Maybe you are in danger of becoming over-protective when it comes to guarding your home; but that is your prerogative. Maybe you have been a victim of a break-in and want to ensure that you never have to undergo a similar trauma again. Maybe some of your neighbors have been recent victims of break-ins, and you want to ensure that you don’t end up a victim too. Maybe you have moved into a new neighborhood and would like to feel more secure like you felt in your old one, where you knew the neighbors. There are many reasons for people to opt for a home security system.

Are you overdoing your security?

Sometimes, after being the victim of an attack or a break-in, one might take the security concern too far in their zeal. It might be considered a tad too much if you have your motion-detection enabled switched on during the day. You don’t need a motion detector during the daytime. Read more »

You have built your home with much thought, attention and love poured into it. You and your family really love your home and feel secure in it.Shouldn’t you make arrangements to secure it even when you are not there? You know the importance of protecting your home from would be burglars. If you sign up with a security firm you can also get protection from other dangers like fire, carbon monoxide and other leaks, etc.

Why do you need a Home Security System?

#1 – You need to install a proper security system so that your home is protected even when you are away at work or off on holiday.

#2 – When you have installed a reliable home security system from SafeTouch in case of any intruders or even attempted entry, a silent alarm is triggered at the security company’s offices. Depending on the security package you have chosen, an alarm is simultaneously raised at your nearest police station, too. This means that the response is instant, literally in seconds. You have to install one of the burglar alarm systems Jacksonville FL has to offer to truly keep your home safe from burglars and intruders. Read more »

There is a certain idea that surrounds spring break for college students, and that idea usually involves excessive amounts of alcohol, poor choices involving strangers of the opposite sex, and going home with very cloudy memories of the whole weekend. Sadly, many people end up regretting their decisions during the vacation in the years to follow, and some people put themselves in very serious danger during their stay.

If you plan on visiting another state or city to enjoy the activities associated with spring break, then you need some ideas on how to stay safe and how to have a vacation you actually enjoy (and remember). Read more »

In the United States, the number of burglaries and home invasions has been going up extensively. For any homeowner, the statistics can be alarming, but you should be very aware of them so that you can make smart decisions and attempt to deter a break in. One thing that you can do is learn just what it is that intruders are looking for. The more you can do to deter them, the more you can protect your home and family. Read more »

Big Brother is watching you.  New geotargeting technology allows advertisers to follow your every movement, and send you targeted advertising appropriate to your geographical location.  Most new phones are required to have GPS installed on them, in order to help emergency personnel locate you when you dial 911.

Social media sites are all plugging their cell phone apps, to allow your smart phone to access Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flikr, Foursquare and a number of other platforms.  And many of these social media companies are taking advantage of geotargeting.

Facebook has an app called Places that lets you “check in” to specific sites and let your Facebook friends know where you are.  While you’re not exactly broadcasting your address directly, you’re showing a picture of one of your favorite places.  That picture appears on your Facebook page with embedded information, including location, time and geographical coordinates.

Cybercasing

Anyone with the know-how can pull out that embedded information.  And even though your settings may be set to private, your pictures can still come up in a Google search, complete with that embedded information.

There are also a number of applications where your phone will automatically key in your location.  Stalkers can use this information to follow you.  More commonly, criminals have been known to use this information to rob houses while people are away.  There’s even a new term for it:  cybercasing.

To avoid being the victim of cybercasing, here are some safety precautions you should follow:

• Don’t post “check in” pix while you’re out – wait till you get home to post;
• Don’t post your plans to attend a big event;
• Check the options on your cell phone to see if you can select 911 only for geolocating;
• Turn off “share location” on any social media sites you use, and be aware that any pictures you post may have geo-tags;
• Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.

A monitored home security system from SafeTouch will add greatly to your peace of mind, protecting your home and valuables while you’re away.  With a guaranteed response time of 45 seconds and average response time of 11 seconds, you can be sure that no cyber criminal or stalker will be able to invade your protected living space.

SafeTouch has been providing home security services throughout the Jacksonville area for more than 20 years, including security camera installation, alarm monitoring and now even wireless home security systems.

You’ve invited your mother or father to come and live with you.  It’ll be great for the kids and you’ll feel much better not having to worry about you parent living alone and possibly having a fall with no one around to help.  But now you’re wondering, is your home safe for an aging parent?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falling is the leading cause of death for seniors aged 65 and beyond.  Take a moment to walk around your house.  Is it a safe place for someone with occasional imbalance, poor vision or both?  Here are some useful tips to senior-safe your home.

