Baseball Team or Barefoot Landing for a calendar of event to their public fireworks!
Don’t Light Candles and Torches Near Small Children or Pets
Last but not least, this is last fire hazard can be so deceiving yet is so dangerous!
Tiki torches hold oil and when they are lit, the hot oil can easily scald a child or a pet. We recommend not lighting torches or candles at all if you have small children or pets in your family.
Happy Summer 2021!
Let us know if we can help you with any of your home or commercial security needs this summer.
Keeping Kids and Pets Safe and Secure at Home
Families Need to Feel Safe and Secure at Home!
Do you have kids? How about pets? Are you expecting a new addition to your family soon? Many of our blog readers and customers have families. We do too! We have three teenagers and we an adorable dog named Henry: you might have visited our office and met him.
During the pandemic, many families adopted new pets as they had more time to spend at home! Having a new family pet brings joy and laughter, but also new responsibility and safety and security hazards.
While we as adults can certainly have accidents at home, we generally know how to keep ourselves safe and secure. It’s a little different for kids and pets: they love to explore new things, and by nature, are curious about the world around them. It’s even more important to set some safety rules and guidelines when you have both kids and pets!
In honor of National Kids and Pets Day on April 26, 2021, we present this article with tips to keep your kids and pets safe at home.
National Kids and Pets Day is April 26, 2021
From National Day Calendar:
“National Kids and Pets Day on April 26th raises awareness of the importance of picking the right pet for children at the right time. It’s an important decision that can lead to a lifetime of bonding between pet and child.
The day also celebrates the bonds children and pets can share and a day remember safety where our pets and children are concerned. There are many benefits of having a pet in a child’s life. From fostering natural nurturing abilities to developing responsibilities, pets have a lifelong impact on a child’s development.
It is also important to remember that small children as well as the pets may not know their limitations and should not be left alone with each other. They should always be supervised to prevent injury to both the child and the animal.”
Safety Rules and Guidelines To keep Kids and Pets Safe at Home!
Never leave kids and pets alone, unsupervised.
This includes indoor as well as outdoor play time! Kids and pets needs to have an adult nearby to supervise their playtime and while it’s tempting to leave the room to take care of chores, don’t. Pets are unpredictable and they can get triggered by your child’s behavior. Take your child with you when moving from room to room, or separate the child and animal (crate or gate, or even closed room) when you are not able to supervise.
Outdoors, always supervise around pools, and in the yard!
Teach your child to not disturb your pet when the pet is sleeping, eating or chewing a toy.
A pet needs to feel safe and secure and when their sleep, feeding time or playtime is interrupted, they can get annoyed, or even aggressive. To avoid this happening, teach your child to leave the pet alone during these activities.
Don’t allow a child to touch (or play with) a pets’ waste as it carries disease
Cat litter boxes look like fun sandboxes to young children. Cat’s waste carries disease and you do not want your child to play with the cat’s waste. At the same time, a dog carries diseases as well: teach a child the proper way to dispose of a dog’s poop.
No rough housing or teasing
While you may play games with your dog or cat that can be labeled ‘roughhousing’, don’t allow your child to play those same games. It is most likely that you as the adult in the home are the alpha. A dog or cat will accept certain dominant behavior from you, the alpha, but not from a child that is smaller. To avoid this happening, avoid playing these types of games in front of the children, as they often emulate what they see! Games to avoid include tug-of-war, picking up the pet and spraying it with a hose.
Dog Bite Statistics To Wrap your Head Around!
It’s hard not to mention dog bites when we talk about kids, pets and safety. Prevention is so very important and that is why supervision of kids and pets at all times is THE MOST important rule to stick to!
Here are some crazy statistic to wrap you head around.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Humane Society of the United States, there are about 4.7 million dog bites every year in the U.S. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities.
- Approximately 800,000 people seek medical attention for dog bites in the U.S. every year — about 1,000 people require emergency care for dog bite injuries every day (according to a study produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality).
- About half of those injured in dog attacks are children. The rate of dog bite accidents is highest for those between the ages of 5-9 (according to the American Veterinary Medical Association).
- Nearly 2/3 of injuries among children ages 4 and younger are to the head or neck region, because of their height. Injuries are higher for boys than for girls.
- According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of Americans hospitalized for dog bites nearly doubled over a 15-year period. The average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay was $18,200. There were 4 times as many dog bite-related ER visits and 3 times as many hospital stays in rural areas than in urban areas.
Prevention is the Key to Keeping Kids and Pets Safe at Home
Installing security cameras is one way to help the adults in your home keep an eye on kids and pets, but it should not replace in-person supervision.
