FIRE PROTECTION

Fire protection is an important part of your family's safety. Fire is one of the most potentially dangerous disasters your family could encounter. It is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the home, most often affecting children and the elderly. In addition, fires account for over $2 billion in damage to homes each year.

Therefore, it's important that your family is prepared to keep your home safe from fire. First, by taking preventative measures to reduce your risk of fire, and second, by establishing a plan to combat fire, including detection devices, extinguishers and predetermined escape routes.

Fire prevention tactics that keep your home safe:

 Fires can begin anywhere, but two areas in your home pose the biggest fire threat - the kitchen and the garage. You can reduce your risk of fire in these vulnerable places with the following precautions:

Use only UL (Underwriter's Laboratory) or FM (Factory Mutual) approved appliances and tools.

Check regularly for frayed or worn power cords or plugs, and replace them immediately.

Don't operate appliances, switches or outlets with wet hands.

Never plug in more appliances than a socket is designed to handle.

Don't store flammable items over the stove.

Turn pot handles inward so children can't pull them down.

Keep a fire extinguisher on a wall nearby the stove.

Keep areas around stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers clean to prevent dust particles from igniting.

Keep trash and other items away from the furnace or water heater, preferably stored in sealed containers.

Check heating equipment annually.

Store gasoline and other flammables in tight metal containers, away from the house - never near heating equipment or a pilot light.

Install smoke detectors for reliable protection

Most deaths from fire occur when people are sleeping. For that reason, smoke detectors are an important and effective fire safety equipment to have in your home. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that one smoke detector should be installed outside each bedroom, and on all levels of your home. Remember to test all your smoke detectors at least once a month to assure they're operating effectively. Smoke alarms connected to a professionally monitored security system provide maximum protection against harm from fire. They sound an alarm, alert you to potential danger, and automatically send a signal to dispatch the fire department, whether you're home or away.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy in case of emergency A fire extinguisher can help you control a small fire and prevent further damage. Fire extinguishers are classified by the types of fires they are designed to put out. A multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher labeled A-B-C is effective for most types of fires and is a must for every home. Other types of fire extinguishers designed for fighting specific types of fires are especially useful in the following areas of your home:

In the den or living areas - Type A for use on ordinary combustibles such as paper, cloth, wood, rubber and many plastics.

In the kitchen or garage - Type B for flammable liquids such as oils, gasoline, kitchen grease, paints and solvents.

In the basement or workroom - Type C for electrical fires such as wiring, fuse boxes, motors, power tools, appliances and electronics.

Your local fire department can help you to determine the proper types, sizes and numbers of extinguishers for your home.

In the event of a large, uncontrollable fire, however, your best defense is a quick escape. You should plan an escape route, and practice it regularly with your family. An alternate route should also be planned and practiced, in case the main route is blocked by fire.

Install a professional fire protection system for round-the-clock safety and reliability.

With a professionally monitored fire protection system provided by Richmond Alarm Company  you'll have peace-of-mind knowing your home and family are secured whether you're home or away, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When your system detects a potentially threatening situation in your home, it not only sounds an alarm for your family to hear, it also alerts our central monitoring station to quickly dispatch the fire department.

Richmond Alarm  provides your family with complete fire protection, including monitored smoke detectors that respond to the presence of smoke particles in the air and heat detectors that respond to rapid temperature changes, ideal for detecting fires in the kitchen, garage and workshop. 

SECURITY PROTECTION

Security tips to keep your home safe:

Don't be an easy target

The most basic security technique is deterrence - protecting your home by discouraging intruders from making it their next target. Burglars don't want to risk being caught, so they are less likely to victimize a house that looks occupied or protected by a security system.

When you're away from home, use these simple techniques to keep your property safe:

Put lights and a stereo or TV on a timer to give the appearance that someone is home.

Don't stop your mail or newspaper deliveries; it signals you're away. Instead, have a neighbor pick up your deliveries.

Install a professional home security system that's monitored twenty-four hours a day. And be sure to post signs and window decals to warn intruders that your home is protected.

According to FBI statistics, a home with a professionally installed security system is 15 times less likely to be burglarized than a home without a security system.

On your answering machine, never leave an outgoing message that you are not home.

Remember to lock all doors and windows. Forty percent of home invasions occur because a door or window was left unlocked.

Secure doors and windows to keep burglars out.

Burglars enter through doors and windows, so it's important to make them as secure as possible to defend against break-ins. Be sure to take the following precautions to keep burglars from entering your home:

Replace all locks immediately after moving into a new home.

Install deadbolts on doors leading outside.

Secure sliding glass doors with pins to prevent both horizontal and vertical movement.

Fix all points of entry, especially broken locks or windows.

Install security film over glass panes for extra protection.

Security tips for keeping your valuables safe

Store high-value items such as jewelry, furs and firearms in a small closet with a solid core door, a non-removable hinge and a deadbolt lock.

Keep important papers, valuable jewelry and large amounts of cash in a safe deposit box.

Engrave your valuables with your driver's license or social security number.

Keep gift wrapped packages hidden from outside view.

When you purchase new electronic equipment, do not "advertise it". Break down cartons before discarding.

Install a professional home security system for maximum protection.

Concerned neighbors can keep an eye out for unusual activity in your neighborhood, but your best defense against this crime is a high-quality, professionally installed home security system.

With a home security system from Richmond Alarm Co.  you'll have peace-of-mind knowing that your home and family are monitored around-the-clock, every day of the year.

SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS

You can help your children become more responsible and protect themselves in a variety of situations by teaching them about safety at a young age.

Map out a route to and from school with your children and walk it with them. Make sure they follow this same route every day unless they have your permission to go another way.

Find out if your school has an attendance call-back program to let you know if your child does not arrive at school.

For identification purposes, you should keep up to date records on your child, including a recent photo, a lock of hair wrapped in plastic, age, blood type, height and weight, date and location of last dental x-rays, distinguishing marks, eye color and any other identifying characteristics.

In addition, your child should always carry some form of identification, ideally a laminated ID card with his or her name, complete address (street, city, and zip), telephone number and emergency contact and phone number.

In the event that you need to leave an older child at home alone, be sure that he or she can perform the following safety measures and knows:

how to contact you at work, or someone else in case you can't be reached.

not to let anyone in the house, even someone who claims to be a policeman

never tell a caller they're home alone, instead answer that a parent is busy

how to call 911

how to get out of the house in case of fire

Unfortunately, crime can happen to anyone, anywhere. But with these common sense defense strategies, you can help reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

Be alert to your surroundings - especially after dark.

Avoid travelling alone.

Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible.

Walk with confidence, in a direct and steady pace. Potential assailants look for people who appear vulnerable.

Walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic.

Walk close to the curb avoiding doorways, bushes and alleys where intruders could be hiding.

If you suspect you're being followed, walk quickly to a lighted area where there are other people. If a car appears to be following you, turn and walk in the opposite direction across the street.

Be aware that nearly 33% of all rapes are committed by an acquaintance, and can occur in public or in your own home, day or night.

Be sure to lock all doors and windows while home alone.

Look through your peephole viewer to see who's there before opening the door.

Always request identification from salespeople or repairmen.

List only your first initial and last name in the phone book.

Use common sense in resisting an attack, keeping your safety your main concern.

Prepare yourself with a defensive plan, before an attack occurs.