In the Bathroom

• Showers and tubs are one of the most dangerous places for seniors.  Your parent will need the use of a walk-in shower so that he or she doesn’t have to step over the side of a tub.  Consider adding a shower seat and secure handrail.
• Optionally, you can install one of those new walk-in tubs built specifically for seniors.  Versatile enough for the whole family, they allow seniors to be able to enjoy a nice hot bath without the associated dangers of slip and fall accidents.

Safe Passage

• Throw rugs and electrical wires are tripping hazards for seniors.  Consider getting rid of any small rugs and runners.  Make sure all electrical cords are safely stowed.
• Check to see if any of your flooring is slippery, especially to someone wearing bedroom slippers.  Wall to wall carpeting is not only safer, but will provide better cushioning in a fall.
• Arrange furniture so that it’s not blocking any entranceways or passages.  Leave nice open areas for seniors to pass.

Light the Way

• Make sure lighting is adequate for your parent to see.  You may prefer dim lighting, but he or she does not see as well, and dim lighting can be a hazard.  Install extra lighting and make sure switches are near the entranceway to every room and easily reached.

Safe Communication

• Install a telephone in as many rooms as possible and provide a charged cell phone as backup.  Hopefully this will keep your loved one from panicking in an emergency and stumbling and falling while running for a telephone.
• Teach your parent how to operate your SafeTouch home alarm monitoring system, so that he or she can call for help in an emergency or respond appropriately should the alarm go off.

Just as when your children were young, there are accommodations you will need to make when your senior parent comes to live with you.  A home alarm monitoring system from SafeTouch will give you added peace of mind when your loved one is home alone.

The Internet can be a scary, threatening place, particularly for your children. However, there are things that you can do to help ensure they stay safe and out of harm’s way online.

The Internet has changed the way the world works, and even how we interact with our friends and family. From email to social media and online shopping, the world seems to have grown smaller and more connected. However, that doesn’t mean that everything is rosy – the Internet might be a great place for adults, but it can be very threatening for your kids. If your children are online, they’re exposed to very real threats on a daily basis. How can you protect them?

Be Vigilant

The first and most important tip for anyone who has kids that get online is to be vigilant. Pay attention to what they are doing, whom they’re interacting with and what sites they’re visiting. Be alert. Be nosy if you have to. Remember – it’s better to butt in where you’re not wanted than to ignore the situation. Pay attention to everything your children do online and never assume that it’s “harmless”, as there’s rarely such a thing.

Educate Yourself

One problem that many parents encounter is that they assume the Internet is a safe place. They’ve never run into threats before, so they assume that their children won’t either. This is the wrong stance to take – threats lurk everywhere online, particularly for kids. Take the time to educate yourself about what’s out there, from cyberbullying to sex offenders.

Set Ground Rules

Make sure you lay out clear rules for your kids about what they can and cannot do online and make sure they follow those rules. For instance, if you don’t want your kids using Facebook, tell them so and then check to make sure they’re not going behind your back. You can almost expect some kids to do this, because they just don’t see the harm in it. Be watchful and make sure that your rules are being followed.

Set Blocks

If you are very concerned that your kids are going to get into something that could be harmful or dangerous, look into setting parental blocks on your computers. Most web browsers have the capability to set blocks, but you can also download specific software designed to provide kids with a safe online experience.

Threats are everywhere online. Protect your kids.

Identity theft has become a huge problem in recent years. If you’re not aware of the new threats out there, your personal information could be compromised.

Most of us like to think of our personal information as personal, private and secured. However, that’s often not the case, particularly where the Internet is concerned. Identity theft has become an increasingly serious problem for everyone in the US (and around the world, really). There are many different ways that thieves can get at your personal information and steal your identity.

Email Scams – This one seems to be as old as time itself. For a while there, it had died down a bit, but lately identity thieves intent on getting their grubby mitts on your personal information have revived this. We’re all familiar with the Nigerian prince emails saying we’re the heir to a huge fortune; thieves have changed their operations. The newest is simply an email asking if you received their previous message. When you reply, you’re caught. Don’t do it. If you don’t know the sender, delete the email. Never open attachments, especially from people you don’t know.