Teaching children the right to play and care for a pet is another important safety measure.
We love our children and we love our pets. We know you do too! Stay safe and secure in your own home at all times!
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.
Meet Hero Dog Who Saves Child Home Alone By Chasing Off A Burglar!
Can Dogs Deter or Stop Home Invasions?
Burglars report that they will skip homes that display signs of a resident dog.
Signs that tell a robber that a house may have a canine occupant include
- fenced yard
- dog toys
- water bowl
- sign ‘Beware of Dog’
- dog leash
- dog house
and more!
“Dogs are a deal-breaker for me,” said one inmate. “Big breeds, home protectors are the best to keep people out.”
Burglars don’t want any confrontation of any kind; not with dogs, not with humans either.
Most Home Invasions Happen During the Day
Were you aware that most burglaries happen between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM?
Guess who is often home during those hours? The dog.
Guess who is often not home during those hours? The pet owner!
If you need to leave your dog(s) home alone during the day, there is a chance s/he might need to defend the home!
How can you protect your pet in case of a home invasion when you are not home?
Keeping An Eye On Your Pet No Matter Where You Are!
We recommend you supplement your pet security with a monitored, remove system with cameras!
The one that comes to mind and should work great is Honeywell Lynx!
From the article:
No matter where you are or what you may be doing, with this system, you can view up to four indoor or outdoor cameras right on the touchscreen or anywhere on premises on your smartphone, tablet or another WiFi-enabled device.
Lynx is a great system to keep an eye on your family, your pets as well as your property.
Dogs Chases Off Burglar, Saves Nine Year Old Home Alone!
Check out this incredible story.
A child who was left home alone while his parents left to go pick up siblings at school, was confronted by a masked burglar.
Fortunately, the story ends well as the boy had the presence of mind to call his dog. The dog positioned herself between the boy and the burglar and thus chased him out the door after which the boy ran to a neighbors house to call his parents and the police.
What a hero dog!
At What Age Can You Leave Your Child Home Alone?
If you watched the full video you noticed that at the end of the video, the TV reporter makes a point to note that the parents have not been charged with negligence, as there is no clear law as to when a child can be left home alone unattended.
We’ve written several articles on this topic, as it’s an FAQ of parents.
Read
How to know when your child is home safe alone after school
3 ways to know if your child is ready to be left home alone
The short answer is
- the law varies state-to-state, so know your local law
- each child has a different maturity level
- use a monitored security system to keep an eye on your child
We also recommend speaking with your local law enforcement if you aren’t sure and to get additional safety tips.
Tips on How To Prevent and Survive A Home Invasion
From Holiday Fun To Holiday Tragedy In The Blink of An Eye!
From one minute to the next, you and your family could be faced with a tragedy instead of a fun Christmas day and week.
Home invasions are more prevalent around the holidays and we are here to remind you to stay vigilant and prepared to prevent a home invasion from happening. If an intruder does happen to invade your home, we want you to know what to do!
Here is a scenario that might sound familiar to you.
Busiest Time of The Year at Your Home!
Maybe you had a new dishwasher installed so that when company is here for Christmas, you are prepared.
Maybe you had an installer in your home to replace your washer and dryer as a gift to yourself.
Maybe you had an HVAC mechanic in your home to do your winter HVAC maintenance.
Maybe UPS, FEDEX or the USPS stopped by with deliveries of long-expected packages.
Really… people in and out of your home all day, all week.
People might even have noticed the hustle and bustle from outside of your home, noticing the deliveries made as they drove by.
You didn’t really keep track of everybody, right?
It’s the perfect storm scenario!
Someone, somewhere might have noticed your lack of a security system.
Someone, somewhere might have noticed your lack of a dog.
Someone, somewhere might have noticed your valuables like TVs, computers and expensive phones.
Someone, somewhere might have noticed your valuables like TVs, computers and expensive phones.
Someone, somewhere might have noticed your expensive watch and diamond ring.
It really doesn’t matter how it happened, but somehow you ended up on a home invasion hit list!
A home invasion is an illegal and usually forceful entry to an occupied, private dwelling with intent to commit a violent crime against the occupants, such as robbery, assault, rape, murder, or kidnapping
Home Invasion Do’s and Don’ts
If you THINK or KNOW someone has entered your home and they haven’t spotted you, there are things to do IMMEDIATELY.
If your dog sounds the alarm, don’t ignore but check it out! Often they can hear or spot an intruder before you do!
Listen to your gut and take action.
- Get your kids and spouse and go!
- Leave the home by a backdoor if possible or lock yourself in a room, bathroom or closet and call 911 immediately. Stay on the phone with them until police arrive.
We asked the police what we can we do as homeowners to prevent a home invasion from happening.
Here is what they told us.
1. Lights, Lights, LIGHTS! (Burglars and intruders love dark areas)
2. Alarms (Make sure to set yours if you have a system!)
3. Neighborhood watches are great deterrents.
4. Put your holiday packages away as soon as they are delivered.
5. Install cameras to check in to your home even if you aren’t home.
Be Safe. Be Secure. Be Alert!
We hope your holidays are happy and bright, merry and fun and that a home invasion is not something you have to deal with.
We recommend going over a family emergency plan with your kids and spouse yearly and discuss fires, home invasions, burglaries, floods and other disasters with your family.
A prepared family has a much greater chance of survival!
From our family to yours this holiday season…
How Burglars Know You Have a Dog and Why They Care!
Owning a Dog Is A Deterrent For a Potential Burglar
How is that for a bold statement?
It’s true!
“If I saw a sticker for a home security system, that would have been enough of a deterrent recalls London. “Once, we broke into a house and an alarm went off. We immediately turned around and just ran.” Stickers for a home security system are one trick; another is a trusty BEWARE OF DOGS posting. “Dogs certainly would have discouraged me from breaking in, even though I knew my way around dogs,” points out London. If you happen to love dogs and can afford a home surveillance system, by all means go for it! But if you’re allergic or cash is tight, fake it with signs. Dummy surveillance cameras enhance the illusion and are not difficult to put up.
Read the full interview with this former burglar here.
How You Can Let a Potential Burglar Know You Have a Dog
There are several ways you can show anyone ‘casing’ your home that you have a dog!
1. ‘Beware of Dog’ Sign
This is an easy one and of course you do not not have to own a dog to put up a sig like that!
2. Barking Sound
Most dogs will ‘alert’ to anyone coming on their property uninvited. Leaving your dog at home during the day – when most break-ins happen – should deter any potential burglar. If you do not have a dog, you could invest in a sound machine that replicates the sound of dogs barking to go off when someone triggers the device by stepping too close to your home when you aren’t around. That should also make someone think twice about breaking in!
3. Dog Toys
Nothing quite screams ‘a dog lives here’ like a few random dog chew toys scattered in your front and back yard!
4. Fence and/or Dog Lead
A fenced back yard with dog chew toys, and a water bowl certainly will deter a burglar. The same goes for a dog lead in the back or front yard with a water bowl nearby!
A Burglar Does Not Like To Encounter Dogs, S/he Wants To Avoid Dogs!
Why is this? Dogs are ‘complications, distractions and hazards’.
The goal of any burglar is to enter a home undetected and to get out with their ‘prize’ as quickly and as quietly as possible!
Dogs foil those plans…
- Dogs in a home make it harder to enter
- Dogs in a home make it harder to stay undetected
- Dogs in a home make it harder to walk around and burglarize
A Burglar Will Avoid a Home With a Dog
Confessions and secrets from a real burglar
“The two things I hate most: Loud dogs and nosy neighbors.”
Truth!
We aren’t telling you to get a dog.
Pretending there’s a dog in the home should deter a burglar as well.
However, if you’ve been thinking about getting a dog, check out these cute videos of dogs caught on (security) cameras while their owners were at work!
Your dog could be the next internet star…;)
5 Reasons Why Security Cameras Rock!
Do I Need Security Cameras?
We hear this question all the time. “Do I really need security cameras?” and “Is having my security alarm system not enough on its own?” The answer might surprise you. Having a security system is a huge deterrent to would-be thieves so yes, in theory, it’s all you’ll need. However, and of course there’s a however, security cameras add additional value to your system and once you understand what that value is, we guarantee you’ll want them!
Security System Value
A security system linked to a monitoring station gives you the following value
» Signs of installed system deters would-be thieves
» Sound of active system deters would-be thieves
» Almost instant notification of authorities when needed
» Peace of mind knowing help is on the way
» Your home and/or business is protected and monitored even when you aren’t there
I should go without saying that your security is only as safe and your system only as good as the company you are working with. If you are new to security systems, read this article on how to find a good security company to work with and the signs to look for when you interact with different companies to see if it’s a good fit.
Security Camera Added Value
By installing security cameras along with your system, they can add this value to your existing system. Here are 5 reasons why security cameras rock and once you have them, we know you’ll never want to live without ever again!