Trash Theft – Identity theft is not (nor has it ever been) confined to the Internet alone. In fact, there may be a larger threat of identity theft in the real world. One of the ways that your information is put in danger here is from people digging through your garbage. You might not realize it, but every piece of paper and document you throw in the trash has the potential to give someone your personal information. This is particularly true in the case of bank statements, credit card statements and the like. Never assume that documents tossed in your home’s garbage can are safe from thieves. Always destroy documents that contain sensitive information.

Credit Card Information – The practice of skimming has become more common than many people realize. In this situation, you use your credit card to pay for a real purchase. However, when the merchant runs your card, your information is stored so that they can access it later. Once they have that information, they can use it as they wish, without your knowing about it.

As you can see, there are many different threats out there to your personal information, both financial and identity-wise. Protect yourself from these threats by being a smart consumer. Always destroy your documents, never trust emails from people you don’t know and keep a close eye on your credit cards.

If you’re like a lot of people, then you no doubt spend the better part of your year looking forward to the holidays and it’s not hard to understand why. Not only do you get the chance to enjoy the company of family and friends you probably rarely see, but for many of us, the holidays also present rare opportunities to get away from home for a while.

However, it’s important to make sure that we’re not leaving our homes and belongings open and vulnerable once we leave. Holiday time is one of the biggest times of the year for break-ins and other home mishaps, so let’s take a look at how you can make sure you’re properly protected.

Don’t Make It Obvious That You’re Not Home

Studies show that one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep burglars at bay is to set things up at home so that it’s not obvious that you’re away.

Make sure you stop delivery of your mail and newspapers so that they don’t pile up while you’re gone. Install timers on various appliances inside your home, like lights or your television set, to help keep the interior of your home illuminated at night. Leaving your shades, curtains, or blinds open when you leave can also help give the impression you’re home.

You can ask your friends and neighbors for help, too. Ask people you trust to park in your driveway occasionally, help keep your lawn mowed, and keep an eye on your home in general.

Last but definitely not least, burglarproof your home to the greatest extent possible. Install a security system if you don’t have one already. Take extra precautions to make sure that sliding glass doors, windows, garages, and other easy points of entry are secure enough. Keep very valuable items away from windows where they can be easily seen as well.

Don’t Forget to Disaster Proof Your Home

Burglars aren’t the only dangers to your home while you’re away this holiday season. Fires, floods, and other such occurrences can pose a threat as well. You can help reduce the chances of that happening by unplugging appliances that aren’t placed on timers and double-checking stoves and heat generating items around the house before leaving. If you’re planning on being away for longer than a week or so, then you might want to consider turning off your water as well.

Just a little prevention can go a long way toward keeping your home secure while you’re away. Get started today!

Along with winter comes a whole new host of responsibilities to consider when it comes to taking care of your home, family, and belongings. One of the most important of these to consider is the fireproofing of your home.

People are doing a lot of cooking and baking this time of year, as well as using their furnaces more often. Many are even making use of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. That being said, it’s important to be mindful of the possibility of house fires. Here’s how to make sure your home is protected.

Install Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers

The first thing you should do when fireproofing your home is make sure that you have the right preventative measures installed. If your home doesn’t have a smoke detector installed in every room – especially bedrooms and rooms with fuel-burning appliances – then take steps to remedy that. If you already have smoke detectors, test each one to make sure the batteries are fresh. Keep an ample supply of replacement batteries on hand.

You should also have a chemical fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. Make sure that you and all of your family members not only know where extinguishers are kept, but how to use them as well.

Avoid Clutter and Other Fuel Sources

Take yourself on a little tour of your home, look for hazards that could make it easier for a fire to burn out of control, and eliminate them. Clean up stacks of accumulated papers or flammable debris inside your home. Make sure that your trees; shrubs, and foliage are properly pruned back to prevent fires from burning out of control outside as well.

Check Heaters and Appliances

Regardless of the time of year, you should always make sure you regularly check your heaters, appliances, and fireplaces to make sure they don’t present any fire hazards. They should be cleaned thoroughly and checked for debris on a regular basis and certainly should receive a thorough once-over if they’re being put into use this winter for the first time in months. A professional should be called in to give appliances a tune-up once a year as well.

You should also make sure you’re not overloading electrical outlets or using any appliances that have frayed or faulty wiring. Keep papers and flammable items away from outlets, lamps, and candles.

Once your home is fireproofed, just be sure to keep an eye on things from there on out. It’s simple, easy, and effective!