They
» Help determine false alarms
» Record video stream of what’s happening outside of your home to catch would-be thieves
» Aid Law Enforcement with identifying and arresting a suspect if a break-in did happen
» Live stream video of your pet (or petsitter) while you aren’t home
» Live stream video of your kids and babysitter to ensure their safety and monitor behavior
Security Cameras for Business
It goes without saying that adding security cameras to your business provides another whole level of security!
Security cameras at your place of business can help you monitor
• cash registers
• employee behavior
• customer behavior
• merchandise
• stockroom
• staff lunch room
• parking lots
and much much more, leaving you with either live streaming and recordings, or recordings of each feed.
In the end, security cameras will most likely pay for themselves and save you money by identifying thieves, problem areas and prevent loss.
Talk to us at Strand Security if you are in need of security cameras in the Myrtle beach or Maryland areas!
Safety First! Make a Family Emergency Plan Today!
Does Your Family Have a Family Emergency Plan Yet?
An emergency is just that; ‘an unexpected and usually dangerous situation that calls for immediate action.’
Planning for emergencies is not an easy thing to do, since, well… they happen when you least expect it! However, having a PLAN does help you ‘take control’ of the unexpected, as far as that’s possible.
Plan for an Emergency by Doing Drills!
With kids going back to school this month, we thought it would be a good idea to review some family emergency plans. Just like your kids will be exposed to fire drills, earthquake drills, tornado drills, bomb drills or, at least here in South Carolina we do them; hurricane drills, at their schools. You should be planning for a home emergency as well by doing these types of drills with a written out plan, at your home!
On the website ‘disastercenter.com’ we learn that
- Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.
- Families can and do cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility. Learn more about Family Disaster Plans by contacting your local emergency management office or your local American Red Cross chapter.
We then went to the Red Cross site and according to the Red Cross, creating a family emergency plan is “important to make sure that the entire family is prepared and informed in the event of a disaster or emergency. You may not always be together when these events take place and should have plans for making sure you are able to contact and find one another.”
The American Red Cross suggests some basic steps to make sure you remain safe:
- Meet with your family or household members.
- Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play.
- Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.
- If a family member is in the military, plan how you would respond if they were deployed.
To read the full Red Cross article, click here.
FEMA also has some valuable information. They have created two downloadable family communication plans as PDFs, one for parents and one for kids.
Family Communication Plan for Kids
Family Communication Plan for Parents
These would be a great starting point for any family who doesn’t have a family emergency plan yet!
Do These Four Things To Keep Your Family Save in Time of Disaster and Emergency
To round out this article, here are four things to keep in mind and take care of today!
- Find out what can happen to you and your family.
- Create a family disaster plan.
- Complete your checklists.
- Practice and maintain your plan.
If you do all of these, you can rest just a bit easier when disaster strikes!
EDIT: March 2017
We received a beautiful email from a Girl Scout Troop. The girls in the troop are currently working on their first aid badges and we they have been talking about emergency preparedness. Our article provided a ton of info for the girls. In their research, they found another helpful resource. Today, we are happy to share it with you, too.
Check out this article by BePrepared.com
CREATE AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY
Get ready! You can never be too prepared!
Dogs Home Alone and Caught on Camera
Do you know what your dog is doing while you are not home?
You might have already seen one or two of these YouTube videos we’re about to show you! Dogs do the darnest things! These lovely pets, or should we say sometimes ‘naughty’ pets were caught on video by their curious owners. We’re also going to show you how sad one of the dogs is when her owner leaves. You can, of course, set up a camera and let it run while you are away to find out once you’re home and have downloaded the footage what your dog was up to. Did you know there’s a better way? At Strand Security, we offer the latest in technology and that includes Honeywell Total Connect™ for customers who want to know what’s going on with their pet, in real time!
Have you seen these funny videos? We love them!
Here is the first video. It shows a Beagle home alone! Turns out, this is a super smart dog.
In the second video, you’ll find a dog taking a dip in the family pool by using the water slide!
Now here’s the sad dog!
Aren’t you just a bit curious about your own dog and what s/he is doing while you are at the beach, shopping, at work or running errands?
Honeywell Total Connect™ Remote Services
If you have a dog (or a teen – hey, why not?) and if you want instant access to live video of your home via your Smartphone or tablet, we highly recommend you come talk to us, Strand Security Systems in Myrtle Beach, about HoneyWell Total Connect™. We can give you a demonstration in our showroom, or you can watch this video demonstration right now which shows you numerous other ways Honeywell Total Connect™ can enhance your lifestyle!
From the Honeywell website:
“Live video; log on and look in” – View live video on up to six cameras at a time—a great way to keep an eye on your kids, elderly relatives, pets and property.
Your security IS our business. Talk to us and let us know how we can help you!
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